Principal RF Engineer

Emerson; Santa Rosa (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Test and Measurement Systems, also known as NI, is seeking a Principal RF Engineer to join our RF R&D team in Santa Rosa, CA, in hybrid or remote capacity. The role centers on hands-on RF/microwave hardware design, with leadership responsibilities across RF subsystems and cross-functional collaboration.

The candidate will design, validate, and lead development of high-frequency circuits, using VNAs and spectrum analyzers, while mentoring engineers and guiding design reviews.

Qualifications

• 8+ years with a B.S. in EE/ECE, 6+ years with a Master's degree, 3+ years with a PhD.
• Proven experience designing, simulating, verifying, and releasing RF circuits or subsystems using industry-standard tools.
• Strong proficiency with RF instrumentation, including VNAs, spectrum or signal analyzers, vector generators, oscilloscopes, and related measurement equipment.
• Ability to troubleshoot, simulate, and resolve RF, embedded, or mixed-signal issues at the board or system level.
• Programming or scripting proficiency, with Python required and MATLAB or LabVIEW beneficial.
• Excellent communication, critical thinking, and technical decision-making abilities, with demonstrated ability to lead through influence and mentor engineers appropriate to the final level.
• Has demonstrated ability to lead complex RF hardware or subsystem development with minimal oversight.
• Candidates should show experience defining specifications and acceptance criteria, using industry-standard RF design and simulation tools, developing test approaches, resolving board-or system-level RF issues, determining methods for new assignments, and mentoring or advising other engineers in technical execution.

Responsibilities

• Viewed as a key technical resource and often the technical leader for the team, frequently advising others.
• Design, execute, or lead RF/microwave hardware and subsystem work, including front ends, LO/PLL, filters, mixers, PAs/LNAs, switches, couplers, and related high‑frequency circuitry to meet specifications and acceptance criteria.
• Translate customer, product, and RF subsystem needs into clear specifications, acceptance criteria, design constraints, and verification approaches.
• Use advanced RF design, simulation, layout, modeling, and characterization tools to develop robust design solutions and correlate simulation results with measured performance.
• Perform feasibility assessment of emerging technologies through research, prototyping, early modeling, and rapid experimentation.
• Assess system‑level performance including sensing paths, signal conditioning, and inter‑device interfaces (SPI, I²C) when applicable to RF subsystems.
• Develop test strategies and perform characterization using VNAs, spectrum or signal analyzers, vector generators, oscilloscopes, and automated test frameworks.
• Drive assigned work through prototyping, development, V&V, compliance, NPI, and sustaining phases with minimal oversight-determining methods and procedures for new assignments.
• Mentor engineers, guide design reviews, promote consistent engineering rigor, and apply or support design controls, risk analysis, and robust documentation.
• Provide subject matter expertise as an independent reviewer for multiple portfolio projects
• Build strong cross functional relationships, influencing decisions through well supported technical rationale. Collaborate with Digital, Mechanical, Calibration, Software, Systems, and Test engineering disciplines, and Quality, and Operations to ensure integrated product success.
• Networks with key contacts outside own area; influences decisions to elevate long ‑ term product quality and development efficiency.
• Exercise strong communication, judgment, decision‑making, and critical thinking in complex technical environments.
• Occasional domestic or international travel, up to 10%, to support supplier builds, customer evaluations, or factory activities.

Skills

RF design

VNA measurement

Python scripting

MATLAB

HFSS/CST

Mentoring

Technical leadership

Troubleshooting RF

Education

B.S. in EE/ECE

Master's in EE/ECE

PhD in EE/ECE

Tools

VNA

Oscilloscope

Vector generators

LTspice

ADS

HFSS/CST

AWR

SI/PI

Job description

Test and Measurement Systems, also known as NI, Product R&D, is seeking a Principal RF Engineer to join our RF R&D team in Santa Rosa, CA in either a hybrid or remote capacity. The role's baseline scope is hands‑on RF/microwave hardware design and validation with expansion into broader technical leadership.

Responsibilities

• Viewed as a key technical resource and often the technical leader for the team, frequently advising others.
• Design, execute, or lead RF/microwave hardware and subsystem work, including front ends, LO/PLL, filters, mixers, PAs/LNAs, switches, couplers, and related high‑frequency circuitry to meet specifications and acceptance criteria.
• Translate customer, product, and RF subsystem needs into clear specifications, acceptance criteria, design constraints, and verification approaches.
• Use advanced RF design, simulation, layout, modeling, and characterization tools to develop robust design solutions and correlate simulation results with measured performance.
• Perform feasibility assessment of emerging technologies through research, prototyping, early modeling, and rapid experimentation.
• Assess system‑level performance including sensing paths, signal conditioning, and inter‑device interfaces (SPI, I²C) when applicable to RF subsystems.
• Develop test strategies and perform characterization using VNAs, spectrum or signal analyzers, vector generators, oscilloscopes, and automated test frameworks.
• Drive assigned work through prototyping, development, V&V, compliance, NPI, and sustaining phases with minimal oversight-determining methods and procedures for new assignments.
• Mentor engineers, guide design reviews, promote consistent engineering rigor, and apply or support design controls, risk analysis, and robust documentation.
• Provide subject matter expertise as an independent reviewer for multiple portfolio projects
• Build strong cross functional relationships, influencing decisions through well supported technical rationale. Collaborate with Digital, Mechanical, Calibration, Software, Systems, and Test engineering disciplines, and Quality, and Operations to ensure integrated product success.
• Networks with key contacts outside own area; influences decisions to elevate long ‑ term product quality and development efficiency.
• Exercise strong communication, judgment, decision‑making, and critical thinking in complex technical environments.
• Occasional domestic or international travel, up to 10%, to support supplier builds, customer evaluations, or factory activities.

Requirements

• 8+ years with a B.S. in EE/ECE, 6+ years with a Master's degree, 3+ years with a PhD
• Proven experience designing, simulating, verifying, and releasing RF circuits or subsystems using industry‑standard tools.
• Strong proficiency with RF instrumentation, including VNAs, spectrum or signal analyzers, vector generators, oscilloscopes, and related measurement equipment.
• Ability to troubleshoot, simulate, and resolve RF, embedded, or mixed‑signal issues at the board or system level.
• Programming or scripting proficiency, with Python required and MATLAB or LabVIEW beneficial.
• Excellent communication, critical thinking, and technical decision‑making abilities, with demonstrated ability to lead through influence and mentor engineers appropriate to the final level.
• Has demonstrated ability to lead complex RF hardware or subsystem development with minimal oversight.
• Candidates should show experience defining specifications and acceptance criteria, using industry‑standard RF design and simulation tools, developing test approaches, resolving board‑or system‑level RF issues, determining methods for new assignments, and mentoring or advising other engineers in technical execution.

Preferred Qualifications

• End‑to‑end ownership from concept to ramp, including DFM/DFT, NPI, supplier engagement, and sustaining support.
• Expertise in SI/PI for mixed‑signal RF boards, grounding and shielding best practices, and robust layout for isolation and stability.
• Demonstrated research and prototyping to assess emerging technologies and de‑risk architectures.
• Working knowledge of requirements management, risk management, project planning, and verification traceability.
• Familiarity with regulatory and material compliance constraints, including EMC/safety, IEEE, MIL, RoHS/REACH, or similar requirements relevant to our markets.
• Experience with advanced modeling, troubleshooting, and simulation‑to‑measurement correlation using tools such as LTspice, Ansys Designer, ADS, HFSS/CST, AWR, or SI/PI simulation.
• Experience guiding design reviews, strengthening design controls, risk analysis, and documentati