RF Antenna Engineer San Jose

Hark, Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Hark, Inc. is seeking an RF antenna engineer to own end-to-end wireless design for a first-generation wearable. You will architect a multi-radio ecosystem including Cellular, Wi-Fi, BT, GNSS, NFC, and UWB within a tight enclosure.

Lead RF strategies for ultra-low power performance and drive EVT/DVT/PVT phases, including factory calibration, OTA testing, and global regulatory certifications. Bring 10+ years of RF experience to a fast-moving hardware startup.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in RF/Antenna design.
• Led a high-volume consumer product through mass market lifecycles.
• Expert-level proficiency in EM simulation tools (HFSS/CST).

Responsibilities

• Architect multi-radio systems with coexistence across sub-GHz to 8GHz+ ranges.
• Design and simulate custom antennas for high-density wearables.
• Collaborate with ID and ME to balance aesthetics and RF transparency.
• Develop RF strategies prioritizing ultra-low power consumption.
• Own product through EVT, DVT, and PVT phases including OTA testing and regulatory certifications (FCC/CE).
• Lead engagements with chipset vendors and antenna fabricators.

Skills

RF Antenna design

EM simulation tools

ANYSYS HFSS

CST Studio Suite

RF front-end design

5G/4G LTE

Wi‑Fi 6E/7

Bluetooth 5.x

GNSS

UWB

VNA

Spectrum Analyzers

Anechoic Chamber testing

Tools

VNA

Spectrum Analyzers

Anechoic Chamber

Job description

Hark is an artificial intelligence company building advanced, personalized intelligence. One that is proactive, multimodal, and capable of interacting with the world through speech, text, vision, and persistent memory.

We're pairing that intelligence with next-generation hardware to create a universal interface between humans and machines. While today's AI largely operates through chat boxes and decade-old devices, Hark is focused on what comes next: agentic systems that interact naturally with people and the real world.

To get there, we're developing multimodal models and next-generation AI hardware together - designed from the ground up as a single, unified interface for a new era of intelligent systems.

About the Role

As the RF antenna engineer, you will be responsible for the end-to-end wireless design for our first-generation consumer wearable/device. You aren't just placing components; you are architecting a complex ecosystem of Cellular, Wi‑Fi, BT, GNSS, NFC, and UWB radios within an extremely tight physical envelope. Your mission is to deliver optimal wireless functionality for the users.

Responsibilities

• Architect the multi-radio systems, ensuring coexistence and optimal performance across a wide spectrum (sub-GHz to 8GHz+).
• Design and simulate custom, miniaturized antennas (LDS, FPC, or metal frame) that thrive in high-density environments.
• Partner with Industrial Design (ID) and Mechanical Engineering (ME) to find the "sweet spot" between aesthetic beauty and RF transparency.
• Develop RF strategies that prioritize ultra-low power consumption for battery-constrained performance.
• Own the product through EVT, DVT, and PVT phases, managing factory calibration, OTA testing, and global regulatory certifications (FCC/CE/PTCRB/GCF).
• Lead engagements with chipset vendors and antenna fabricators to push the limits of what is commercially possible.

Requirements

• 10+ years in RF/Antenna design, with at least 2 full lifecycles leading a high-volume consumer electronic product to mass market.
• Expert-level proficiency in ANSYS HFSS, CST Studio Suite, or similar EM simulation tools.
• Full-stack understanding of RF front-end (RFFE) design, including filters, switches, LNAs, and matching networks.
• Proven experience with 5G/4G LTE, Wi‑Fi 6E/7, Bluetooth 5.x, GNSS (L1/L5), and UWB.
• Strong hands-on skills with VNA, Spectrum Analyzers, and Anechoic Chamber testing (TRP/TIS).

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with Human Body Interaction (SAR) and how it affects antenna tuning in wearables.
• A background in UWB (Ultra‑Wideband) for precision ranging and spatial awareness.

Compensation

The US base salary range for this full-time position is between $120,000 - $300,000 annually.

The pay offered for this position may vary based on several individual factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package may also include additional components/benefits depending on the specific role. This information will be shared if an employment offer is extended.