Principal RF Engineer — 5G, Antenna & RF Systems

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical aid

Retirement fund

Substantial annual leave

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal RF Engineer to join our Cape Town R&D team. The role drives innovation in RF systems design, optimization, and deployment for next-generation mobile networks, with emphasis on 5G NR and spectrum management.

You will lead design, testing, and collaboration across hardware and software teams on-site. The ideal candidate has a Master’s or PhD in RF-focused EE/telecommunications, 10+ years in RF engineering, and deep knowledge of antenna design, propagation

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or related field with RF specialization.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in RF engineering for mobile networks.
• Proficiency with RF circuit design, simulation tools (HFSS, CST), and measurement equipment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and testing of RF systems for mobile networks, including base stations and user equipment.
• Perform detailed RF performance analysis, including propagation modeling, interference analysis, and link-budget calculations.
• Optimize RF parameters to enhance coverage, capacity, and QoS.
• Develop and implement advanced antenna technologies and solutions.
• Collaborate with hardware and software teams for seamless RF integration.
• Stay current with RF technology, standards (5G NR, LTE-Advanced), and competitive landscape.
• Troubleshoot and resolve RF issues in deployed networks.
• Mentor junior RF engineers and provide technical leadership.
• Contribute to technical roadmaps and strategic RF planning.
• Author specifications and design documents and present findings to stakeholders.

Skills

RF engineering

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Education

Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering/ Telecommunications

Tools

ANSYS HFSS

CST Studio

Measurement equipment

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Principal RF Engineer to join our Cape Town R&D team. The role drives innovation in RF systems design, optimization, and deployment for next-generation mobile networks, with emphasis on 5G NR and spectrum management.

You will lead design, testing, and collaboration across hardware and software teams on-site. The ideal candidate has a Master’s or PhD in RF-focused EE/telecommunications, 10+ years in RF engineering, and deep knowledge of antenna design, propagation