RF Wireless Engineer

Title: RF Wireless Engineer (Contract)

Pay Rate: up to $51.43/hour

Duration: 12-Month Assignment (Potential to Extend or Convert)

Hours: Full-Time

Start Date: ASAP

Location: Carlsbad, CA (Onsite)

Summary

We are seeking an experienced RF Wireless Engineer to support the design, integration, testing, and optimization of next-generation wireless connectivity solutions for smart consumer devices. This hands-on engineering role will focus on RF hardware development, antenna performance, wireless protocol validation, and system-level integration across multiple wireless technologies.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in RF circuit design, antenna tuning, and wireless communications, along with experience bringing consumer electronics products from development through production. This position offers the opportunity to work closely with firmware, hardware, manufacturing, and quality teams to deliver high-performance wireless products.

What You'll Do

Develop, integrate, and optimize RF hardware supporting Wi-Fi, Thread, Zigbee, Z-Wave, LTE, and other wireless technologies

Perform bring-up, debugging, validation, and optimization of wireless MAC and PHY layer drivers and firmware

Design, tune, and optimize antennas for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GNSS, cellular, and additional wireless communication technologies

Perform antenna tuning, impedance matching, efficiency optimization, TRP/TIS characterization, and RF performance analysis

Design and review RF PCB layouts, including controlled impedance routing, grounding, shielding, stack-up design, and antenna keep-out requirements

Collaborate with Firmware, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, and external development partners to resolve product performance issues and ensure successful product integration

Develop and execute RF validation plans supporting wireless protocol performance and regulatory compliance

Analyze and troubleshoot RF system issues including EMI, spurious emissions, desense, ESD, current consumption, and in-band noise

Support prototype builds, hardware bring-up, product validation, and production readiness activities

Utilize laboratory equipment to perform hardware testing, component rework, soldering, and detailed debugging of RF assemblies

What You Bring

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, RF Engineering, or a related discipline

5+ years of experience designing and integrating RF hardware for consumer electronic products

Strong experience with Wi-Fi (.11), .15.4, Thread, Zigbee, Z-Wave, LTE, or similar wireless communication technologies

Hands-on experience with antenna design, tuning, impedance matching, and RF optimization

Strong understanding of RF fundamentals including transmission lines, S-parameters, antenna matching, and RF measurements

Experience designing RF circuits and supporting system integration, validation, and production

Knowledge of RF PCB layout best practices, including controlled impedance routing, grounding, shielding, and antenna placement

Experience validating wireless performance across multiple .11 standards (a/b/g/n/ac/ax/ah)

Strong troubleshooting skills related to RF performance, EMI, desense, ESD, power consumption, and wireless system optimization

Experience using RF test equipment and laboratory tools, including soldering stations, microscopes, and SMT component rework

Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams

Bonus Points If You Have

Experience with IoT product development and connected consumer devices

Experience integrating antennas into compact electronic products

Experience supporting high-volume consumer electronics manufacturing

Familiarity with regulatory and wireless certification testing

Experience working with external manufacturing or ODM partners

Experience developing products on rapid 612 month development cycles

TCWGlobal is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on age, ethnicity, gender, nationality, religious belief, or sexual orientation.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.