Job Order # 101907-1

 

Title:  Senior RF Systems Engineer

 

Department: Research and Development

 

Location: Washington State

 

Description: This Senior RF Systems Engineer will be an integral member of the Client’s R&D team, working with product development and test engineers to perform system-level design and analysis on ZigBee products within Client’s Advanced Metering Initiative (AMI) solution.

The ideal candidate should have experience working as a Systems Engineer, System Architect, or Design Engineer on RF systems, and understands RF design issues and limitations from a systems perspective. The candidate can use that knowledge of RF to help guide the definition and development of system-level specifications and designs.

Preference will be given to candidates experienced working with two-way wireless networking systems utilizing IEEE 802.15 or 802.11 standards. We are especially seeking candidates that can demonstrate knowledge of the IEEE 802.15.4 and ZigBee standards and ZigBee protocol stack functionality, and who have experience working with ZigBee chipsets from Ember, Freescale, or TI/Chipcon.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The candidate chosen will contribute to meeting Client’s revenue goals through timely delivery of high-quality products in the Client’s AMI solution. Duties include:
' Participate and sometimes lead in the development and execution of system-level requirements, architecture, designs, tests, implementation and analysis of Client’s ZigBee based AMI products, as well as the overall AMI solution.
' Work with Marketing, Product Management, Sales and customers to identify market requirements and reduce into system requirements.
' Create or contribute to system and product requirements, system functional specifications, interface specifications, test specifications, and technical reports.
' Assess and verify the system feasibility of technical decisions made by the team, consider technology implications, anticipate and identify technical problems, suggest alternative approaches.
' Participate in product design reviews, code reviews, walkthroughs, and product lifecycle inspections.
' Participate in system test and characterization, interoperability tests, and perform field performance validation of new and existing system implementations.
' Conduct system analysis and perform problem investigation and resolution. Author internal and external technical papers and case studies.
'
Evaluate Client’s designs for possible patent applications and provide thorough analysis of competitive patents, products, and technical positions, and formulate Client’s responses to these issues.
' Work with Engineering and Product Management to evaluate OEM and third-party partner's ZigBee products for possible integration into the solution.
' Provide help with RFP responses to Sales and Marketing.
' Conduct knowledge transfer sessions for Marketing, Sales, Implementation, Support, and other staff.
' Provide technical support for Marketing, Sales, Implementation, Support, and other staff.

 

Qualifications:

Candidates are expected to demonstrate the following qualifications:

' Must have the ability to develop the expertise and reputation needed to be recognized as an advisor to engineering and other groups.

' Must be able to work independently or as a member of a cross-functional team, to multi-task and do what it takes to meet high expectations and tight deadlines. Will be working on highly visible projects in high-pressure situations.

' Proven experience participating in multi-site teams on development projects and facilitating development activities in a large-team environment.

' Working knowledge of RF and wireless networking system concepts including path loss, interference, PHY and MAC layers, protocols, layered software architectures, etc.

' Experience with wireless standards, wireless protocols and interfaces such as 802.15.4 / ZigBee (preferred), Bluetooth, WiFi, etc. Ability to quickly analyze and adapt to changing wireless standards. Prior knowledge of the 802.15.4 and ZigBee standards and ZigBee protocol stack functionality, and experience working with ZigBee chipsets would be very helpful.

' Working knowledge of RF test tools (protocol and signal analyzers, simulators, etc.) and setups to test performance, interference, etc. Experience performing analysis in the field and in RF screen rooms and anechoic chambers helpful.

' Experience with data and network security implementation such as encryption engines, network security and link keys, security trust centers, etc.

' Experience coding and troubleshooting real-time embedded firmware for microcontrollers systems. Experience programming in any of the following: C, C++, C#, scripting languages such as Perl or Python, and SOAP.

' Ability to quickly learn and apply new test equipment or tools and the ability to create software test tools and tools from ZigBee development kits.

' Experience using scripts to extract data from relational databases such as SQL Server, Oracle, and MS Access.

' Proficiency with Microsoft Windows operating system and Office products: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Access.

' Must have good written & oral communication skills and the ability to communicate appropriately with different design and test groups, Marketing, Product Management, vendors and partners, and sometimes with customers.

' Must be able to travel occasionally to other Client’s sites, field test sites, and partner or customer sites.

Education requirements:

Bachelors Degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline.

' Experience: 6-10 years of relevant experience.