RF Systems Lead Engineer

Overview:

Join the Team creating the next generation of smart irrigation devices and connected irrigation control systems.  Your experience and leadership are key to taking our creativity to the next level.  You’ll work on projects incorporating IoT, data telemetry and remote management systems employing multiple wireless communications technologies, cloud infrastructure, robust design methodologies, and more.  Help our planet by working on innovative engineering solutions that support Rain Bird’s goal of “Intelligent Use of Water”.

As Lead RF Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for development activities for multiple, high complexity projects for deployment worldwide utilizing multiple wireless radio communications technologies ranging from sub-gigahertz to microwave frequencies, taking projects from ideation through to production release.

In this role, you will work collaboratively with marketing and sales teams as well as technical peers in other engineering disciplines, initiating and developing ideas enhancing and expanding all of Rain Bird’s product lines.  Candidate must be a strong project leader and is expected to have deep technical knowledge not only in their competency area, but to also possess technical cognizance across a much broader, ever expanding subject landscape.  Candidate must also be able to provide technical leadership, mentoring and coaching of engineers, technicians, and other support staff.  The role requires the successful candidate to be flexible, sometimes working independently as an individual contributor, at times as a team leader and at other times as a team member; in all cases having the professional maturity to be equally willing to both provide and take direction, as warranted by the situation.

This is a hybrid job opportunity.  The selected candidate should be based in either San Diego, California or Tucson, Arizona, but will be able to work from home a few days during the week.  Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

• Responsible for the specification, design and development of low-power remote wireless control and management systems, including implementation of radio communication capabilities in battery powered devices.
•  Scope of responsibilities will include establishing customer requirements, identification of solutions fulfilling those requirements and then creating technical specifications, cost-effective engineering designs and test plans, that include design for testability and manufacturability, product cost analyses, circuit designs and PWB layouts, prototype design implementations.
• Lead RF Systems Engineer design responsibilities also include the simulation, test and evaluation of prototype communications element and systems designs under both laboratory and field conditions and the initial integration of prototype communications elements into the supporting communications infrastructure and with both the cloud back-end systems and the business logic applications in the end-device firmware.
• Communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing, to engineering management concerning design technical approach, project schedule, quality improvement and cost reduction opportunities, cost estimates, etc.
• Assure that product development priorities are completed within schedule and budget, while ensuring quality and product performance requirements are achieved.
• Collaborate with employees in other Rain Bird Design & Manufacturing facilities globally.
• Product development activities include design and development, prototype testing and analysis, rigorous design reviews, incorporation of lessons learned from existing products, product design verification and field validation, peering with quality assurance and developing thorough written documentation and concise, detailed engineering reports.
• Responsible for keeping excellent organized project records and documentation.
• This position will require periodic travel within the US and out of the country, such as Mexico, as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• S. in Electrical or Electronic Engineering from an accredited university with a focus in signals, communications, RF design or related areas
• 9+ years of progressive electronic design engineering experience in a high-volume consumer product environment 
• Excellent English communication (verbal and written), interpersonal and mentoring skills.
• Direct experience developing and implementing wireless, battery powered IoT (Internet of Things) devices for high volume manufacture and the associated IoT communications networks and infrastructure. Direct design experience in configuration, firmware design and RF circuitry & antenna design for wireless communication networks employing silicon and SDR radios, digital data modulation, spread spectrum, frequency agility, EDAC and encryption.
• Familiarity with all phases of printed circuit board design from schematic capture through board layout to board fabrication and printed circuit board assembly. Experience in design and simulation of circuit board layouts for global EMC/EMI compliance and direct experience using high frequency circuit board layout techniques including materials, RF grounding, microstrip and waveguides plus impedance management, noise control and integral antenna designs.
• Experience creating communications network and element predictive models and testing of physical systems to evaluate performance against the model prediction. Ability to test and assess wireless communication functions of products for robustness, stability, protocol and regulatory compliance, manufacturability and interoperability.
• Ability to define, document and implement end-to-end test plans for electronic designs for both design validation as well as high-volume production test.
• High energy and enthusiastic attitude, willingness to learn customer requirements and troubleshoot field problems, desire for continuous learning and irrigation industry interest.
• History of increasing responsibilities with proven track record of achieving solid results
• Evidence of innovative and creative thinking used to create effective solutions to both engineering and customer problems.
• Excellent laboratory skills: ability to prototype, test and validate designs using analog, digital and RF test and measurement tools; Excellent debugging and troubleshooting skills using basic lab tools and equipment with high density, surface mount designs.
• Prior experience with Design for Manufacturability and Design for Testability
• High attention to detail; excellent organization skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced team environment.
• Experience researching, specifying, sourcing and qualifying new electronic components and vendors for new designs.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• MS. or equivalent engineering degree with RF or communications specialization.
• Familiarity with embedded firmware development to perform “board bring up” and initial hardware testing.
• Working familiarity with data networking architectures and technologies and cloud-based data communications infrastructure, especially those of AWS. Prior CCNA, CCNP or CCIE and/or AWS Solutions Architect certification is a plus.
• Experience with cellular communications systems, global cellular carriers, cellular certification and cellular modem links, link testing and troubleshooting.
• Ability to perform debug of hardware/firmware issues to identify root cause.
• Working knowledge of FMEA, DOE, SPC
• Experience with global regulatory testing & certification including FCC, RED, UL, CE, RoHS, etc.
• Expertise with both RF and electrical EDA tools. Altium Designer expertise is a plus
• Working knowledge of electronic product packaging, including packaging for outdoor applications and moisture control techniques and the effects upon radio system performance
• Working knowledge of high-volume Printed Circuit Board Assembly production processes including automated assembly, reflow, In-Circuit Test, In-System Programming and functional test.
• Experience in the irrigation industry
• 1^st Class FCC Radiotelephone License, FCC Amateur Extra licensing or prior relevant military experience is a plus.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Salary range for candidates based in California: $155,838 - $233,757

Salary ranges include base salary and annual incentive bonus if applicable.

Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

RAIN BIRD IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER