Principal Test Engineer & Lab Manager

Qorvo•Aurora, CO

2d•$148,100 - $192,500

About The Position

Qorvo's Antenna Technologies team is seeking a Principal Test Engineer & Lab Manager to manage antenna lab operations and lead assembly, bring-up, and testing of phased array antenna and RF hardware for mission-critical Defense & Aerospace products. The Antenna Technologies team, part of the Defense Missions Technology group within Qorvo's Defense & Aerospace (D&A) business unit, develops advanced phased array antenna solutions that enable our customers to accomplish critical missions. As a member of our team, you will collaborate with world-class antenna designers, RF engineers, and test professionals to create state-of-the-art products for Satellite Communications, Line-of-Sight Communications, Radar, and other defense and aerospace applications.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) or equivalent, with a minimum of 5 years of overall experience, preferably with active electronics.
Deep knowledge of phased array systems, RF measurements, and automated testing.
Experience testing active and passive antenna systems and active and passive RF/mmWave components.
Understanding of RF test methods, including operation and calibration methodologies for network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and noise figure meters.
Experience coding with Python, including familiarity with object-oriented programming.
Prior experience managing engineering labs or technical teams, including clean lab organization, equipment sharing, test priorities, and supplies management.
General knowledge of circuit components used in phased array antenna systems and transceivers.
Strong communication and organization skills to work effectively across Sales, R&D, New Product Development and Introduction, program management, systems, applications, antenna, and IC teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience with New Product Introduction, low-rate production, and volume production test processes and procedures.
Experience developing test requirements and test plans for phased array antennas, implementing plans with test scripts, performing data analysis, and generating test reports.
Experience in electromagnetic modeling using CST or HFSS.
Experience testing low-cost, high-volume consumer products.
Maintaining internal stores such as assembled array boards, connectors, electronics, resistors, capacitors, mechanical housings, radomes, test fixtures, cables, and related materials required to build, test, and deliver assembled, packaged array products.

Responsibilities

Manage antenna lab facilities, equipment, supplies, physical organization, and day-to-day test priorities.
Maintain vector network analyzers, signal generators, chamber setups, positioner systems, range calibration, and related test equipment at appropriate calibration.
Design and execute test plans for phased array antennas, active and passive RF/mmWave components, and RF hardware.
Lead assembly, bring-up, troubleshooting, and testing of arrays, circuits and RF designs with support from RF, mechanical, power supply, array, and IC teams.
Develop test procedures and train engineers, technicians, and new staff on test setup operation where appropriate.
Coordinate cross-functional testing schedules and communicate priorities with Sales, R&D, New Product Development and Introduction, program management, systems, applications, and IC teams.
Own capital equipment and program-level lab supply planning, including capital budgets of $100k to $500k per year and program material budgets.
Develop advanced testing techniques to verify IC, circuit, and phased array antenna module performance, including EVM, ACLR, EIS, and out-of-band emissions.
Take ownership of existing test software configuration control and modify, upgrade, simplify, and automate test software over time.
Support New Product Introduction and low-rate production by improving test methods, procedures, reporting, and lab readiness.
Mentor junior test engineers and represent the company in development of advanced testing strategies that improve IC, circuit, and array performance.