Radio Frequency Engineer

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

A radio frequency engineer could...

Overview Listen to this section

Radio frequency engineers help make sure that information gets from one place to another. This information is transmitted wirelessly as radio waves between electronic devices. Anything you can wirelessly send from one computer to another, listen to on the radio, download on a mobile phone, or see on the television (not connected to cable) is sent wirelessly using radio waves, and the transmission and devices were designed by a radio frequency engineer. Radio frequency engineers are typically electrical engineers who decided to specialize in radio frequency engineering.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Radio Frequency Engineer?

1. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
2. Active Listening: ? Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
3. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.
4. Reading Comprehension: ? Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
5. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

6. Complex Problem Solving: ? Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
7. Writing: ? Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
8. Systems Analysis: ? Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
9. Coordination: ? Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
10. Monitoring: ? Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Radio Frequency Engineer might do:

• Identify operational requirements for new systems to inform selection of technological solutions.
• Integrate tags, readers, or software in radio frequency identification device (RFID) designs.
• Perform systems analysis or programming of radio frequency identification device (RFID) technology.
• Test radio frequency identification device (RFID) software to ensure proper functioning.
• Perform site analyses to determine system configurations, processes to be impacted, or on-site obstacles to technology implementation.
• Select appropriate radio frequency identification device (RFID) tags and determine placement locations.
• Determine means of integrating radio frequency identification device (RFID) into other applications.
• Perform acceptance testing on newly installed or updated systems.
• Collect data about existing client hardware, software, networking, or key business processes to inform implementation of radio frequency identification device (RFID) technology.
• Provide technical support for radio frequency identification device (RFID) technology.
• Install, test, or maintain radio frequency identification device (RFID) systems.
• Test tags or labels to ensure readability.
• Determine usefulness of new radio frequency identification device (RFID) technologies.
• Verify compliance of developed applications with architectural standards and established practices.
• Train users in details of system operation.
• Develop process flows, work instructions, or standard operating procedures for radio frequency identification device (RFID) systems.
• Read current literature, attend meetings or conferences, or talk with colleagues to stay abreast of industry research about new technologies.
• Document equipment or process details of radio frequency identification device (RFID) technology.
• Define and compare possible radio frequency identification device (RFID) solutions to inform selection for specific projects.
• Create simulations or models of radio frequency identification device (RFID) systems to provide information for selection and configuration.
• Analyze radio frequency identification device (RFID)-related supply chain data.