Employers

There are approximately 134,900 electronics engineers, including radio frequency engineers, employed in the United States, according to the Department of Labor. RF engineers are employed by broadcast stations, telecommunications companies. They also work in military offices. Other employment opportunities are in research, development, and testing wireless products for communications and automobile industries. RF engineers also work in aerospace, computers, energy and electric power, and manufacturing.

Starting Out

Many radio frequency engineers get started in their careers through an internship or other type of work-study program while in college. Those who are successful in their internships may be offered employment opportunities upon graduation. Ask your schools career services office for help with finding internships and part-time employment in companies that have radio frequency engineering services. Radio frequency engineers also find job listings through professional associations for engineers as well as through sites such as Indeed, LinkedIn, and SimplyHired, among many others.

Radio frequency engineers with more than five years of experience may advance to become senior engineers, responsible for more complex projects and overseeing the work of other engineers. Those who work in large companies may become managers and department heads. They may leave positions in small companies to take on jobs with larger companies. Radio frequency engineers also advance by furthering their education, by pursuing an advanced degree and seeking certification in specialized areas within engineering. They may become college professors and write and speak about their field at industry-related conferences and events.

Keep up with innovations and news in the radio frequency engineering and related engineering fields by reading publications such as High Frequency Electronics (http://www.highfrequencyelectronics.com) and Microwaves & RF magazine (https://www.mwrf.com).

Join your schools science club and participate in competitions to gain experience in solving engineering problems as well as working with others.

Set up an informational interview with a radio frequency engineer. Prepare a list of questions in advance to gain a better understanding of how they got started in their career and what advice they may have for students interested in this profession.

Join the Technology Student Association for access to educational programs, competitions, and other events and resources for engineering students as well as those interested in math, science, and technology.