RF Antenna Development Engineer

Location: Rochester Hills, MI

Position Overview

We are seeking an RF Antenna Development Engineer with strong experience in automotive antenna systems, electronic ECU development, RF integration, validation, and component release. This position will work closely with OEM customers and internal engineering teams to support antenna development from requirements definition through validation, release, and production.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with automotive RF systems, antenna technologies, RF performance evaluation, vehicle integration, and OEM development processes.

Key Responsibilities

Antenna Development & RF Engineering

• Develop, validate, and support release activities for automotive antenna systems including AM/FM, SDARS, GPS, GNSS, Galileo, DAB, Cellular, and WiFi.

• Interpret and develop antenna performance criteria and technical requirements.

• Review and analyze polar plots, frequency-domain data, RF field effects, and nominal dB gain levels.

• Apply knowledge of RG coaxial cable standards, including loss, frequency response, capacitance, and 50-ohm / 75-ohm cable characteristics.

• Support packaging and integration requirements associated with SDARS antenna systems.

• Evaluate and resolve RF intermodulation, interference, and coexistence issues affecting surrounding electronic devices.

• Support RF noise mitigation strategies and related vehicle-level integration activities.

Automotive Electronics & ECU Development

• Apply a strong understanding of the automotive electronic ECU development process.

• Design, release, and integrate RF-related cables, components, and noise-mitigation devices.

• Support the complete development lifecycle of vehicle electrical components, including:

  • Design

  • Development

  • Packaging

  • Testing

  • Calibration

  • Validation

  • Release

• Interface with customer product-development engineering teams to understand and implement vehicle-level functional requirements.

OEM & Product Development Support

• Work directly with OEM customers to understand antenna component-level specifications and performance requirements.

• Participate in product-development and assurance activities including:

  • Product Assurance Planning

  • Program Management

  • DFMEA

  • DVP&R

  • DVRR

  • Timing Proactive Quality Planning

• Support component development and validation activities throughout the program lifecycle.

Quality & Change Management

• Participate in Reactive Quality Problem Solving activities.

• Support customer Quality teams during:

  • Process Sign-Off

  • PFMEA reviews

  • Product and process validation activities

• Release components through applicable Change Management Systems / Change Notices (CNs).

• Coordinate directly with customer engineering and quality counterparts regarding technical changes, product concerns, and release activities.

Required Technical Knowledge

Candidates should have working knowledge and hands-on familiarity with:

• Automotive antenna development and release

• AM/FM, SDARS, GPS, GNSS, Galileo, DAB, Cellular, and WiFi antenna systems

• RF field effects and nominal gain levels

• Polar plots and frequency-domain analysis

• 50-ohm and 75-ohm coaxial cable characteristics

• SDARS packaging requirements

• RF interference and intermodulation mitigation

• Automotive ECU development

• DFMEA and DVP&R

• Vehicle electrical-system development and validation

• Component release and engineering change processes

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent from an ABET-accredited university

• Electrical Engineering degree is a MUST HAVE

• Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited university is preferred

Experience

• Minimum 2+ years of electronic ECU development and component releasing experience

Travel

Some travel may be required, including domestic travel, Mexico, and EMEA.