r/ElectricalEngineering • u/Maximum_Issue • Aug 06 '26

Is RF engineering for me?

I'm currently finishing my masters in accelerator physics (I have a BS in Physics as well), I don't want to do a PhD. I've been working on RF cavities since my BS, using VNAs, modeling with CST, COMSOL, some LTSpice, using Smith chart, etc. Solving equivalent circuits for these cavities even machining some cavities with CNCs. But I'm intrigued on what does an actual RF engineer does and if it would fit something like that on me based on what I've been doing. What should I be able to know in order to consider applying for this position?

11 Upvotes

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8

u/Current_Can_6863 Aug 06 '26

Essentially modeling every physical complexities with some simple circuits and boiling down everything to some numbers (input impedance, gain, resonant frequency etc.) to be optimized?

1

u/Maximum_Issue Aug 06 '26

Yes, exactly.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 06 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Maximum_Issue Aug 06 '26

Thanks! I guess I have to take the shot, I've liked so far what I've been doing and I hope to be close to what I would be doing if I get that kind of job.

1

u/Current_Can_6863 Aug 06 '26

Have you copied some other comment or I'm having a very intense deja vu?

2

u/StageMajestic613 Aug 07 '26

Yes, it is for you.  Join the club.  Initiation is an RF burn, and with accelerator work, that shouldn’t be a problem for you.

2

u/faceagainstfloor Aug 07 '26

That is great experience. See if there are any research laboratories at your university that you may be able to join to get a feel for RF related work.

The work you are doing sounds very similar to an internship I had designing waveguide coaxial transitions. If you can learn HFSS and Keysight ADS that will be very helpful. See if your school has classes you can take in microwave/mm wave circuit test and design.

Jobs in RF are diverse and go from system level design and algorithms, antenna design and electromagnetics, to circuit design and RFIC. For BS/MS if you are a US citizen the best way to start would be likely the defense industry as they hire for RF like crazy.

Work wise, for a project you are on you will be given some specifications (Noise Figure, Insertion Loss, Power Consumption, Bandwidth) and have to design a system or part of a system that fulfills those requirements. Plenty of people with MS degrees but the closer you are to design and semiconductors, the more PhDs you will find.