Student interested in RF/Microwave wondering what the industry is like

[galvanix]

I am currently an EE student and I am very interested in RF/Microwave and plan on specializing in that field.

The more I look at applications of RF/Microwave technology (esp. Radar) I get the feeling that the RF/MW industry is based around military/defense applications.

I don't think I'll be fine with doing design work on a weapons system so I am wondering what other applications of RF/MW there are (apart from mobile phones)? Should I be focusing more on RFIC design instead of antenna systems?

Thank you!
galvanix

[DenzilPenberthy]

I accidentally got a job in RF after university even though I much preferred digital. I was working on RF welding of plastics. So high power sources and matching networks plus EMC stuff. I've also worked on designing and manufacturing MRI stuff like coils and transmit/receive switches and splitters.

In general though yes, most of the jobs in RF I'd say were in defence (especially locally to me in SW England) and like you I don't want to work on weapon systems so I've moved away from RF as a specialism into a much more general role.

[galvanix]

Thanks for your reply!

I have been told to look into the commercial space industry as well, altough all of that stuff might be under ITAR in the US or similar regulations in other countries.

[LabSpokane]

If you want to work in RF in North America, Toronto is THE place. ITAR drove virtually all high end RF work to Canada.

[G0HZU]

Note that there's a lot of RF design work available in the defence industry that 'isn't' weapons related.

i.e. you could choose a defence company that specialises in communications equipment and/or one that specialises in ESM/ECM equipment. There are lots of interesting avenues in the ECM/ESM world, many of them aimed at keeping (military or civilian) people alive in hostile locations. It isn't all about trying to fire missiles or other weapons at an enemy. Quite a few defence companies don't get involved in stuff like this

[Lord of nothing]

@galvanix
How about the well known Radio Company's?

Sadly in that topic maybe you will find a company who build mil hardware because the civil stuff is quite boring.

[1design]

I have been working in the microwave/mmW space for my entire(short) career and disagree on the boring side of civilian design.

As an electronics engineer specialized in microwave technology you can work on anything from new waveform designs for 5G, to hardware for these platforms or DSP algorithms for predistortion, advanced waveforms, low latency applications etc. There is an entire branch of specialized products for high tech industries, or maybe test and measurement is also an option, are particle accelerators something you would like to get stuck into, there is always demand for talent there! In the last 5 years mmW technology went main stream and you have a chance to ride the wave of car radars on these frequencies or maybe get a shot at designing 10G mmW front ends!

I would say that all of the options mentioned above are exciting and offer a good position for a life long career in microwave technology while being on the edge of what is being developed. I missed a whole load of different branches and opportunities that lay in wait for young people that want to venture into the microwave world.

[energy_hunter]

I've been an RF/microwave engineer for >20yrs now and what I love about it is the variety. No day is ever the same when you work with RF/microwave chips, boards, systems. The variety of the work is great and I enjoy working with foundry engineers, packaging engineers, quality/reliability engineers and customers.  Never a dull moment! 

[raspberrypi]

I was wondering this myself. I just remember going to my dads work as a kid in the 90's and thinking what a bunch of strange people. Aspberger's seems a requirement.