Senior Antenna Design Engineer

As a Senior Antenna Design Engineer at Skydio, your primary responsibilities include architecting and designing high-performance antennas suitable for our next-generation autonomous drones, overseeing manufacturing processes to ensure quality implementation of antenna systems, and conducting extensive EMI and RF desense mitigation simulations and testing. You will also collaborate closely with various engineering teams to define antenna requirements and conduct laboratory measurements and prototyping.

To be considered for the Senior Antenna Design Engineer role at Skydio, candidates typically need strong technical experience in antenna design or electromagnetics, particularly in developing antennas for consumer electronic devices. Proficiency in EM simulation software such as ANSYS HFSS or CST, as well as familiarity with RF lab equipment and a solid understanding of regulatory requirements, are crucial for success in this position.

A Senior Antenna Design Engineer at Skydio uses several advanced software and tools, including EM simulation software such as ANSYS HFSS or CST for antenna design and evaluation. You will also use Matlab for data processing, and be familiar with RF lab equipment like a 3D anechoic chamber, Vector Network Analyzer (VNA), and Spectrum Analyzer (SA) for antenna characterization and performance testing.

Skydio ensures high-quality antenna systems by integrating thorough manufacturing processes and conducting rigorous testing, including EMI and RF desense mitigation simulations. Collaboration among the interdisciplinary teams of design, product management, RF, and hardware engineering allows for continual refinement of antenna requirements, ensuring that all regulatory and performance goals are met.

The Senior Antenna Design Engineer role at Skydio stands out due to its focus on innovative engineering within the rapidly evolving field of autonomous flight. You'll be part of a multidisciplinary team at a pioneering company, working directly on cutting-edge technology that impacts various sectors, including consumer, enterprise, and government operations. The collaborative and inclusive work environment at Skydio further enhances the unique experience of contributing to advancements in drone technology.

When answering this question, highlight your past experiences in antenna design, emphasizing specific projects that relate to the technologies used at Skydio. Discuss the challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the tools you used, such as ANSYS HFSS or CST. This will show not only your technical expertise but also your ability to problem-solve and innovate.

In your response, detail your method for conducting EMI and RF desense mitigation. Discuss tools and techniques you use to simulate and test for desense and the strategies you've implemented in the past to address these challenges. This reflects your practical knowledge and expertise in ensuring antenna performance.

Share your expertise in EM simulation software, elaborating on specific instances where you applied it to achieve design goals. Whether it was ANSYS HFSS or CST, make sure to connect your experience with the requirements of the Senior Antenna Design Engineer position at Skydio, showcasing your capability to deliver high-quality work.

Explain your approach to balancing cost and performance in antenna development. Discuss your thought process, decision-making criteria, and any frameworks you apply. Providing an example from your experience can demonstrate your ability to make sound engineering decisions while maintaining project viability.

This is an opportunity to highlight your familiarity with the carrier certification process and regulatory requirements such as those set by the FCC or CE. Share specific details about how you navigated these processes in previous roles to ensure product compliance and successful certification.

Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your answer. Describe the challenging situation, what your task was, the specific actions you took to address the problem, and the outcomes. This provides insight into your problem-solving skills and mindset.

Emphasize your communication and interpersonal skills when promoting collaboration. Talk about your experience in working with industrial design, hardware, RF, and other engineering teams, and how you leverage different perspectives to achieve project goals. Examples of successful teamwork will strengthen your response.

Outline the specific techniques and equipment you’ve used for laboratory RF and antenna measurements, such as VNA and SA. Explain how you ensure accurate results in your testing and how this impacts the design and performance of antenna systems.

Show your commitment to professional development by sharing how you actively pursue learning in antenna design. This might include reading industry publications, attending conferences, or participating in relevant online courses. Discussing your efforts to stay current demonstrates your passion and dedication to the field.

Discuss the key factors you consider when defining antenna requirements, such as performance metrics, regulatory compliance, material constraints, and cost considerations. Sharing a systematic approach to requirement definition highlights your experience and thoroughness in antenna design.