RF Test Engineer

Who is Elve?

Elve, Inc is a deep-tech startup in Davis, CA whose patent-pending technology enables 100x faster wireless internet access in urban settings and remote locations. Elve delivers a transformative approach to the design and manufacturing of high-efficiency lightweight millimeter-wave and near-THz RF power amplifiers in large quantities. Our solutions enable the next generation of wireless connectivity well beyond 5G as well as high-resolution imaging and radar. We are looking for associate production engineers to play key roles in bringing our technology to market. If you are passionate about the future of RF electronics, additive manufacturing, precision assembly, microfabrication, vacuum systems, advanced materials processing, and working on a small and energetic team - we can’t wait to meet you!

Job Description

An RF test engineer at Elve is responsible for the characterization of the performance of Elve products and systems, as well as the design, development, deployment of test and quality infrastructure and systems. This will include performing RF measurements on amplifiers and passive components and operating test high-voltage test equipment (up to 15 kV), as well as creating and documenting the test procedures and automating them using Python. Given the size of our team, there are lots of opportunities to grow, be challenged, and take on new opportunities, skills and responsibilities. This is a full-time salaried position. The goal of this position is to allow us to rapidly iterate and validate our manufacturing process and approaches while improving our design throughput.

Responsibilities

Assignments may include performing product tuning, testing and troubleshooting of RF microwave devices. This will include measuring S-parameters of passive and active devices. It will include measuring gain and power transfer information on amplifiers, and assessing stability. In addition to standard test equipment such as oscilloscopes, and multimeters, you will use signal generators, diode detectors, power meters, vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers. You will work with waveguide and waveguide couplers, coaxial cables, and high-voltage power supplies.

Work Environment

May be a combination of the following but not limited to:

• Manufacturing facility
• ISO 5 - ISO 7 Cleanroom
• Laboratory
• Machine shop
• Warehouse
• Office

Qualifications

• Familiarity with testing electronic devices, preferably including experience with testing microwave devices and or RF amplifiers
• Familiarity with electronic test equipment and the use of high voltage power supplies, including high voltage safety practices
• Familiarity with oscilloscopes, multimeters, other electrical test equipment
• Able to read and interpret test procedures and assembly drawings

• Hands-on experience building devices (of any kind)
• Outstanding troubleshooting skills
• Willing to learn and adaptable
• Self-motivated
• Experience working in a team environment
• Be able to quickly switch between tasks
• Detail-oriented

Good to have:

• Experience using a network analyzer and other RF test equipment/accessories
• Experience with RF amplifiers or waveguide hardware
• Experience with Ultra-High-Vacuum systems
• Coding experience, particularly Python (for automation and data-processing/analysis), ideally with hardware communication
• Knowledge of environmental test processes and equipment is beneficial.
• Experience with high voltage
• Great communication skills
• J-STD-001 training preferred

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors engineering degree OR associates degree in a technical field with equivalent work experience
• 1-5 years of engineering professional experience
• Basic hands-on tools experience
• Ability to lift 50 lbs

Benefits Include:

• Competitive salary
• Health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• Vacation time
• A taste of the start-up life
• Exposure to cutting-edge technology in vacuum electronics, materials science, and additive manufacturing.
• Rubbing shoulders and brainstorming with multiple Ph.D. and masters-level engineers

What it’s like to work at Elve

We are a small team (for now!) on a mission to bring the next generation of high-speed wireless connectivity to a billion people worldwide. That kind of impact is not going to be achieved with incremental improvements- we are gunning for orders of magnitude advances in production capability, cost, size, and power in the mm-wave RF amplifier market. We ask “dumb” questions all the time because we always have something to learn. We work really hard, make sure to get good sleep, handle conflict intentionally, and expect great things from each other.