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What does a microwave engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
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Microwave engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real microwave engineer resumes:

  • Perform detailed analysis to determine antenna size, radio equipment and frequency band to achieve maximum system performance.
  • Design of a 138kV transmission line using PLS CADD and LiDar survey points.
  • Design 5 RF PC boards in 4 months, as well as supporting documents and schematics.
  • Upgrade as well as configured the CDMA sets for new software version using ZTE PST and QPST.
  • Prepare monthly and weekly status reports for execute activities in ZAIN SD network within the assigned node.
  • Assist in design and test of antennas for airborne and groundbase EW systems including broadband, low sidelobe components.
  • Maintain OFC, SDH, DWDM infrastructure, path provisioning and protection and deletion at times of fibre issues.
  • Issue work orders to market and national operations teams pertaining to new node implementation/augmentation, trunk migration, etc.
  • Mentor technicians for RF test, data analysis, troubleshooting the manufacturing issue and improving the accuracy of the testing bench.
  • Validate and simulate various strip gratings and passive antenna arrays.
  • Develop miniature broadband dipole arrays for airborne direction finding systems.
  • Complete numerous electric transmission line design projects using LIDAR and existing plan and profile information to model topography.
  • Work directly with product managers and UI designers to understand business requirements to ensure product visions are properly interpret and implement.
  • Operate and maintain a company vehicle, cellphone, and laptop using a VPN connection.
  • Focuse on resolving numerous cross browser compatibility relate to CSS and JavaScript.

Microwave engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 33% of Microwave Engineers are proficient in RF, Google Earth, and MATLAB. They’re also known for soft skills such as Initiative, Speaking skills, and Writing skills.

We break down the percentage of Microwave Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • RF, 33%

    Gained expertise level in RF optimization and performance evaluation of CDMA Network by working on 806 cell sites in Boston.

  • Google Earth, 7%

    Expected Receive Levels based upon Loss and Gain variables built in the path design Path-Loss and Google Earth Terrain plots

  • MATLAB, 7%

    Developed in Matlab, LabView, Modelsim and Simplicity.

  • Network Design, 7%

    Network design with path loss, Google-earth, VISON, to create link budget, slot plan, link capacity plan.

  • Antenna, 5%

    Conducted experiments with Time Domain Gating applied to antenna phase measurement.

  • MW, 4%

    Manned the war room accepting MW links and preparing ring audits for commissioning efforts.

Most microwave engineers use their skills in "rf," "google earth," and "matlab" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential microwave engineer responsibilities here:

Initiative. One of the key soft skills for a microwave engineer to have is initiative. You can see how this relates to what microwave engineers do because "electrical and electronics engineers must apply their knowledge to new tasks in every project they undertake." Additionally, a microwave engineer resume shows how microwave engineers use initiative: "led initiative to standardize css, themes and javascript for cross browser and cross platform support. "

Speaking skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling microwave engineer duties is speaking skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "electrical and electronics engineers work closely with other engineers and technicians." According to a microwave engineer resume, here's how microwave engineers can utilize speaking skills in their job responsibilities: "represented c cor in the development of the scte hms standard for transponder communications to head-end equipment. "

Writing skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of microwave engineers is writing skills. This skill is critical to many everyday microwave engineer duties, as "electrical and electronics engineers develop technical publications related to equipment they develop, including maintenance manuals, operation manuals, parts lists, product proposals, and design methods documents." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "included designing embankments, developing tailings deposition plans, performing capital cost estimates, developing drawings, and writing reports. "

Math skills. microwave engineer responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "electrical and electronics engineers must use the principles of calculus and other advanced math in order to analyze, design, and troubleshoot equipment." This resume example shows what microwave engineers do with math skills on a typical day: "risk assessment, data analysis and mathematical modeling discovery of a scientific law regarding error estimators"

Most common microwave engineer skills

The three companies that hire the most microwave engineers are:

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Compare different microwave engineers

Microwave engineer vs. Senior pcb designer

Controls designers both design and draft systems of hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical controls for equipment and machines. The designers make diagrams of the logic system for timing and sequence control. They illustrate and describe details for installation and maintenance, such as bearing lubrication and lubrication types. It is part of their job to review schematics with the representatives of customers to answer questions during robot system installation. Also, they may design energy conversion controls.

We looked at the average microwave engineer salary and compared it with the wages of a senior pcb designer. Generally speaking, senior pcb designers are paid $6,988 higher than microwave engineers per year.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between microwave engineers and senior pcb designers are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like rf, r, and bom.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, microwave engineer responsibilities require skills like "google earth," "matlab," "network design," and "antenna." Meanwhile a typical senior pcb designer has skills in areas such as "schematic capture," "pcb layout," "analog," and "mentor graphics." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Senior pcb designers tend to reach lower levels of education than microwave engineers. In fact, senior pcb designers are 20.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.4% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Microwave engineer vs. Controls designer

An engineering trainee is responsible for shadowing engineers in their duties and performing administrative tasks as needed. Engineering trainees assist the engineers in inspecting construction sites and conducting field research. They also identify cost-efficient materials and resources that meet quality standards and client specifications. An engineering trainee must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing reports, attending meetings, and ensuring that all reports are submitted for management's reviews, such as contracts from suppliers and vendors.

A career as a controls designer brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a microwave engineer. In fact, controls designers salary is $3,817 lower than the salary of microwave engineers per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both microwave engineers and controls designers have skills such as "matlab," "r," and "bom. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that microwave engineer responsibilities requires skills like "rf," "google earth," "network design," and "antenna." But a controls designer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "plc," "control panels," "ids," and "auto cad."

Controls designers earn a lower average salary than microwave engineers. But controls designers earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $88,405. Additionally, microwave engineers earn the highest salaries in the internet with average pay of $136,155 annually.controls designers earn lower levels of education than microwave engineers in general. They're 11.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Microwave engineer vs. Engineering trainee

Staff design engineers are tasked to assess the efficiency of instruments, technologies, and equipment by collaborating with the engineering team to plan, design, and develop technologies efficiently. Their responsibilities include building and setting up, as wells as improving systems and procedures. They should possess strong attention to detail, good visual and spatial awareness, creativity, problem-solving, excellent verbal, written, and project management skills, and strong mathematical and IT skills to become efficient and effective staff design engineers.

An average engineering trainee eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of microwave engineers. The difference in salaries amounts to engineering trainees earning a $35,526 lower average salary than microwave engineers.Using the responsibilities included on microwave engineers and engineering trainees resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "rf," "matlab," and "r.rdquo;

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a microwave engineer is likely to be skilled in "google earth," "network design," "antenna," and "mw," while a typical engineering trainee is skilled in "excellent interpersonal," "fire protection," "technical support," and "boilers."

Engineering trainees earn the highest salary when working in the energy industry, where they receive an average salary of $63,253. Comparatively, microwave engineers have the highest earning potential in the internet industry, with an average salary of $136,155.Most engineering trainees achieve a lower degree level compared to microwave engineers. For example, they're 5.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Microwave engineer vs. Staff design engineer

Staff design engineers average a higher salary than the annual salary of microwave engineers. The difference is about $32,310 per year.According to resumes from microwave engineers and staff design engineers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "rf," "r," and "switches. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between microwave engineers and staff design engineers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a microwave engineer might have more use for skills like "google earth," "matlab," "network design," and "antenna." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of staff design engineers require skills like "architecture," "cad," "synthesis," and "analog. "

Staff design engineers enjoy the best pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $127,511. For comparison, microwave engineers earn the highest salary in the internet industry.staff design engineers reach similar levels of education compared to microwave engineers, in general. The difference is that they're 1.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 2.9% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of microwave engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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