JobsMotorola Solutions

RF Design Engineer

Motorola Solutions · Schaumburg, IL

Posted Jul 23, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you had to debug a circuit that wasn't behaving the way you expected. What was your process for narrowing it down?

hands-on troubleshooting instinct rather than pure simulation dependence

Tell me about a project where you were juggling more than one design at the same time. How did you decide where to spend your attention?

capacity to manage multiple concurrent projects as called out in the posting

Describe a time you had to explain a technical RF issue to someone outside your discipline, like a program manager or a supplier. How did you make it land?

communication skill for working across engineering disciplines and with suppliers and factories

Tell me about a time you worked mostly on your own with little oversight. How did you know when to loop others in versus keep pushing forward solo?

fit with the stated expectation to work autonomously while staying coordinated with the team

Technical

Walk me through an RF amplifier you designed from scratch. What were the target specs and how did you hit them?

whether they've actually carried a design end to end, not just simulated a textbook example

Tell me about a VCO or PLL design you worked on. What was the phase noise target and how did you get there?

depth of hands-on experience with the specific circuit types this role needs

How do you use ADS or Momentum in your normal workflow? Walk me through a case where simulation didn't match what you measured on the bench.

real fluency with the named tools and comfort admitting when models are wrong

Have you worked with Cadence Allegro or a similar schematic capture and PCB layout tool? What kind of layout issues have bitten you on RF boards specifically?

whether they understand layout-driven RF problems like grounding, trace length, and coupling, not just schematic design

Do you have experience with Receiver design specifically, things like sensitivity, selectivity, or intermodulation? Tell me about a receiver chain you worked on.

whether their background actually overlaps with the receiver work mentioned in the job description

Have you used LabVIEW or Python for test automation or data collection on RF bench work? Give me an example.

whether the nice-to-have automation skill is real experience or just familiarity

Situational

Say you're designing an RF circuit for a new infrastructure product covering VHF through 900 MHz. What tradeoffs come to mind first when you think about covering that wide a frequency range?

whether they understand the practical difficulty of broadband design versus narrowband, which is central to this assignment

Imagine a legacy product in the field starts failing because a key RF component is going end-of-life. How would you approach finding a replacement and requalifying the circuit?

ability to handle the sustaining-engineering side of the job, not just greenfield design

If your factory partner in Mexico or Elgin flagged a yield problem tied to your RF design, how would you work through it with them remotely?

comfort collaborating across sites and taking ownership of manufacturing feedback

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The full job description

As published by Motorola Solutions.

Company Overview At Motorola Solutions, we believe that everything starts with our people. We’re a global close-knit community, united by the relentless pursuit to help keep people safer everywhere. We build and connect technologies to help protect people, property and places. Our solutions foster the collaboration that’s critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer hospitals, safer businesses, and ultimately, safer nations. Connect with a career that matters, and help us build a safer future. Department Overview Motorola Solutions is building talent pipelines to meet future hiring demands. This is a pipeline role, while there is not an immediate opening, we want to build relationships with prospective candidates like you. If your background is a match to our requirements, we’ll follow up with an exploratory conversation. Job Description The candidate will be responsible for designing, developing, and testing amplifiers, receivers, VCO’s and PLL’s. The initial assignment will consist of developing an RF circuit for the next generation of infrastructure products operating in the VHF through 900 MHz bands.  Other assignments could consist of supporting field issues or end-of-life components related to RF circuits on legacy products. The candidate is expected to have a working knowledge in RF circuit design. He/she should have experience in RF amplifier design, Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) design, Phase Locked Loop (PLL) design, or Receiver design. He/she should enjoy hands-on building and debugging of circuits. During the development phase of a project, the candidate would work closely with other engineers, suppliers, and the factories in Mexico or Elgin, Illinois. Desired Qualifications: • Strong background in RF circuit design and wireless communication theory. • Working knowledge in simulation tools such as ADS and Momentum. • Working knowledge of Cadence Allegro Design Entry HDL and PCB Layout Editor or similar tools. • Working knowledge of Labview or Python is a plus. • Works autonomously but able to work effectively with other engineering disciplines. • Sound analytic skills and able to troubleshoot circuits quickly. • Ability to manage multiple concurrent design projects. • Summarizes complex technical concepts clearly. • Good writing and communication skills. • Having an Amateur Radio License is a plus. Target Base Salary Range: $63,800  - $127,600 USD Consistent with Motorola Solutions values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. Pay within this range varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate.   #LI-JM2 #LI-ONSITE Basic Requirements • Bachelor’s or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering. • Strong background in RF circuit design and wireless communication theory. Travel Requirements None Relocation Provided None Position Type Experienced Referral Payment Plan No Our U.S. Benefits include: • Incentive Bonus Plans • Medical, Dental, Vision benefits • 401K with Company Match • 10 Paid Holidays • Generous Paid Time Off Packages • Employee Stock Purchase Plan • Paid Parental & Family Leave • and more! EEO Statement Motorola Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally-protected characteristic.  We are proud of our people-first and community-focused culture, empowering every Motorolan to be their most authentic self and to do their best work to deliver on the promise of a safer world. If you’d like to join our team but feel that you don’t quite meet all of the preferred skills, we’d still love to hear why you think you’d be a great addition to our team. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruiting experience for candidates with disabilities, or other physical or mental health conditions. To request an accommodation, please complete this  Reasonable Accommodations Form  so we can assist you.

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