Principal / Lead Hardware Engineer – RF

GridCrest – Company Profile
GridCrest is a leading Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Provider (AMISP) in India. We manufacture over 5 lakh smart energy meters monthly with a fully captive ecosystem spanning Design, Development, Validation, Software, and Managed Services teams. With a turnover of ₹600 Crore and exponential growth, we are expanding into smart water and gas metering. Our secure and data-intensive ecosystem is supported by our state-of-the-art facilities in Hyderabad and Kolkata.
Job Description & Roles, Responsibilities, Accountability- Principal / Lead Hardware Engineer – RF

Position: Principal / Lead Hardware Engineer – RF
Location: Delhi / Kolkata
Industry Preference: Smart Metering / IoT / Telecom / Embedded Hardware
Role Summary:
Lead end-to-end RF and hardware design strategy for smart metering and IoT communication devices. Drive cross-functional hardware teams and ensure market-relevant product outcomes across multiple design silos.

Key Responsibilities:
1. RF System Architecture & Trade-off Authority
Architect complete RF chains across:
Sub-GHz ISM (169/433/868/915 MHz)
Cellular IoT (NB-IoT, LTE-M, 2G fallback where applicable)
Perform first-principles link budget derivation including:
Path loss models (urban/rural, indoor penetration)
Fade margins, interference envelopes, coexistence margins
Define and own:
Receiver sensitivity targets vs power budget
Selectivity, blocking, intermodulation performance
Noise figure cascades and system linearity (IP3/IP2)
2. Antenna Engineering & Electromagnetic Integration
Lead antenna selection, design, and co-design with enclosure
Deep involvement in:
Impedance tuning under real housing conditions
Ground plane optimization in constrained meter form factors
Radiation pattern shaping for installation variability
Own:
TRP/TIS optimization in near-field disturbed environments (metal enclosures, cabinets)
Drive simulation-to-reality correlation using:
CST / HFSS / EM solvers vs chamber measurements
3. RF Front-End & Circuit Design Authority
Architect RF front-end blocks:
LNAs, PAs, switches, filters (SAW/BAW), matching networks
Deep understanding of:
Harmonic suppression, spurious management
Coexistence (multi-radio interference: cellular + sub-GHz + GNSS)
Define multi-band matching strategies and reconfigurable front-ends
4. PCB & Layout for RF Integrity
Establish organization-wide standards for:
Controlled impedance routing (microstrip/stripline)
Return current paths and grounding topology
RF shielding strategies
Own layout reviews for RF-critical designs, including:
Isolation between noisy digital and RF domains
Power integrity impact on RF performance
5. RF Validation, Debug & Failure Analysis (Expert Level)
Lead deep debug using:
VNA, Spectrum Analyzer, Signal Generators, Network Analysis
Diagnose:
Desense issues
Spurious emissions
Field failures due to environmental variability
Own correlation between:
Lab results ↔ field deployment anomalies
6. Regulatory & Global Certification Strategy
Not just execution—strategic ownership
Optimize design for:
FCC / ETSI / CE / BIS / PTCRB / carrier certifications
Anticipate failure modes in:
Radiated emissions
Conducted spurs
Drive pre-compliance frameworks internally
7. Metering-Specific RF Complexity
Design for:
Harsh EMI environments (transformers, switchgear, industrial noise)
Deep indoor penetration (basements, meter boxes)
Balance:
Ultra-low power vs reliable connectivity
Understand:
Deployment realities (utility cabinets, dense installations)
RRA
Role
RF System Architect & Authority
Hardware Platform Leader
Cross-functional Technical Integrator
Responsibilities
Define RF architecture across all product lines
Ensure first-pass success in certification cycles
Lead complex RF debugging and field issue resolution
Drive platform reuse and design standardization
Accountabilities
RF performance in field deployments (not just lab success)
Certification success without multiple costly redesigns
Time-to-market impact of RF decisions
Scalability of RF design across geographies and SKUs
Key Competencies
- Deep RF expertise
- System-level thinking
- Leadership and decision-making
- Cross-functional collaboration
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