The Quiet Resurgence of RF Engineering
The author observes a 'quiet resurgence' in RF engineering, a field they once perceived as stagnant, primarily driven by space and military applications. While commenters broadly agree on the current boom, many dispute the notion that RF ever truly stagnated, pointing to continuous innovation in consumer tech like 3G/4G/5G. The discussion delves into the drivers of this current demand, challenges with proprietary tools, and concerns about the future supply of skilled engineers.
The Lowdown
The article posits that Radio Frequency (RF) engineering, once considered a quiet and non-evolving field, is experiencing a significant resurgence. This renewed interest and demand are reshaping the industry, pulling it from what the author initially perceived as a period of relative dormancy.
- Drivers of Resurgence: The primary catalysts identified are the burgeoning space industry (e.g., Amazon, SpaceX) and expanding military applications, particularly in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and drone/Electronic Warfare (EW) development. There's also an acknowledgment of Apple's impact on handset baseband technology.
- Debate on Prior Stagnation: Many readers challenge the author's premise that the field was ever truly 'quiet' or 'non-evolving,' highlighting continuous innovation in consumer technologies like 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE networks, Wi-Fi (802.1x), and the miniaturization of GPS receivers.
- Tooling Challenges: A practical issue discussed is the high cost of proprietary RF simulation tools like HFSS and CST, leading some engineers to explore and advocate for open-source alternatives like EMerge.
- Workforce Concerns: A key concern for the future is the potential bottleneck in talent supply, with doubts raised about the capacity of American technical universities to meet the growing demand for new Electrical Engineers due to declining societal investment.
Overall, the piece illuminates a dynamic shift in RF engineering, prompting a lively discussion among practitioners about its past, present, and the challenges that lie ahead in sustaining this unexpected boom.
The Gossip
Stagnation Scrutiny
Many commenters took issue with the author's initial assessment that RF engineering was a 'quiet, non-evolving field.' They countered this by citing continuous innovations over the past two decades, including the widespread adoption of 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE, and 802.1x in consumer devices, as well as the significant engineering feat of integrating GPS receivers into phones.
Driving Demands
Commenters largely agreed that the hiring market for RF engineers is indeed heating up. The primary drivers identified are the rapidly expanding space sector, with major players like Amazon and SpaceX, and increasingly active military applications, particularly in LEO and the development of drones and Electronic Warfare (EW) systems. Some also noted Apple's influence in handset baseband technology.
Tooling Trials and Triumphs
A practical pain point raised was the prohibitive license costs associated with industry-standard RF simulation tools like HFSS and CST. This has led some engineers to actively seek and utilize open-source alternatives, with EMerge highlighted as a promising new option, despite still being somewhat rough around the edges.
Education Erosion
A significant concern for the long-term sustainability of this RF resurgence was raised regarding the supply of qualified American Electrical Engineers. Commenters worried that the infrastructure for training new EEs, particularly technical universities, is not keeping pace with demand due to a perceived lack of societal investment and supportive public policy.