RFID Systems Engineer

Location: San Diego, CA

Department: Systems Engineering

ABOUT US

At RADAR, we're transforming the way the world thinks about physical retail. RADAR has raised over $104M from top investors, retailers, and strategics and works with some of the world's retail brands including American Eagle and Gap. We’re building the future of in-store experience where every product and every person can be precisely located in real time.

Our platform combines RFID and AI to unlock hyper-accurate product visibility and automation at scale. From real-time inventory tracking to seamless checkout experiences, our technology empowers some of the world’s largest retailers to streamline operations, reduce loss, and elevate both employee and customer experiences.

We’re a fast-growing, mission-driven startup where bold ideas, collaboration, and impact are at the core of everything we do. Join us as we reshape the physical world with digital precision, starting with retail and expanding far beyond!

OUR VALUES

Mission-Driven: We're transforming retail with cutting-edge technology and building something that truly matters.

Collaborative Team: We thrive on curiosity, shared goals, and solving complex problems together.

High Impact: You’ll make meaningful contributions from day one and help shape the future of our product and company.

Clear Communication: We value honesty, humility, and respectful dialogue—everyone’s voice matters.

Balanced Lives: We work hard, but not at the expense of well-being. We respect time, boundaries, and life outside of work.

Diverse Perspectives: We believe better ideas come from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints.

Empathy-Driven Design: We build with deep respect for our end users, listening closely to their feedback and needs.

ABOUT THE JOB

We are currently seeking a Systems Engineer to join our team and assist with efforts in modeling, simulating, and improving the performance of PHY and MAC systems. In this role, you will be responsible for identifying and addressing RF, Digital and Channel impairments, collaborating closely with engineers to validate and define performance requirements, and implementing physical layer algorithms. This position demands a strong proficiency in C++ and a deep understanding of wireless communication principles, enabling you to make critical decisions on performance versus implementation complexity. Your work will directly impact the development and optimization of advanced wireless technologies, requiring both innovative thinking and rigorous analysis.

Responsibilities:

• Define, implement, and simulate physical layer algorithms.
• Identify and model system impairments in C++, validate against lab measurements.
• Simulate impact of impairments on PHY and MAC layer performance.
• Collaborate with engineers to specify system requirements.
• Analyze trade-offs between performance and implementation complexity.
• Devise and implement test strategies that adequately assess all aspects of the wireless system.
• Work with other engineers to troubleshoot and resolve issues.
• Document algorithms for Software and RTL Designers.

ABOUT YOU

Required:

• You have a Bachelor's degree in wireless communications and signal processing.
• You have 2+ years of experience simulating end-to-end wireless systems under various RF conditions.
• You are familiar with fixed-point design and implementation trade-offs.
• You have strong C++ programming skills.
• You have strong root-cause analysis skills.
• You are able to collaborate with people of different working styles.
• You are driven, deadline and detail oriented.

Preferred:

• You have knowledge of RFID and sensor technologies and test procedures.
• Master's or PhD in wireless communications and signal processing.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

In your first 30 days, you will:

• Learn Radar’s mission, technology stack and core values.
• Complete onboarding and security compliance training.
• Understand the fundamentals of Radar’s RFID system (RF, PHY, MAC and localization).

In your first 60 days, you will:

• Understand how to collect system performance data (lab and/or simulation).
• Take ownership for the development of a low-level performance analysis.
• Be able to compile, configure and run the C++ PHY layer simulator.

In your first 90 days, you will:

• Complete the performance analysis of a low-level PHY or MAC algorithm in Radar’s automated test environment.
• Make improvements to the utility of Radar’s C++ PHY layer simulator.

At RADAR, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The expected base salary range for this position is $130,000 - $175,000 . Individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors,  including job-related skills, experience and relevant education or training.You will also be eligible to receive other benefits including: equity, comprehensive medical and dental coverage, life and disability benefits, 401k plan,  flexible time off, and paid parental leave. The pay range listed for this position is a good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible base compensation at the time of posting. 

Research has shown that women & underrepresented minorities are more likely to read lists of requirements and consider themselves unqualified if they don't meet every single one. This list represents what we're ideally looking for, but everyone has unique strengths & weaknesses, and we hire for strength & potential, not lack of weakness.

Use of artificial intelligence or a LLM such as ChatGPT during the interview process will be grounds for rejection of your application process.