Senior Principal Consultant

Description:

Stefanini Group is seeking a Hardware Senior Principal Consultant to join their team in Ottawa, Ontario (On-site). The role involves working on highly complex hardware design and development challenges within the 4G/5G radio ecosystem, driving innovative solutions, and leading technical teams to achieve exceptional product performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Address and resolve complex hardware design problems, delivering innovative, high-impact solutions.

• Apply independent judgment to achieve design goals and organizational objectives.

• Analyze industry trends to guide organizational strategy, long-term planning, and product innovation.

• Contribute to the evaluation of new product plans, budgets, and existing hardware improvements.

• Lead and provide technical guidance on projects affecting long-term company goals.

• Establish cost targets through strategic design and supplier selection.

• Engage directly with customers to identify needs and ensure satisfaction.

• Define requirements and specifications for entire system architectures under consultative supervision.

Design & Architecture Responsibilities

• Own the RF signal chain for 5G Radio Units (RUs), focusing on LNAs, mixers, PLLs/synthesizers, filters, switches, drivers, and power amplifiers.

• Create link budgets and frequency plans, ensuring compliance with black-box/system-level requirements within power, thermal, and component constraints.

• Drive component selection, vendor engagement, and oversee DFM/DFT and NPI/volume ramp processes with manufacturing partners.

• Prepare detailed design documentation, verification plans/reports, and test/calibration specifications.

Implementation Responsibilities

• Perform schematic capture and layout definition using Cadence Concept HDL and Allegro.

• Utilize advanced RF simulation tools (Keysight ADS, AWR Microwave Office, MATLAB) for co-simulation and EM analysis to de-risk designs.

Validation & Test Responsibilities

• Lead board, module, and RU-level bring-up and characterization.

• Measure and optimize parameters like gain, noise figure, P1dB, IP3, ACLR, EVM, phase noise, and return loss.

• Develop and execute verification plans with automation where possible.

• Collaborate with software teams for calibration/control to ensure seamless hardware-software integration.

Collaboration & Leadership

• Collaborate closely with system, digital, software, thermal, and mechanical teams for full RU integration.

• Mentor junior engineers and review their technical work for quality assurance.

• Maintain strong vendor relationships and lead component selection decisions.

• Contribute to innovation through patent filings and architectural proposals.

Job Requirements

Essential Requirements

• Proven experience in RF circuit design within the Radio Unit (RU) ecosystem from concept to production.

• Hands-on experience in 4G/5G radio development, RU architecture, and subsystem design.

• Deep understanding of 3GPP standards and global regulatory considerations.

• Strong knowledge of Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD) techniques and RF chain implications.

• Proficiency with RF lab equipment including VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and power meters.

• Expertise in Cadence Concept HDL/Allegro, ADS, AWR, and MATLAB.

• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.

Desirable Requirements

• Over 7 years of experience in RF hardware design, production, and testing.

• Experience in Power Amplifier (PA) linearization, factory and field calibration, and defining manufacturing test strategies.

• Participation in next-generation radio architecture development and proposals.

Benefits

• 22 Total Paid Time Off (PTO) days, including:

  • 10 Days (80 hours) PTO – accrual basis

  • 9 Holidays per year (on average)

  • 3 Personal Days

About Stefanini Group

Stefanini Group is a CMM Level 5 global IT consulting and digital transformation company providing offshore, onshore, and nearshore outsourcing, systems integration, application development, and strategic staffing services to Fortune 1000 clients across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The company serves over 400 clients across industries such as financial services, manufacturing, telecommunications, public sector, and utilities.