Respected and Lucky (Being RF) Professionals,

I am an Electronics Engineer Undergraduate student from GIKI(Pakistan).I am enrolled in 6th semester.I want to pursue my career in RF (because it is very interesting).Radars,Transmitters,Communication systems,Transmitter Chips interests me a lot.I want to be designer of these sort of things.I mean ,I want to be RF design Engineer.My dream job is RF job right after graduation.I want to learn all Pre-requisite of this job during my stay at college.
I will pass all communication and control courses before I graduate.I will learn all following design tools.
HFSS
ADS
AMDS
Microwave Office
I have already learned Matlab and Labview.
I need to ask following questions please guide me.
1)Which design tools ,I am missing?
2)Which courses I should pass(other than communication and control)?
3)Which things I must learn before I apply for this sort of job?
4)Which sort of projects ,I should complete to make me closer to RF design job?
5)Is it possible to complete all Pre-requisites of this job on my own (being a student at University)?Is it possible to be independent in RF design job?
6)To get hand on experience ,I will ask some RF firm to assign me some project and I will complete it as FYP.Which sort of projects are recommended(that make me closer to my aim)?
7)Wich skills,designs are highly respected in this field?
Where I can read recent advancements(startup technologies ,problems) in RF field?
9)What is difference between me (EE about to graduate) and an independent designer?How to abridge this difference?Must I have some training?Which company is best for training?
Any extra advice?
Thanks for your time
Asim,
asim569@gmail.com

Hi asim569,

It appears that you have a good mix of skills to get you started. Of course, undergraduate level usage of the simulation tools and even test equipment does not really compare to what you will be doing even in your first year of actual engineering work. But, it is very helpful to at least know the features and how to use the programs. Unfortunately now is a bad time to try to break into the RF design field since so many of the companies are laying off now. Your best option now if poossible is to stay in schoold and earn your Master's degree. Good luck.