What to do about the lack of RF jobs in Canada - RF Cafe Forums

RF Cafe Forums closed its virtual doors in late 2012 mainly due to other social media platforms dominating public commenting venues. RF Cafe Forums began sometime around August of 2003 and was quite well-attended for many years. By 2012, Facebook and Twitter were overwhelmingly dominating online personal interaction, and RF Cafe Forums activity dropped off precipitously. Regardless, there are still lots of great posts in the archive that ware worth looking at. Below are the old forum threads, including responses to the original posts. Here is the full original RF Cafe Forums on Archive.org

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RF_rooky

Post subject: What to do about the lack of RF jobs in Canada Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 5:27 pm

I have a M.Sc specializing in microwave engineering. I have been looking for a job for about 6 months to no avail. I think my problem is that I specialized in passive component design (power dividers, filters etc) and there are very few companies in Canada that design these from scratch.

I was fortunate that one of the companies I sent a CV to, is allowing me to use their software and I will also be allowed to manufacture my own designs. However, they do not have an opening for me, so this will not lead to a job I don't think.

Most of the jobs in Vancouver (where I live) require RF engineers with experience in active design (mixers, VCO's etc.) or with communications background (of which I have very little knowledge).

I really love the RF field and am fascinated by the theory behind it. But I am becoming very despondent about a career in this field.

I was wondering if anyone has actually made a career change because they were unable to find employment? Please tell me about it or give some general advice.

Thank you!

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Guest

Post subject: Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 7:38 am

1) Well, Vancouver is a nice city, but it is at the end of the world. Maybe you take a look at the region around Calgary or even better Toronto, where more industry is located.

2) If a company really needs an employee, they will give you the chance to obtain the knowledge about active components. Power dividers, filters, mixers, LNAs, VCOs... in a RF design you need everything of it, so no company will limit their people on just one of these fields.

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guest

Post subject: hiPosted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 2:27 pm

try

www.itselectronics.com

www.uniquesys.com/

www.quaketech.com

my suggestion ? get out of canada.

with the fall of nortel, high tech in canada is dead for at least next 5-10 years. especially in RF, there are really no companies outside of a few in ottawa, skyworks mainly, doing RFIC or active components. the government does but you need a PHD.

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guest

Post subject: Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 4:30 pm

Move to Montreal. At least 3 companies doing passive work including filters, combiners etc. waveguide and printed. Nice city too

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angel

Post subject: Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 2:32 pm

Captain

Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2005 3:40 pm

Posts: 9

Location: Canada

Can you recommend any companies in Calgary?

Anonymous wrote:

Maybe you take a look at the region around Calgary

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guest

Post subject: calgaryPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:08 am

try murandi communications in calgary.

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angel

Post subject: Re: calgaryPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 12:50 pm

Captain

Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2005 3:40 pm

Posts: 9

Location: Canada

yup, i've tried them. any other suggestions?

guest wrote:

try murandi communications in calgary.

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guest

Post subject: Try....Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:34 pm

Only other 2 I know are Nortel and Novatel.

I assume you tried them both.

Otherwise try Sierra Wireless in BC. They are hiring RF people.

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angel

Post subject: Re: Try....Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 4:47 pm

Captain

Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2005 3:40 pm

Posts: 9

Location: Canada

i tried those two along with murandi last summer. i actually managed to get an interview with murandi, but they had no openings at the time.

maybe things are better now..

thanks for the tip about sierra wireless

guest wrote:

Only other 2 I know are Nortel and Novatel.

I assume you tried them both.

Otherwise try Sierra Wireless in BC. They are hiring RF people.

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guest

Post subject: Canada, Eh?Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 6:32 pm

Things are not better...

Sierra is very picky.

Very picky.

So good luck, also there are companies in Montreal, but most are not hiring.

It will be tough.

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Guest

Post subject: Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 10:25 am

Sounds like the high tech industry is booming in Canada. Maybe in your in the wrong profession.

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angel

Post subject: Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 4:14 pm

Captain

Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2005 3:40 pm

Posts: 9

Location: Canada

well isn't that a ray of sunshine.

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guest

Post subject: montrealPosted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 5:10 pm

don't listen to it.

try this company.

https://www.advantechamt.com / -- in montreal.

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guest

Post subject: more...Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 5:13 pm

also www.vcom.com in BC, Sask.

that should be it for now.

what kind of RF ?

board level ? IC Design ?

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angel

Post subject: Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:52 am

Captain

Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2005 3:40 pm

Posts: 9

Location: Canada

well i was kinda hoping to stay out west. maybe since harper is in power now there'll be more telecom going on in alberta (there had to be one good thing about him somewhere). but hey, beggars can't really be choosers right?

thanks for the suggestions guys

i'm still not quite sure exactly what type of job i'm after. it would be nice to get some background in the communications industry, i imagine. my master's thesis consisted of L-band LNA design, but i'm very open to other areas. i'm a total newbie out in the real world who wants to get her foot in the door.

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guest

Post subject: don't know...Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 4:17 pm

i don't think the leaedership has anything to do with job prospects, i mean martin did nothing, chritien did even less and further, harper is not mulroney : ie. he won't bring a lot of jobs or good economic prospects.

if you have done IC work, it will be next to impossible to find a job. it is so hard to find jobs in canada in rf and rfic design right now, there is a glut of people, more people coming into to canada all the time, with very, very few companies and IF they are hiring, they are hiring senior people. schools are full of phd students and so on.

if you want to do system level work or ic design work i can suggest more companies.

Posted  11/12/2012