Riding the ‘Waves’ to a Radio Frequency Internship at the Rohde & Schwarz Headquarters in Munich.
With wireless communications now integral to daily life, the industry is facing a critical shortage of Radio Frequency (RF) engineers.
To address this, in 2023, Dr. Francesco Fornetti spearheaded a new partnership between the University of Bristol and Rohde & Schwarz, a global leader in wireless communications and electronic test equipment. The goal was to co-create an innovative curriculum combining industry insights with cutting-edge software and hardware tools, preparing students for real-world challenges in the rapidly growing field of wireless communications.
Inspired by his own experience as an undergraduate intern, Dr. Fornetti revived a similar scheme with Rohde & Schwarz to the one he benefited from with Motorola as an undergraduate. This initiative offers students a yearly £2,000 grant, along with the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge in a professional setting through summer internships.
The material co-created by Dr. Fornetti and R&S’s top developers, especially the practical RF labs, enabled the interns to hit the ground running at Rohde & Schwarz, contributing effectively from the start and further developing their skills through the internship.
Thanks to this initiative, two students from Bristol’s MEng programme in Electrical & Electronic Engineering — Alex and Melvin — secured internships at the Rohde & Schwarz headquarters in Munich. Here’s what they had to say about their transformative summer working on RF hardware in one of the world’s most advanced engineering environments.
Can you tell us more about the opportunity you secured with Rohde and Schwarz?
Melvin: During this 8-week internship I worked as a Hardware Engineer in the Research and Development department, focusing on the development of Vector Network Analysers (VNAs), which are essential instruments to test and characterise RF circuits and systems. This involved testing and evaluating circuits and components which are intended to be used in upcoming VNAs and other Rohde and Schwarz devices. Rohde and Schwarz are an industry-leading company and so it was a privilege to be a part of their team for two months. The company also offers flexitime which means I could work at a time which suited my schedule, so long as I was working my weekly hours.
Alex: Having completed my fourth-year module on Radio Frequency Engineering led by Dr Fornetti, I was given the opportunity to do a 2-month internship in the “Test and Measurement” division of Rohde & Schwarz. They are leading manufacturers of high-end radio frequency testing equipment to ensure high-quality performance for systems and hardware across a variety of sectors including mobile and satellite communications; automotive engineering; aerospace and defence; academic research; and more.
What types of tasks and projects were you working on while you were there?
Melvin: Throughout the summer, I was involved in several projects and had the chance to work on different types of instruments and problems. I worked with VNAs and Oscilloscopes; learnt to create MATLAB scripts to control instruments and perform data transfer compliance testing. I learnt essential skills in hardware debugging, both in terms of fault finding and devising solutions. I also learnt to analyse and characterise Low-noise amplifier using VNAs.
Alex: My internship was based in the “network analysers” department in which I was trained to use VNAs to measure the performance of a variety of amplifiers - important electronic components used in Rohde & Schwarz’s products. My work focused on “compression point” measurements, essentially determining the maximum operating power of different amplifiers before their performance starts to degrade. This involved a variety of tasks including calibration, the design of measurement techniques to optimise measurement accuracy and even setting up measurements inside a “climate chamber” to see the effect of temperature on the results.
How did you spend your Summer in Germany?
Melvin: Most of my time was spent exploring Munich and the attractions nearby : there are several lakes and smaller towns approximately an hour south of Munich which are truly remarkable! Also, I was able to take a three-day weekend to visit Prague with a friend which was great fun! And I also enjoyed a few Bavarian Beers at the Hofbrauhaus!
Alex: Outside of the office, I had a fantastic time experiencing what life in the beautiful city of Munich had to offer. Highlights included Munich’s many beer gardens; exploring the mountains, towns and lakes in the alps just a short train ride away; as well as plenty of opportunities to socialise with other students from my accommodation and work.
How has the internship benefited you?
Melvin: Having industrial experience helps you stand out when applying for graduate roles, particularly in interviews where you can draw on real-world situations to answer questions. It also demonstrates your ability to apply engineering knowledge to deliver practical solutions. The knowledge I gained from various modules throughout my four-year degree was invaluable.
With Rohde and Schwarz focusing on RF signals, the RF Engineering unit was particularly useful, introducing me to S- parameters and the Smith Chart—both crucial to nearly all my projects.
Alex: All of this taught me valuable technical skills and has given me a great taste of the engaging work that takes place at the forefront of industry. Importantly, I found that the theory I learned in class was very relevant and essential for the work on my placement, providing a solid foundation for gaining new knowledge in this field.
What's next for you?
Melvin: I will soon be starting my graduate role as an Embedded Software Engineer at a start-up company working in delivering low-carbon energy solutions to general consumers. This is a role which I’m very excited about and I feel as though my time at Bristol has prepared me very well for this role.
Alex: As a result of this placement, I will definitely be considering a job in the field of Radio Frequency engineering in the future. I can now begin my search for my first job in industry with confidence thanks to this experience – but not before a well-earned holiday!
What did our friends at Rohde & Schwarz think of this new internship scheme?
"We believe that as competition for top engineering talent intensifies, it's crucial for companies like us to help shape electronic engineering curricula to better prepare university students for future employment. From an industry perspective, it's important that candidates have a strong grasp of current technologies and best practices, allowing them to settle into their roles much faster.
Useful Links:
- Connected Worlds - The new virtual learning environment that provides access to the free courses jointly developed by the University of Bristol and Rohde & Schwarz.
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering courses at the University of Bristol.