Meet Bruce Carlson, Director of Engineering. New to Quantic Wenzel, Bruce plays a key role by leading our engineering department and supporting our customers’ mission-critical RF and microwave system applications. This interview sheds light on Bruce’s extensive career, expertise, vision for the future of our engineering team, and other valuable insights.
Bruce Carlson: I have over 35 years of experience in RF and microwave engineering. My career began as an RF Design Engineer for antenna transmission lines, where I gained a solid technical foundation. In 2008, I transitioned to the aerospace and defense sector, working for Collins Aerospace on AEHF satellite terminal designs for the U.S. Air Force, and later with Northrop Grumman, leading engineering teams in the development of airborne electronic systems. Joining Quantic Wenzel was a natural next step for me in my career journey. I was drawn to the company’s reputation for excellence in frequency control, timing solutions, and supported applications. The opportunity to enhance and grow the engineering department was incredibly appealing. I am thankful to be part of this incredible team of men and women—they are truly brilliant!
Bruce Carlson: As the Director of Engineering, my primary responsibilities include further enhancing our engineering department, implementing new processes, and supporting program management and execution. I will focus on driving new innovations and ensuring that our engineering team has the support and resources they need to succeed. My goals are to grow our engineering capabilities, streamline operations, and encourage an environment where creative solutions can thrive.
Bruce Carlson: My career has taught me the importance of openness and fearlessness within engineering teams. I think it is so important to encourage engineers to push the envelope and to not fear failure. Failures are merely speedbumps on the road of innovation! Another key lesson my career experience has taught me is the importance of a close and efficient working relationship program management and project managers, critical for delivering solutions to customers on time and budget. Lastly, while we as engineers take our work very seriously, it is also important to have fun and enjoy the process too! These principles will guide my approach at Quantic Wenzel, the result being an engineering environment that supports innovation, drives excellence, and allows our team to have fun while achieving their goals.
Bruce Carlson: The RF and microwave industry faces many different challenges, especially in modern mission-critical applications. One major challenge is the ever-increasing complexity and demand for better performance, driven by the need for higher bandwidths and frequencies. The digital migration from analog, which is being pushed by the latest DoD requirements, further adds to this complexity. Additionally, supply chain issues are still impacting lead times. Although, I am glad to say we are no longer experiencing the kind of delays or supply chain issues we were two or three years ago. Lastly, I’d say acquiring and retaining skilled engineering talent is a challenge, but that has been ongoing for many years.
Bruce Carlson: We ensure the reliability and performance of our products through comprehensive quality assurance (QA) processes and a strong commitment to best practices built over 45 years. Lives and missions depend on the success of the RF and microwave systems we help build. It is serious business! We have an exceptional team of QA professionals with decades of experience led by my colleague Vic Meija. We also have a robust in-house RF testing capability, which includes phase noise, Allan variance, jitter, power supply ripple rejection, random vibration, sine vibration, mechanical shock, and thermal testing, among many others. We can meet nearly any industry or military standard and possess the latest design and analysis tools. Our engineering team’s deep expertise in low phase noise and frequency stability is critical to meeting the stringent demands of our customers’ applications. I am proud to say that we are known the world over for tackling “the hard stuff”, when others can’t or won’t, we will.
Bruce Carlson: Our research and development efforts are driven by a deep understanding of our customers’ needs and industry demands, centered around achieving the lowest possible phase noise performance while ensuring SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost) efficiency. We pioneer active and passive vibration compensation techniques to maintain stability and low phase noise in challenging environments. Our Chief Engineer, Mehran Moss, has led our research and development efforts for many years, bringing new solutions to market that are both technically superior and practical for our customers’ RF system applications. We have tremendous research and development capabilities of which I am very proud to be a part. Now watch it grow!
Bruce Carlson: Close collaboration within the Quantic Electronics engineering ecosystem is a very important part of our strategy. We leverage the unique strengths and expertise of our fellow divisions and can deliver a variety of solutions to our customers, from RF and microwave, to capacitors, resistors, magnetics, and sensing. Regular cross-company meetings and customer projects ensure that we all stay aligned and can rapidly respond to evolving customer challenges. We are all working closely together to ensure that we are delivering the very best solutions customized to our customers’ challenges.
Start by building a strong foundation in core areas like signal processing, electromagnetic theory, and circuit design. Get hands-on experience in a lab if possible—it’s important early on for honing your skills. Above all else, don’t be afraid to test and fail. Run, don’t walk towards challenges, learn from your setbacks, and remember that some of the best ideas come from “aha” moments after a failed attempt. Stay updated with the latest technologies and trends by reading industry publications such as Microwave Journal, EverythingRF, and Microwave Product Digest, just to name a few. Additionally, I strongly recommend finding a mentor in the field who can provide guidance, share their experiences, and help you navigate your career development path. Consider joining IEEE and AOC, engaging with your local chapters to find a mentor that is the right fit for you. Lastly, please keep a close eye on our Careers page for an opportunity to join our team as an intern, technician, or engineer!
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