Dustin Hoekstra, Application Engineer Architect at Cadence Design Systems
I AM...an Applications Engineer Architect
What made you want to work in this industry?
I started in the RF and microwave industry somewhat serendipitously. I was working as a temp in the marketing department for a semiconductor company while finishing my degree and looking for a full-time job. I started to learn more about RF and microwave by working in the lab, which I loved, and eventually they gave me a job offer. Seeing complex theories put to use in real-life scenarios was very rewarding.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love solving complex problems, and that lends itself well to applications engineering. Working at Cadence, customers will often present me with a flow or methodology that needs improvement. To be able to understand the problem then work with them and our internal teams to craft a solution is very rewarding – for all parties involved. The best solutions do not come easily, but to work through these challenges and ultimately see the customer succeed is a great reward!
What are you most excited about for IMS2025?
I am most exciting to see everyone. So much of our communication is done via email and online meetings that we do not have face-to-face interactions as often as we used to. Being able to shake hands and sit down and chat with folks that I maybe only see once a year at IMS is very gratifying.