Job description

Open for Candidates located in the US, Canada, and Europe


OUR CLIENT
Builds on 30-year legacy of technology advancements and strong IP portfolio but with a new mission— to enhance world-class capabilities with high-performance semiconductors. With a strong foundation in RF integration, their product portfolio now spans power management, connected sensors, optical transceivers, antenna tuning and RF frontends.

These intelligent and efficient semiconductors enable advanced modules for smartphones, base stations, personal computers, electric vehicles, data centers, IoT devices and healthcare. From headquarters in San Diego and offices around the world, team explores new ways to make electronics for the connected world smaller, thinner, faster, and better

JOB SUMMARY
Individual will be responsible for the design validation, characterization & product development of RF and mixed signal ICs in UltraCMOS technology for mobile wireless RF front end semiconductor products for cellular handsets and commercial/industrial applications. A successful candidate will enjoy being part of the product development team, demonstrating leadership in taking industry-leading product designs to mass production.  Product lines include high performance RF switches, PA controllers (PAC’s), power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers, digital tunable capacitors, couplers, and IC filters.

The job will require expertise in RF and analog measurements combined with disciplined project planning to ensure only the highest quality products are released. As part of a cross-functional product development team, the candidate will support other essential disciplines including marketing and applications, project management, design, production, and test engineering.  The candidate will work very closely with the design team to understand the part operation and device. This position will be in Arlington Heights, IL office

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDE

• Product Evaluation: Perform lab measurements on various RF/mixed signal front end IC’s (LNA, SW, PA, PAC’s, Couplers, Digital tunable capacitors, and IC filters) and create design validation report with comparisons vs design expectations.
• Product Characterization: Perform product characterization over a superset of conditions specified in the datasheet. Drive the development of necessary benches to evaluate all relevant performance requirements.
• Product Qualification: Analyze results from products being stressed for lifetime reliability.  Support bench testing of qualification units when necessary.
• Product Documentation: Document all relevant product information specific to the performance and limitations of the device as future reference for application and customer support.  Provide data sheet performance limits based on design verification and characterization data.
• Production ATE Development: Work with Test Engineers to create a correlation between bench measurements ATE solution.
• Analysis Tool Development: Develop characterization and test data analysis tools to streamline characterization (CPK analysis) and improve ATE capability understanding (GR&R).
• Characterization Infrastructure: Design and development of software and hardware for design validation, performance optimization, characterization, and production test of RFICs. Analysis and development of optimization techniques for rapid characterization and test.
• Mentor members of the team to develop their technical skills

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree 8+ years of relevant experience, or Master’s Degree 6+ years of relevant experience, or PhD 
• Self-Driven with an ability to multi-task and work competently in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Strong team player who demonstrates out-of-the-box thinking and drives tasks to completion with available resources
• Strong understanding of RF measurement fundamentals – NF, IP3, IP2/3, IMD, EVM, S-parameters, matching using smith charts, de-embedding, calibration, time domain measurements etc.
• Ability to analyze RF systems for accurate measurement of large signal RF Front ends
• Proficient in schematic capture, RF system integration and PCB design experience
• Experience with analysis and troubleshooting and investigating RF related issues on systems and PCB assemblies
• Experience with RFIC products - RF switches, LNAs, PAs, mixers, PLLs, etc.
• Proficiency in software tools such as ADS and software for test development (Matlab, C#, LabVIEW, Python, NI TestStand)
• Experience with automating lab instruments and optimizing measurements for speed
• Proven strength in documentation clarity and completeness
• Knowledge of analog and RF IC design for commercial applications in SOI and/or bulk CMOS technologies
• Fundamental understanding of non-linear measurements and system noise performance
• Good understanding of statistical techniques (Gauge R&R, CPK, ANOVA) including software tools to analyze large data sets (such as JMP, Excel, R)
• Hands-on use of lab equipment to validate performance such as Spectrum Analyzers, Vector Network analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, DMM, SMU etc.

COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

• Critical Thinking: Skilled at finding logical flaws in arguments and plans; identifies problems and solutions that others might miss; provides detailed insight and constructive criticism into problems and complex situations.
• Working with Ambiguity: Achieves forward progress in the face of poorly defined situations and/or unclear goals; able to work effectively with limited or partial information. 
• Displaying Technical Expertise: Keeps his/her technical skills current; effectively applies specialized knowledge and skills to perform work tasks; understands and masters the technical skills, knowledge, and tasks associated with his/her job; shares technical expertise with others.
• Driving for Results:  Aggressively pursues challenging goals and objectives; will put in considerable time and effort to accomplish objectives; takes a highly focused, goal driven approach toward work.
• Delivering High Quality Work: Critically reviews work processes to ensure quality; addresses problems that could impact quality; makes sure project deliverables and services meet all requirements and expectations; does not make the same mistakes twice.

PREFERED QUALIFICATIONS

• Familiarity with serial interfaces such as MIPI RFFE, I2C and SPI.
• Familiarity with register-mapped programming (such as MIPI RFFE, PCI)
• Familiarity with Analog and mixed signal measurement fundamentals – INL/DNL, PSRR, Load/line regulation of LDO’s.
• Understanding of radio specifications, especially for modern mobile/cellular (LTE, 5G, WiFi, MIMO, CA) systems and radio architectures.