Job Title: Staff Antenna & Systems Engineer (grow into Head of Product)
Time Frame: ASAP Start date sometime between Q3 and Q4 of 2024
Location: Berkeley, CA, hybrid (MWF in the office, M-F when testing)
Role Type: Full-time hire
Company Description: We are an early-stage fabless semiconductor company designing cutting-edge wireless microchips for phased arrays. Founded by UC Berkeley PhDs, our unique technology promises significant reductions in power consumption (2-4x) across multiple markets from 5G to satellite communication (SatCom) to radar (e.g. automotive radar / ADAS). We have raised seed funding to make our first prototype and are excited to change the world with your help. You will be joining a three person team so you will be integral to every decision we make and will have the opportunity to grow rapidly.
Job Description and Responsibilities: We are seeking a senior Antenna and Systems Engineer to be part of the core team. Their focus will be building out phased array systems using our first-of-its-kind mmWave front-end beamformer chips to evaluate chip-level and system-level performance. As the key system engineer, and a leader in the company, you will be responsible for:
- Designing, testing and architecting phased array antennas systems on PCBs and other medium
- Performing RF bench-top and over-the-air testing of custom RFIC chipsets and phased array antenna
- Conducting system-level modeling of phased arrays, including custom chips and antennas
- EM simulation of phased arrays, including custom chips, RF passives, and antennas
- Product design and development for customer facing evaluation kits and hardware
- Collaborating with the founder and leading a growing team of engineers and contractors as needed
- Innovating on core technologies to make products that change the world
Required Qualifications:
- Experience in high frequency (>6GHz) phased array antenna PCB design, layout, and testing, especially for SATCOM applications
- Experience in mmWave/RF testing for receivers, transmitters, and front end RF circuits using industry-standard lab equipment, including automation of lab test equipment (e.g. VNAs, power supplies), lab setup, and over-the-air measurement
- Understanding of front-end circuit blocks, including key blocks like LNAs, PAs, VGAs, phase shifters, inductors, transformers, and transmission lines, and associated circuit theory
- Proficiency in PCB (e.g Altium) and EM (e.g. ADS, HFSS) design CAD tools
- Advanced degree or significant industry experience to demonstrate a track record of excellence
Preferred Qualifications:
- Strong theoretical expertise in spatially selective multi-antenna wireless systems and key RF building blocks (like receivers, LNAs, transmitters, PAs, phase shifters, beamformers, power combiners/splitters)
- Modeling of multi antenna signal chains (e.g. matlab, python, systemVue) to determine impact of nonidealities on system level metrics (e.g. EVM, SNR, BW)
- Excellent written and oral communication skills to present and document work or decision-making process
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to navigate complex engineering conversations to achieve the best result in a collaborative environment
- A track record of innovation and commitment to excellence along with a desire to change the world and have an impact with their work
