Job Title: Sr. Principal RFIC Design Engineer (grow into Head of Product)
Time Frame: ASAP start date sometime between Q3 and Q4 of 2024
Location: Berkeley, CA, hybrid work (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 RFIC Design Engineer to be part of the core team. Their focus will be taking our first-of-its-kind mmWave front-end beamformer chips from initial concept to market-ready product. As a key RFIC Design Engineer, and a leader in the company, you will be responsible for:
- Innovating on core technologies to make products that change the world
- Designing, testing and architecting mmWave circuits for RF front-end blocks and products
- Conducting system-level modeling of phased arrays, including custom chips and antennas
- EM simulation and modeling of circuits, chip packages, PCBs and antennas
- Performing RF bench-top and over-the-air testing
- Collaborating with the founder and leading a growing team of engineers and contractors as needed
Required Qualifications:
- Experience in mmWave front-end circuit architecture and design, including key blocks like LNAs, PAs, VGAs, phase shifters, inductors, transformers, and transmission lines, and associated circuit theory
- Proficiency in mmWave EDA tools and key design flows
- Experience in mmWave/RF testing for receivers, transmitters, transceivers, and front end RF circuits using industry-standard equipment
- Advanced degree or significant industry experience to demonstrate a track record of excellence
Preferred Qualifications:
- Strong background in transmit circuit design, especially high-frequency PA circuit techniques
- Strong theoretical expertise in spatially selective multi-antenna wireless systems
- Modeling of multi antenna signal chains (e.g. matlab, python, systemVue) to determine impact of non-idealities on system level metrics (e.g. EVM, SNR, BW)
- Familiarity with relevant RF technology nodes (e.g. RF CMOS, SOI, SiGe)
- Past experience with tapeouts, especially with DFM, reliability, and costing considerations.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, to present their work, decision-making process, and document their work
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to navigate complex engineering conversations to achieve the best result in a collaborative environment.
- Ability to understand complex customer needs and translate them into clear engineering specifications
- A track record of innovation and commitment to excellence along with a desire to change the world and have an impact with their work