Cellular RF System Architect

Apple • San Diego, CA

3d

About The Position

Apple’s Cellular RF Systems Engineering team defines wireless technologies that enable connected experiences for users worldwide. The Cellular RF System Architect will contribute to cellular RF architectures by optimizing current systems, defining next-generation transceiver and front-end solutions, and setting system requirements. The role involves work on cellular radio technologies including GSM, UMTS, LTE, 5G NR, and upcoming 6G standards.

The architect will collaborate with Platform Architecture, RFIC and PMU design teams, and suppliers to assess, scope, and drive cellular RF technology innovation for next-generation wireless products. Occasional travel, including international travel, may be required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 10 years of relevant industry experience.
• Experience deriving implementation requirements from high-level system requirements.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills, with the ability to work across diverse cross-functional teams on complex multidisciplinary problems.
• Strong technical writing skills.
• In-depth knowledge of cellular radio standards, including GSM, UMTS, LTE, 5G NR, and upcoming 6G, as well as regulatory and carrier requirements and their implications for radio architectures and RF system design.
• Experience with RF performance criteria and concepts, including EIRP, TRP, noise figure, sensitivity/desense, phase noise, EVM, spectral mask, spurious emissions, harmonics, intermodulation, S-parameters, Smith charts, and tuning networks.
• Experience with RF line-up analysis, AGC and TPC concepts, calibration, and compensation methods.
• Ability to understand complex system use cases and derive implementation requirements to optimize user experience.
• Understanding of antenna array theory and associated measurement methods.

Nice To Haves

• Five or more years of relevant RF experience, including direct expertise in transmitter and receiver architectures.

Responsibilities

• Translate complex use cases into implementation requirements for RF algorithms, RFICs, and RFFW to optimize user experience.
• Analyze RF transceiver architecture options to optimize key performance indicators such as power consumption and area.
• Analyze RF simulation and measurement results, identify trade-offs, and propose system-level improvements.
• Collaborate with Platform Architecture, RFIC and PMU design teams, and suppliers to assess, scope, and drive cellular RF technology innovation.
• Contribute to the evolution of cellular RF architectures and next-generation transceiver and front-end solutions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior