Cellular System Performance Characterization Engineer

Apple•Sunnyvale, CA

23h

About The Position

As part of a world class modem/RF team, you’ll craft sophisticated groundbreaking embedded firmware that deliver more performance in our products than ever before. You’ll work across fields to transform improved hardware elements into a single, integrated design. Join us, and you’ll help us innovate new cellular technologies that continually outperform the previous iterations! By collaborating with other product development groups across Apple, you’ll push the industry boundaries of what wireless systems can do and improve the product experience for our customers across the world. In this role, you can combine your passion with world cutting edge 5G technologies that shape our daily life and have great opportunities to explore the engineering process from different perspectives. Working on the bringup of the cellular end-to-end system including characterization and optimization of RF and system performance in the lab with an emphasis on 5G-NR. Collaborate with multi-functional teams to validate the data and control flows from the Baseband to RF in terms of the various critical metrics. Measure, prioritize, and analyze important metrics data in the lab, and present them with analytics tools. Conduct pre-silicon emulation-based bringup and validation of the cellular system. And simulation-based validation of the control flows and algorithms. Support and maintain high-quality daily Firmware releases. Design in-house scripting tools and conduct troubleshooting during chipset bringup and characterization stages in lab environment that involves both chipsets and instrument automation under internal infrastructure. Comply with system and hardware design specification to enhance measurement methodology and SW packages to improve coverage, efficiency and productivity in entire design validation process. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align technical requirements, perform data review presentation and resolve issues with complete documentation before tape out. Support internal teams to maintain a high quality HW platform for daily FW release and continuous development.

Requirements

Minimum requirement of a bachelors degree.
Experience with Python, C/C++, Matlab, and efficient analysis and automation scripting.
Knowledge of RF performance metrics such as EVM, spectral mask, frequency error, power accuracy, etc.
Hands-on experience in bring up of RFIC in the lab, ability to efficiently use lab equipment (such as VSA, VSG, spectrum analyzer, signal generator, power meter, etc).
Understanding of communication theory and signal processing, AGC, beamforming, Tx power control, mitigation of radio impairments, and calibration algorithms.
Technical background in wireless system physical layer and protocols.
Hands-on experience in cellular chipsets.

Nice To Haves

MSEE is preferred.
Knowledge and understanding of 3GPP specs.
Experience with silicon prototyping, emulation systems, and virtual platforms.
Experience with analytics platform software (Tableau, Spotfire or similar).
Chipset Industry working experience.
Working understanding of multiple 4G/5G signaling, and wireless physical layer test equipment (Keysight/LitePoint/Anritsu/R&S) along with their automation interfaces.
Work experience in 5G-NR/LTE/UMTS (3G/2G)/WiFi.
Experience in bring up or performance characterization of wireless systems focusing on the PHY and RF layers.

Responsibilities

Working on the bringup of the cellular end-to-end system including characterization and optimization of RF and system performance in the lab with an emphasis on 5G-NR.
Collaborate with multi-functional teams to validate the data and control flows from the Baseband to RF in terms of the various critical metrics.
Measure, prioritize, and analyze important metrics data in the lab, and present them with analytics tools.
Conduct pre-silicon emulation-based bringup and validation of the cellular system.
Simulation-based validation of the control flows and algorithms.
Support and maintain high-quality daily Firmware releases.
Design in-house scripting tools and conduct troubleshooting during chipset bringup and characterization stages in lab environment that involves both chipsets and instrument automation under internal infrastructure.
Comply with system and hardware design specification to enhance measurement methodology and SW packages to improve coverage, efficiency and productivity in entire design validation process.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align technical requirements, perform data review presentation and resolve issues with complete documentation before tape out.
Support internal teams to maintain a high quality HW platform for daily FW release and continuous development.