DMTS - Analog & RF Design
About The Position
GlobalFoundries is seeking an mmWave/RF System Architect to define architecture for next-generation RF and millimeter-wave products. The role converts product use cases and customer needs into system requirements and performance budgets, then decomposes those into subsystem and block-level specifications. It spans the signal chain, including antennas, RF front ends, frequency generation, data conversion, and calibration, for applications such as radar sensing, 5G/6G FR2, Wi-Fi, satellite, and point-to-point links. The architect owns key tradeoffs, guides design and validation teams, and helps shape the RF technology roadmap. The role provides technical leadership across architecture, design reviews, roadmap planning, verification, validation, and product bring-up. It collaborates with hardware, firmware, algorithms, applications, manufacturing, customers, foundries, and vendors, while mentoring engineers and setting architecture best practices. The position also evaluates emerging RF technologies and may contribute to patents, publications, and standards.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field; a master’s degree is strongly preferred.
- 15+ years of RF/microwave or mmWave system or IC design experience, including 7+ years in a lead or architect role.
- Delivered at least one RF or mmWave product (IC, module, or radio) from concept through production.
- Strong grounding in RF system design, including cascade analysis, link budgets, noise, linearity, and phase noise.
- Working knowledge of front-end building blocks such as LNAs, PAs, mixers, VCOs/PLLs, and filters, and understanding of how block specifications roll up to system performance.
- Understanding of MIMO, phased arrays, and beamforming.
- Hands-on lab experience with spectrum and signal analyzers, network analyzers for S-parameters, and phase-noise measurement.
- Proficiency in MATLAB and/or Python for modeling and data analysis.
- Clear technical communication skills and ability to lead cross-functional teams without direct authority.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s or Ph.D. in an RF/microwave discipline.
- Domain experience in one or more of FMCW or pulse-Doppler radar, 5G/6G FR2, Wi-Fi, SATCOM, or mmWave backhaul.
- Experience with RF CMOS, SiGe, GaAs, or GaN processes.
- Experience with antenna-in-package, RF system-in-package, or 3D-stacked front-end modules.
- Knowledge of on-chip calibration, BIST, and production test strategy.
- Familiarity with relevant standards and regulations, including 3GPP, IEEE 802.11, FCC/ETSI, or ISO 26262 for automotive.
Responsibilities
- Convert product use cases and customer needs into measurable system requirements and performance budgets.
- Define and maintain RF/mmWave system architecture across antennas, RF front ends, frequency generation, mixed-signal systems, and digital interfaces.
- Break systems into subsystems with block-level specifications for noise figure, gain, linearity/IIP3, output power, phase noise, and efficiency.
- Run TX/RX cascade analyses, link budgets, and frequency plans; manage tradeoffs among performance, power, cost, and area.
- Guide design teams working on LNAs, PAs, mixers, VCOs, synthesizers, beamformers, and transceivers from K-band through W-band.
- Define frequency-generation and LO-distribution architecture, including low-phase-noise PLLs and wideband waveforms such as FMCW chirps or modulated carriers.
- Partner with antenna and packaging engineers on phased arrays, beamforming/beam steering, antenna-in-package, and electromagnetic and signal-integrity effects.
- Define calibration strategies and algorithms, including LO leakage, IQ imbalance, and gain/phase alignment, as well as built-in self-test or monitoring.
- Set verification and validation strategy with test teams, covering modeling, simulation, lab characterization, and field data.
- Drive silicon or module bring-up, debugging, and correlation between models and measurements through production.
- Serve as technical lead in design reviews and roadmap planning.
- Collaborate across hardware, firmware, algorithms, applications, and manufacturing, and engage with customers, foundries, and vendors.
- Evaluate emerging RF technologies and contribute to patents, publications, and standards where relevant.
- Mentor engineers and establish architecture best practices.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
