RFIC Characterization and Validation Lead

Apple•San Diego, CA

About The Position

The RFIC Characterization and Validation Lead leads the RFIC validation and characterization team and serves as the technical owner of RF silicon readiness for Apple wireless SoCs. The role defines validation strategy, plans, methodology, schedules, coverage, and exit criteria across pre-silicon emulation and simulation-based validation, first silicon, characterization, final silicon validation, and handoff to production test. It owns critical RF bring-up and compliance with rigorous standards, while reporting status and risks to design, systems, integration, and program management. This is a hands-on technical leadership role spanning bench testing, test code, debug, and system characterization. The lead guides engineers through bring-up, characterization, and calibration development; plans team work and resources; mentors engineers; and participates in hiring. The position drives end-to-end RF integration and product readiness from pre-silicon development through mass production, establishing reusable flows among pre-silicon validation, post-silicon characterization, and ATE test development. It works across wireless transceiver architecture, RF systems, DSP, embedded systems, and productization.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 10 years of relevant industry experience.
Significant experience in RF test development, hands-on debug, performance characterization, and reporting, including ownership of a validation effort through at least one silicon bring-up.
Demonstrated technical leadership, such as leading a project or small team, mentoring engineers, and driving cross-functional work to completion.
Strong scripting and automation skills in Python, Perl, TCL, C++, or similar languages; Python is highly desired.
Hands-on experience with standard RF test equipment, including network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, and signal generators.
Strong understanding of RF fundamentals, wireless transceiver architectures, and digital communication systems.
Strong knowledge of RF, PLL, and wireless system measurements, such as IP3, NF, ACPR, phase noise, and lock time.
Experience with RF PCB design, layout, and debug.
Familiarity with RFIC block-level schematics and design/simulation environments.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including reporting to senior management.

Nice To Haves

Master's or PhD degree in electrical engineering or a related field.
Prior people management or large-scale project management experience demonstrating strong leadership.
Strong RF background and a solid understanding of RF systems fundamentals.
Experience with wireless standards such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread/802.15.4, and their compliance measurements.
Exposure to RFIC design and simulation/verification, including pre-silicon validation of RF and digital interfaces.
Exposure to SoC design and simulation/verification.
Experience developing production calibration and ATE test flows and handing them over to manufacturing.

Responsibilities

Own test plan development and bring-up preparation and execution, including validation and characterization plans, coverage, and exit criteria for each silicon revision; track plans through completion.
Plan and prioritize team work, allocate lab, equipment, and board resources, and manage schedules against tape-out, bring-up, and production milestones.
Mentor and develop engineers through technical guidance, design and code reviews, feedback, and growth plans; participate in hiring and interviews.
Drive bring-up and functional validation of new wireless SoCs from first silicon through final product.
Establish flows connecting pre-silicon validation, post-silicon characterization, and ATE test development so tests, calibration code, and lessons can be reused.
Perform and review hands-on bench testing, characterization, and debug of RF SoC IP, including transmitters, receivers, PLLs, power amplifiers, and ADCs/DACs.
Characterize and optimize RF performance metrics including EVM, spectral mask, phase noise, sensitivity, IP3, NF, and ACPR.
Automate RF measurements and data analysis with scripts to control test equipment and the DUT; define the team's common automation framework and coding standards.
Design and develop radio calibration algorithms and optimize them.
Develop and support RF calibration and test routines for ATE mass-production environments.
Debug complex chip- and board-level issues, including desense and EMI; act as an escalation point and drive root-cause resolution across design, systems, and integration.
Design external matching networks to optimize Tx and Rx radio performance.
Collaborate with RF Systems, Design, and Integration teams on board layout, test methodology, and calibration programming.
Generate RF design verification, characterization, and test reports.
Serve as the primary interface to RF Design, RF Systems, SoC Integration, Test/ATE, and Product teams; communicate status, risks, and findings to senior management.
Drive continuous improvement in test coverage, measurement accuracy, turnaround time, documentation, and tooling.