RFIC validation and Characterization Engineer

Apple • Irvine, CA

3d

About The Position

In this role, you will be a key member of our team, delivering end-to-end RF integration solutions for our advanced Wireless SoC products. You will enable the entire product lifecycle from pre-silicon emulation and design development through to mass production.You will be responsible for the critical first bring-up of our Wireless SoC-RF, conducting final silicon validation, and ensuring compliance with rigorous standards. This is a unique opportunity to deepen your technical expertise across both hardware and software domains, including wireless transceiver architecture, RF systems, DSP, embedded systems, and the full productization process of world-class products. Your work will involve hands-on bench testing, debugging, and system characterization to ensure our RF IPs meet and exceed performance targets.

Requirements

• BS and 3+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Proven experience in RF test development, hands-on debug, performance characterization, and reporting.
• Strong scripting and automation skills in Python (highly desired), Perl, TCL, C++, or similar languages.
• Hands-on experience with standard RF test equipment, including network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, and signal generators.
• Solid understanding of RF fundamentals, wireless transceiver architectures, and digital communication systems.
• Strong knowledge of RF, PLL, and wireless system measurements (e.g. IP3, NF, ACPR, phase noise, lock time).
• Experience with RF PCB board design, layout considerations, and debugging.
• Familiarity with RFIC block-level schematics and design/simulation environments.

Nice To Haves

• MS and 3+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Strong RF background and familiarity with RF systems fundamentals.
• Some experience in RF PCB board design, debugging, and development.
• Exposure to RFIC design and simulation/verification.
• Exposure to SOC design and simulation/verification.

Responsibilities

• Perform hands-on bench testing, characterization, and debugging of RF SoC IP including transmitters, receivers, PLLs, power amplifiers, and ADCs/DACs.
• Drive the bring-up and functional validation of new wireless SoCs, from first silicon to final product.
• Design and develop Radio calibrations, including algorithm creation and optimization.
• Automate RF measurements and data analysis by writing robust scripts (e.g., Python) to control test equipment and the device under test (DUT).
• Characterize and optimize key RF performance metrics such as EVM, spectral mask, phase noise, sensitivity, IP3, NF, and ACPR.
• Debug complex chip-level and board-level issues, including desense and EMI problems.
• Collaborate with RF Systems, Design, and Integration teams on board layout, test methodology, and calibration programming.
• Generate comprehensive RF design verification, characterization, and test reports.
• Develop and support RF calibration and test routines for ATE mass production environments.
• Design external matching networks to optimize transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) radio performance.

Benefits

• Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs.
• Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition.
• Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees