Senior Staff Engineer, RF Power Amplifier Design

Murata America•Arlington Heights, IL

3d•$195,563 - $254,246•Onsite

About The Position

This position is responsible for technical leadership, architecture definition, and end-to-end design direction for advanced RF power amplifier platforms supporting cellular and Wi-Fi front-end applications. The individual will serve as a recognized subject matter expert in the development and optimization of RF power amplifiers across multiple frequency bands and semiconductor processes, including SOI and GaAs, and will guide complex technical tradeoff decisions across performance, cost, manufacturability, and time-to-market. The individual will work independently and cross-functionally to define and advance power amplifier techniques and architectures that enable high-performance, cost-optimized APT and ET front-end solutions. This role will act as a key technical advisor to pSemi and Murata management on RF power amplifier design decisions, capability development, and roadmap tradeoffs. The successful individual will bring expert-level knowledge of advanced RF/mmWave power amplifiers for next-generation cellular and 5G NR applications, deep RFIC circuit design expertise, and the ability to lead resolution of significant and unique technical issues across major development programs requiring broad, multidisciplinary coordination. The individual must have demonstrated experience in developing novel RF PA products, RFIC design, test and mass production product releases. The individual will join a team of senior technologists and will play a leading role in shaping and executing the long-term architectural roadmap, building proof-of-concept prototypes, and translating advanced technologies into high-volume products.

Requirements

Typically requires 12 or more years of RF FEM product development, depending on education level and experience, with demonstrated expert-level technical capability in the design, development, and commercialization of advanced RF power amplifier products, including:
More than 5 years of direct experience with GaAs-based power amplifier product development.
At least 5 years of advanced development experience directly related to mobile power amplifier and/or transmitter design, including responsibility for resolving novel or non-standard technical challenges.
Detailed knowledge and experience with design of envelope tracking (ET) PA for mobile applications.
Direct hands-on experience with the design of highly efficient and linear power amplifiers operating between 600 MHz and 20 GHz.
Deep understanding of technical principles of power amplifier operation and design.
Experience with transistor level IC design and layout in at least multiple technology nodes including: GaAs HBT, CMOS-SOI, SiGe, GaN
Understanding of the comparative advantage and tradeoffs between the different processes
Good WIFI and/or cellular standard system knowledge and key performance metrics.
Knowledge of IC fabrication and how it impacts circuit performance.
Good understanding of non-linear effects in transistors.
Knowledge of basic analog bias and control circuits and their impact on overall RF system
Experience with EM (Electromagnetic) modelling of high frequency RFIC’s and PCB’s
Familiarity with analog & RF IC layout techniques
Multiple successful IC tape-outs and demonstrated contribution across the full product life cycle from concept definition through validation, release, and production ramp.
Experience in design, debug and optimization of RFICs in the lab using standard lab equipment
Hands on use of RF measurement equipment to validate and correlate performance metrics such as ACP/ACLR, EVM, IP3, NF and gain
Software tools: Virtuoso, Cadence Spectre, Keysight ADS, EM software, Matlab, JMP
Strength in documentation clarity and completeness
Ability to clearly assess and manage risk
Strong ability to influence cross-functional technical decisions in a collaborative environment, align diverse stakeholders on complex tradeoffs, and deliver high-impact outcomes on schedule.
Recognized subject matter expertise in RF power amplifier design with the ability to determine methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for highly complex or unique assignments.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and technical evaluation of novel architectures, circuits, devices, and methods for high-performance RF power amplifiers and transmit chains using co-design and co-simulation of active and passive circuitry.
Provide technical leadership for advanced RF power amplifier platforms for cellular and Wi-Fi front-end applications, including design reviews, architecture tradeoff decisions, and technical risk resolution across multiple programs.
Drive advanced power amplifier design across multiple process technologies and supply modulation approaches, including envelope tracking, while determining design methodologies and evaluation criteria for complex or non-standard assignments.
Lead cross-functional technical collaboration with engineering teams across pSemi and Murata on PA technologies, aligning design decisions, resolving escalated technical issues, and driving adoption of best practices.
Partner with key stakeholders and suppliers to influence, refine, and execute the long-term architectural roadmap for PA platforms, ensuring technical decisions align with product, process, and manufacturing strategy.
Lead technical execution of PA proof-of-concept prototypes and transition successful technologies into high-volume products, with accountability for design maturity, manufacturability, and performance outcomes.
Serve as a recognized technical expert in advancing pSemi and Murata RF PA capabilities, directing future efforts regarding tools, technology, performance, cost optimization, and design methodology improvements across the function.
Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior and peer engineers; review complex designs, elevate team capability, and disseminate advanced design practices across the RF development organization.
Product Documentation: Document all relevant product and design information to educate others on novel design techniques and provide guidance on product usage.
Product Characterization: Work with Characterization and Test Engineers to define, conduct and analyze data from product performance characterization.
Production ATE Development: Work with Test Engineers to define, develop and ramp production ATE solutions.
Product Support: Provide expert technical leadership with Product, Test, and Manufacturing Engineering to resolve complex field failures, improve yield, drive corrective actions, and establish design learnings that improve future product robustness.