Senior Staff Engineer, RF Power Amplifier Design (Remote - Cedar Rapids, Iowa)

Murata America•Arlington Heights, IL

37d•$195,563 - $254,246•Remote

About The Position

This position provides technical leadership, architecture definition, and end-to-end design direction for advanced RF power amplifier platforms used in cellular and Wi-Fi front-end applications. The engineer serves as a subject matter expert in developing and optimizing RF power amplifiers across frequency bands and semiconductor processes, including SOI and GaAs, and guides technical tradeoffs involving performance, cost, manufacturability, and time to market. Working independently and cross-functionally, the engineer defines and advances power amplifier techniques and architectures for high-performance, cost-optimized APT and ET front-end solutions. The role advises pSemi and Murata management on RF power amplifier design decisions, capability development, and roadmap tradeoffs. It also shapes and executes the long-term architectural roadmap, develops proof-of-concept prototypes, and translates advanced technologies into high-volume products. The successful candidate brings expert knowledge of advanced RF/mmWave power amplifiers for next-generation cellular and 5G NR applications, deep RFIC circuit design expertise, and experience leading resolution of significant technical issues across multidisciplinary development programs. The role requires demonstrated experience developing novel RF PA products through design, test, and mass-production release.

Requirements

Typically 12 or more years of RF FEM product development, depending on education and experience, with expert-level capability in the design, development, and commercialization of advanced RF power amplifier products.
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 resolving novel or non-standard technical challenges.
Detailed knowledge and experience designing envelope-tracking power amplifiers for mobile applications.
Hands-on experience designing highly efficient and linear power amplifiers operating between 600 MHz and 20 GHz.
Deep understanding of power amplifier operation and design principles.
Transistor-level IC design and layout experience in multiple technology nodes, including GaAs HBT, CMOS-SOI, SiGe, and GaN.
Understanding of the comparative advantages and tradeoffs among different processes.
Good knowledge of Wi-Fi and/or cellular standards and key system performance metrics.
Knowledge of IC fabrication and its effects on circuit performance.
Good understanding of nonlinear effects in transistors.
Knowledge of basic analog bias and control circuits and their impact on the overall RF system.
Experience with electromagnetic modeling of high-frequency RFICs and PCBs.
Familiarity with analog and RF IC layout techniques.
Multiple successful IC tape-outs and demonstrated contribution across the product life cycle, from concept definition through validation, release, and production ramp.
Experience designing, debugging, and optimizing RFICs in the lab using standard laboratory equipment.
Hands-on use of RF measurement equipment to validate and correlate performance metrics such as ACP/ACLR, EVM, IP3, NF, and gain.
Experience with Virtuoso, Cadence Spectre, Keysight ADS, EM software, Matlab, and JMP.
Strong clarity and completeness in documentation.
Ability to assess and manage risk clearly.
Ability to influence cross-functional technical decisions collaboratively, align stakeholders on complex tradeoffs, and deliver high-impact outcomes on schedule.
Recognized subject matter expertise in RF power amplifier design, including the ability to determine methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for highly complex or unique assignments.
Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or an equivalent field.

Responsibilities

Lead 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 process technologies and supply modulation approaches, including envelope tracking; determine 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, align design decisions, resolve escalated technical issues, and promote best practices.
Partner with stakeholders and suppliers to influence, refine, and execute the long-term architectural roadmap for PA platforms, aligning technical decisions 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.
Advance pSemi and Murata RF PA capabilities by directing future efforts involving tools, technology, performance, cost optimization, and design methodology improvements.
Mentor and guide junior and peer engineers, review complex designs, improve team capability, and disseminate advanced design practices across the RF development organization.
Document relevant product and design information to educate others on novel design techniques and provide guidance on product usage.
Work with Characterization and Test Engineers to define, conduct, and analyze product performance characterization.
Work with Test Engineers to define, develop, and ramp production ATE solutions.
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.