Silicon Validation Engineer

Apple • San Diego, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Apple Inc. is hiring a Silicon Validation Engineer in San Diego, California. The role focuses on crafting, developing, and testing cellular SoCs to ensure they implement designs according to specification. The engineer reviews design specifications and schematics and uses specialized test platforms to validate RFIC operation. They work with scripting languages and embedded firmware to verify functionality and evaluate RF cellular SoC performance.

The position involves reviewing chip specifications and collaborating with design teams to develop characterization test plans; defining, developing, and maintaining laboratory test setups; and creating automation software for silicon-device characterization, data collection, and analysis. The engineer also diagnoses and resolves engineering issues with cross-functional teams and validates and optimizes system performance against system specifications. The role is 40 hours per week.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Three years of experience in the job offered or a related occupation.
• Experience designing characterization test plans and validation methodologies for RF transceiver SoC validation based on design specifications.
• Experience with RFIC bring-up, characterization, optimization, and block-level debugging of LNAs, mixers, PLLs, VCOs, ADCs, DACs, and DSP blocks for cellular SoC validation.
• Experience applying LTE/5G RF performance parameters, including phase noise, EVM, ACLR, IIP2, IIP3, and P1dB, for cellular SoC characterization.
• Experience operating spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, signal generators, and oscilloscopes to validate RFIC performance.
• Experience using Python to develop test automation frameworks for RF SoC characterization and data collection.
• Experience using Git or GitLab to manage and maintain RF test automation scripts and equipment driver libraries.
• Experience performing system-level RF performance testing using firmware-based RF control and FPGA-based test platforms.
• Experience using MATLAB, Tableau, or JMP to process, analyze, and visualize RF characterization data for silicon-device performance reporting.
• Experience supporting ATE development and mass-production testing for RF SoC devices.
• Experience in hardware board schematic review and PCB layout evaluation for RF SoC validation board design.

Responsibilities

• Design characterization test plans and validation methodologies for RF transceiver SoC validation based on design specifications.
• Perform RFIC bring-up, characterization, optimization, and block-level debugging for cellular SoCs.
• Apply LTE/5G RF performance parameters in cellular SoC characterization.
• Operate RF laboratory instruments to validate RFIC performance.
• Develop test automation frameworks for RF SoC characterization and data collection using Python.
• Manage and maintain RF test automation scripts and equipment driver libraries using Git or GitLab.
• Perform system-level RF performance testing using firmware-based RF control and FPGA-based test platforms.
• Process, analyze, and visualize RF characterization data for silicon-device performance reporting.
• Support ATE development and mass-production testing for RF SoC devices.
• Review hardware board schematics and evaluate PCB layouts for RF SoC validation board design.
• Define, develop, and maintain laboratory test setups.
• Develop automation software for silicon-device characterization, including data collection and analysis.
• Debug and resolve engineering issues in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Validate and optimize system performance to meet expected behavior according to system specifications.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage.
• Retirement benefits.
• Discounted products and free services.
• Tuition reimbursement for certain educational expenses related to advancing a career at Apple.
• Potential eligibility for discretionary bonuses or commission payments and relocation.
• Opportunity to participate in discretionary employee stock programs, including restricted stock unit awards and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which allows eligible participants to purchase Apple stock at a discount.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level