Sr Principal Electrical Design Engineer

FormFactor Inc.•Beaverton, OR

About The Position

FormFactor’s RF Products group works closely with leading semiconductor manufacturers to solve advanced test and validation challenges. Our technologies directly enable next‑generation wireless and high‑speed communication systems—including 5G and mmWave modems, ultra‑high‑speed I/O interfaces, and RF solutions exceeding 100 GHz. We are seeking a Sr. Principal Electrical Design Engineer with deep expertise in RF, high‑speed digital, and electromagnetic design. In this senior technical role, you will lead complex design initiatives, drive simulation‑based development, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to next‑generation RF product architectures.

Requirements

MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field (or equivalent industry experience).
10+ years of electrical engineering experience with significant focus on RF or high‑speed digital physical‑layer design.
Strong proficiency with EM simulation tools such as HFSS, ADS, AWR, and related modeling software.
Extensive experience using RF measurement techniques, including VNA, TDR, and wafer‑level RF measurements.
Background in PCB design and understanding of fabrication constraints and signal‑integrity considerations.
Familiarity with on‑wafer RF calibration techniques (SOL, SOLT, SOLR, TRL).
Digital Communications
High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS)
MATLAB
Python (Programming Language)
RF Calibration
RF Measurements
Minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years experience; or equivalent experience

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of wireless, radar, or digital communications standards (e.g., 5G, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, PCIe) is a plus.
Experience in automation, data processing, or scripting (e.g., Python, MATLAB) is beneficial.

Responsibilities

High‑Frequency / High‑Speed Electrical Design Design advanced RF and high‑speed digital physical‑layer interconnect structures using simulation‑driven design methodologies.
Perform system‑level RF circuit design, including matching networks, transmission line structures, and power delivery architectures.
Develop, refine, and optimize electromagnetic (EM) simulation models using industry‑standard tools.
Modeling, Simulation, and Validation Create detailed EM and circuit‑level models; perform correlation between simulations and laboratory measurements.
Conduct power‑integrity simulations of complex power‑delivery networks (both DC and AC domains).
Automate simulation workflows to improve repeatability, speed, and data accuracy.
Hands‑On RF Test & Measurement Lead hands‑on evaluation using VNAs, TDRs, spectrum analyzers, wafer probers, and other high‑frequency instrumentation.
Mentor engineering teams on measurement best practices, calibration methods, and data analysis.
Contribute to the development and refinement of next‑generation RF calibration methodologies (e.g., SOL, SOLR, SOLT, multiline TRL).
Technical Leadership & Collaboration Serve as a senior technical expert, influencing architecture decisions and long‑term product roadmaps.
Collaborate with cross‑functional teams—including mechanical, process, and product engineering—to optimize product performance and manufacturability.
Provide technical mentorship to engineers across the RF product group and broader organization.