Staff Systems Design Engineer – Cellular Radio Systems
GreenWave Radios™•San Jose, CA
•$180,000 - $200,000•Onsite
About The Position
GreenWave Radios is building the next generation of Cellular Infrastructure Radio solutions, and we're looking for a Staff Systems Design Engineer to own end-to-end system architecture for our 5G NR and O-RAN product lines. You'll translate real-world RF and protocol requirements into silicon-level specs, working at the intersection of RF, baseband, and massive MIMO — all the way from architecture to lab validation. This is a hands-on, high-impact role at a company that ships.
Requirements
- 8+ years of hands-on experience in cellular systems engineering (LTE, 5G NR)
- BS in Electrical Engineering required; MS or PhD strongly preferred
- Deep expertise in 5G NR system architecture — PHY layer, numerology, beamforming, and massive MIMO (mMIMO) antenna system design
- Experience with O-RAN architecture: functional split options, O-RU/O-DU/O-CU definitions, fronthaul (eCPRI/CPRI) specifications, and O-RAN Alliance WG4/WG7 compliance
- Proven lab experience — comfortable operating and interpreting data from spectrum analyzers, signal generators, VNAs, oscilloscopes, and RF test equipment in a prototype bring-up environment
- Hands-on experience with Cadence tools (Virtuoso, Spectre, or AWR Microwave Office) for schematic capture, simulation, or system-level modeling
- Experience authoring system-level specifications and architecture documents that drive IC design decisions
- Strong fundamentals in RF system analysis: noise figure, linearity (IIP3, P1dB), dynamic range, phase noise, spurious, and link budget methodology
- Familiarity with 3GPP 5G NR standards testing and compliance methodology (TR 38.803, TS 38.104, etc.)
Nice To Haves
- Experience with MATLAB or Python for system-level simulation, mMIMO beamforming modeling, or automated test scripting
- Exposure to mixed-signal or RFIC design in advanced CMOS nodes (28nm, 22nm, 16nm FD-SOI or FinFET)
- Familiarity with O-RAN open-source platforms or test tools (e.g., OSC, OpenAirInterface, ORAN-SC) for integration and conformance testing
- Familiarity with AI-assisted test data analysis and ML-based signal/power integrity prediction tools to catch issues earlier in the design cycle
- Experience using Claude Code or similar AI coding assistants to accelerate design scripting, simulation automation, or documentation — familiarity with agentic AI tools for engineering workflows is a genuine differentiator
- Experience applying AI to technical documentation workflows — LLM-assisted datasheet parsing, specification drafting, or design review summarization
- General comfort adopting AI-augmented workflows to boost design productivity — this is a plus, not a requirement, for the right hands-on cellular systems expert
Responsibilities
- Define and own system-level architecture for cellular SoCs, including link budgets, system partitioning, mMIMO beamforming chain design, and performance trade-off analysis
- Architect and specify O-RAN compliant subsystems — define split options (7.2x, 6, 8), fronthaul interface requirements, and RU/DU functional partitioning in coordination with protocol and firmware teams
- Develop and maintain detailed system specifications covering RF front-end, baseband, clocking, power, and RF/digital interfaces, serving as the authoritative reference for IC design teams
- Build and run system simulations (RF link, mMIMO beamforming gain, interference, EVM, sensitivity, dynamic range) to validate architecture decisions before tape-out
- Lead lab bring-up and characterization of prototype hardware, including hands-on use of spectrum analyzers, signal generators, VNAs, oscilloscopes, and protocol analyzers to validate RF and system performance
- Define test plans and acceptance criteria for system-level performance, and work closely with test engineers to implement automated measurement flows in the lab
- Partner with RF, analog, digital, and firmware teams to resolve cross-domain issues discovered in simulation or lab — own the path from root cause to silicon fix
- Drive system-level compliance verification against 3GPP 5G NR and O-RAN Alliance specifications, and represent GreenWave in standards and alliance working group discussions where applicable
- Produce clear architecture documents, design review materials, and technical trade-off memos that inform product and executive decisions
- Assist in mentoring junior systems engineers; establish best practices for system modeling, specification, and lab methodology
Benefits
- Competitive base salary
- Pre-IPO stock options
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
