Sr. RFIC Test Engineer

Apple - Sunnyvale, CA

Full-time - Senior

Sunnyvale, CA

Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing

About the position

The Sr. RFIC Test Engineer will be an integral part of the wireless RFIC team, which is responsible for the architecture, design, and validation of radio transceivers integrated into complex wireless System on Chips (SoCs). This role offers the opportunity to engage in innovative development in transceiver design while collaborating closely with systems and product teams at Apple. The successful candidate will perform testing, debugging, and measurement for RF System on Chip (SoC) Intellectual Property (IP). This position is crucial for ensuring that the RFIC designs meet the stringent performance requirements necessary for Apple’s wearable products, which demand the smallest form factor and the lowest power consumption. In this role, the engineer will run bench tests and debug RF SoC IP components, including transmitters, receivers, phase-locked loops (PLLs), power amplifiers, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), digital-to-analog converters (DACs), crystal oscillators, and power management units (PMUs). The engineer will also be responsible for debugging chip-level or board-level desense and electromagnetic interference (EMI) issues. Additionally, the engineer will write scripts to automate measurements in a build-up environment, perform RF system characterization by measuring error vector magnitude (EVM), spectral mask, phase noise, sensitivity, and other critical radio parameters. The design of external matching networks to optimize transmit and receive radio performance will also be a key responsibility. The engineer will generate RF design, verification, and test reports, and collaborate with RF systems and integration teams on RF board layout, test interface methodology, programming sequences, and RF calibration programming. Synchronizing radio register settings between simulation and test environments will be essential to ensure accurate performance evaluations. This position is ideal for someone who is passionate about RF technology and eager to contribute to cutting-edge wireless solutions.

Responsibilities

• Run bench test and debug of RF SoC IP including transmitters, receivers, PLL, power amplifiers, ADC/DAC, crystal oscillators, and PMU.
• Debug chip level or board level desense and EMI issues.
• Write scripts using a build up environment in order to automate measurements.
• Perform RF system characterization measuring EVM, spectral mask, phase noise, sensitivity, and other radio parameters.
• Design external matching networks to optimize Tx/Rx radio performance.
• Generate RF design/verification/test report.
• Collaborate with RF systems and integration teams on RF board layout, test interface methodology and programming sequence, and RF calibration programming.
• Synchronize radio register settings between simulation environment, and test environment.

Requirements

• BS degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Experience in RF test development, debug, and reporting.
• Scripting and debugging knowledge in Python, Perl, TCL, C++, or equivalent.
• Working knowledge of RF test equipment such as network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, and vector signal generators.
• Strong RF background and familiarity with RF systems fundamentals.
• Good knowledge on RF, PLL, and general wireless systems measurements (i.e. IP3, NF, ACPR, phase noise, lock time, etc.).
• Some experience of RF PCB board design, debug, and development.
• Exposure to RFIC design and simulation/verification.