System Signal Integrity Engineer

Apple - Austin, TX

Full-time - Mid Level

Austin, TX

Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing

About the position

The Signal Integrity Engineer will play a crucial role in the hardware development team within the iPhone System Technologies organization. This position involves collaborating with various technology and module teams to ensure effective integration at the system level, focusing on the design and debugging of high-speed and low-speed links. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in Signal Integrity, with both lab and simulation experience, and will be responsible for guiding layout and system design to optimize performance.

Responsibilities

• Simulate for loss, crosstalk, and coupling concerns to guide layout & system design using 3D/2.5D/2D EM modeling tools.
• Perform lab measurements such as VNA characterization, Eye Diagrams, BERTs and Compliance Testing.
• Participate in schematic reviews to inform selection and placement of various system level channel components including RLC filters, DC-blocking capacitors, board to board connectors, etc.
• Lead layout reviews and make data-driven recommendations to achieve robust SI performance on various signals running at low and high speeds.
• Perform time-domain and statistical simulations to qualify signal integrity and optimize drive strengths and equalization to ensure adequate voltage and timing margins over high volumes.
• Work with multi-functional teams to define design requirements for improved EM performance and system coexistence by developing and improving design methodologies to achieve minimal EMI.
• Provide design guideline and support to system architecture design, board layout, product bring up, debug, validation, and factory builds.
• Perform design feasibility study, design testing and verification, and system bring up.

Requirements

• 2+ years of experience in Signal Integrity or related field.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (EE) or related field.
• Strong EE fundamentals and problem-solving skills.
• Strong academic background in EM theory and coupling mechanisms.
• Hands-on experience in hardware board-level testing, validation, and with lab equipment (TDR, VNAs, scopes, near field scanning, spectrum analyzers).
• Hands-on experience in EM and circuit simulation tools such as Ansys HFSS/Maxwell/SIWave, CST, ADS/Spice/Spectre, Cadence/Sigrity, and scripting languages (Python, Perl).

Nice-to-haves

• Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Experience in 3D EM simulations for debugging and mitigating complex EM coexistence issues.
• System or module level experience in consumer electronics hardware design.
• Familiarity with firmware to independently lead hardware bring up and debug efforts.
• Practical experience with TX/RX equalization circuitry and understanding how they impact channel performance.
• Experience with standard high-speed interfaces such as Display Port, USB, MIPI, PCIe, etc.
• Experience with standard low-speed interfaces such as I2C, SPI, SPMI, I2S, etc.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex topics and ideas with cross-functional teams.

Benefits

• Equal opportunity employer committed to inclusion and diversity.