RF/Analog IC Design Engineer
QualcommJob Title
RF/Analog IC Design Engineer
Role Summary
Design and develop radio-frequency and analog integrated circuits for wireless products (4G/5G, WLAN, BT, GPS) including highly integrated transceivers and associated blocks. Work on transistor-level design, system-level tradeoffs, simulation, verification, and post-silicon characterization within an RFIC engineering team.
Experience Level
Mid-level. Typical experience range spans several years depending on degree: see Education Requirements for degree-to-experience mappings.
Responsibilities
Primary technical and team responsibilities.
- Define circuit-level specifications from system requirements and develop module/block-level architectures.
- Transistor-level design of RF/analog blocks (e.g., LNAs, PLLs, synthesizers, Tx/Rx chains) and run complex simulations to evaluate performance.
- Collaborate with layout engineers on floorplanning, layout review, and physical verification.
- Develop and review block-level test plans; analyze test results and drive bug investigations and fixes.
- Lead and mentor junior engineers; provide technical guidance and review their designs and documentation.
- Contribute to product direction, next-generation feature proposals, and maintain awareness of industry trends and competitor solutions.
- Prepare clear technical documentation and feature descriptions for complex projects.
Requirements
Core technical skills and applied experience required or preferred.
- Must-have: Several years of hands-on RF/analog circuit design experience (receiver and/or transmitter blocks) and ASIC design or verification experience.
- Must-have: Experience with transistor-level design and verification of RFICs; ability to run and interpret advanced circuit simulations.
- Must-have: Practical experience (2+ years) with tools such as CADENCE, Virtuoso, ADS.
- Must-have: Experience collaborating on layout and performing physical verification reviews.
- Nice-to-have: Experience with high-performance RF frequency synthesizers, digital control and signal processing, electromagnetic simulation/modeling, and product commercialization.
- Nice-to-have: Post-silicon characterization experience and prior work in large matrixed organizations or interactions with senior leadership.
Education Requirements
Degrees mentioned in the posting: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (required path noted with experience), Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field (preferred path), and PhD in Electrical Engineering or related field (preferred for some roles). The posting pairs these with experience expectations: Bachelor's path references ~3+ years RF/analog design plus ~4+ years ASIC design/verification; Master's path references ~4+ years ASIC design/verification; PhD path references ~2+ years ASIC design/verification. No specific certifications were listed.
About the Company
Company: Qualcomm
Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States
Qualcomm is a global leader in semiconductor and telecommunications equipment, specializing in mobile technologies and innovations. Known for its Adreno GPUs, the company provides solutions enabling advancements in mobile gaming, AI, VR/AR, and autonomous driving. Qualcomm's cutting-edge technology and commitment to high-performance, power-efficient designs drive the evolution of mobile graphics and connectivity worldwide.
