RF Applications Engineer

Job Title

Senior Product Applications Engineer – PLL/VCO & Phased Array Radar

Role Summary

Serve as the technical authority for PLL, VCO, clocking, and frequency‑generation products with a primary focus on phased‑array radar, electronic warfare, SATCOM, and advanced RF systems. Enable customers to integrate ADI timing and RF solutions into multi‑channel architectures through system guidance, reference designs, and hands‑on support.

Work cross‑functionally with IC design, systems engineering, marketing, and customers to influence product roadmaps and accelerate adoption in radar and aerospace/defense markets. Travel required ~10%.

Experience Level

Senior-level. Preferred 5+ years in product applications engineering, RF systems engineering, or customer technical support; demonstrated experience with phased‑array or multi‑channel RF architectures.

Responsibilities

Provide system‑level technical leadership, customer support, and application collateral to accelerate product adoption in radar and defense markets.

• Develop deep system understanding of phased‑array radar, EW, SATCOM, and RF signal chains (frequency synthesis, LO distribution, synchronization).
• Advise customers on phase noise budgeting, spurious analysis, coherency, and calibration for large multi‑channel systems.
• Act as primary applications expert for PLLs, VCOs, clock generators, and synthesizers; guide device selection and architecture tradeoffs.
• Lead development of evaluation boards, phased‑array reference platforms, simulation tools, and software utilities.
• Create application notes and design examples addressing LO leakage, spur mitigation, multi‑chip synchronization, and thermal effects.
• Collaborate with IC design, systems engineering, marketing, and sales to translate customer needs into product feedback and roadmap items.
• Diagnose and resolve advanced RF and timing issues using measurements, simulation, and system‑level analysis; provide on‑site or virtual support for strategic customers.
• Define and execute bench‑ and system‑level validation plans (phase noise, spurs, switching behavior, temperature) and support aerospace/defense qualification activities.
• Analyze competitor solutions and produce performance comparisons to inform product positioning.
• Mentor junior applications engineers and document best practices for RF and timing applications.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience to perform the role effectively.

• System‑level expertise in frequency synthesis, phase noise, spurious mechanisms, and LO distribution in RF systems.
• Practical, hands‑on experience with phased‑array radar or multi‑channel RF architectures.
• Proven experience applying PLLs, VCOs, clock generators, and synthesizers in high‑performance RF designs; ability to optimize for noise, power, tuning range, lock time, and scalability.
• Advanced debugging skills with spectrum analyzers, phase noise analyzers, VNAs, and oscilloscopes; ability to correlate theory, simulation, and lab results.
• Experience developing reference designs, evaluation hardware, and application documentation independently.
• Demonstrated success collaborating across design, systems, marketing, and sales teams to deliver customer‑focused solutions.
• Strong technical communication skills for presentations and written collateral to technical and non‑technical audiences.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field is required; Master’s degree preferred. (The posting specifies degree in EE or related field; no other certifications or "equivalent experience" language was provided.)

About the Company

Company: Analog Devices

Headquarters: Norwood, Massachusetts, USA

Analog Devices is a leading global semiconductor company that bridges the physical and digital worlds, enabling breakthroughs at the Intelligent Edge. With a focus on innovation, ADI develops solutions that drive advancements in digitized factories, mobility, and digital healthcare. The company employs around 24,000 people globally and reported revenues exceeding $9 billion in FY24, creating technologies that transform lives across various sectors.