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

Job Title

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

Role Summary

Technical authority for PLL, VCO, and frequency-generation products with a primary focus on phased-array radar, electronic warfare, and advanced RF systems. Provide system-level guidance, develop reference designs and application collateral, support strategic customers, and influence product direction across IC design, systems engineering, marketing, and sales.

Experience Level

Senior-level — typically requires 5+ years of relevant experience in product applications engineering, RF systems engineering, or customer technical support.

Responsibilities

Deliver technical leadership across product application, validation, and customer support for PLL/VCO and timing solutions.

• Provide system-level guidance on frequency synthesis, LO distribution, phase-noise budgeting, spurious analysis, coherency, and calibration for multi-channel phased-array systems.
• Lead PLL/VCO device selection and architecture tradeoffs for fractional-N PLLs, wideband synthesizers, and external/integrated VCOs.
• Develop evaluation boards, phased-array reference platforms, simulation tools, and software utilities demonstrating RF and timing performance.
• Create application notes, design examples, and reference designs addressing LO leakage, spur mitigation, synchronization, and thermal effects.
• Define and execute bench- and system-level validation plans (phase noise, spurs, switching, temperature) and support qualification for aerospace/defense applications.
• Diagnose and resolve advanced RF and timing issues using measurements, simulations, and system-level analysis; provide on-site or virtual support for critical customer programs.
• Collaborate with IC design, systems engineering, marketing, and sales to influence product roadmaps and translate customer requirements into product feedback.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to team best practices.
• Travel as required (approximately 10%).

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience for successful performance in this role.

• Strong system-level understanding of frequency synthesis, phase-noise mechanisms, spurious behavior, and LO distribution in RF systems.
• Hands-on experience with phased-array radar or multi-channel RF architectures and synchronization issues.
• Proven experience applying PLLs, VCOs, clock generators, and synthesizers in high-performance RF designs; able to optimize for noise, power, tuning range, lock time, and scalability.
• Practical lab experience with spectrum analyzers, phase-noise analyzers, VNAs, oscilloscopes, and relevant measurement techniques.
• Ability to develop evaluation hardware, reference designs, and clear application documentation.
• Strong analytical skills to correlate theory, simulation, and lab results and to debug complex RF issues.
• Proven cross-disciplinary collaboration and ability to communicate complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.

Nice-to-have:

• Familiarity with ADI RF, timing, or mixed-signal products.
• Experience with aerospace/defense programs (EW, SATCOM) and qualification processes.
• Experience mentoring engineers or leading technical initiatives.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field is required; Master’s degree preferred. The posting also indicates a preference for candidates with 5+ years of relevant experience in product applications engineering, RF systems engineering, or customer technical support.

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.