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

Job Title

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

Role Summary

As a Senior Product Applications Engineer at Analog Devices, you will be the technical authority for PLL, VCO, and frequency‑generation products with emphasis on phased‑array radar, electronic warfare, and advanced RF systems. You will enable customers to integrate ADI timing and RF solutions into complex multi‑channel architectures by providing system‑level guidance, developing reference designs and application collateral, and resolving advanced design issues.

You will work cross‑functionally with IC design, systems engineering, marketing, and customers to influence product direction, support qualification for high‑reliability applications, and mentor junior engineers.

Experience Level

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

Responsibilities

Accountabilities include customer enablement, technical leadership, product validation, and cross‑functional collaboration.

• Develop system‑level expertise in phased‑array radar, EW, SATCOM, and RF signal chains with focus on frequency synthesis, LO distribution, and synchronization.
• Advise customers on phase noise budgeting, spurious analysis, coherency, and calibration for large multi‑channel systems.
• Serve 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 demonstrating RF and timing performance.
• 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 influence product roadmaps and translate customer requirements into product feedback.
• Diagnose and resolve advanced RF and timing issues using measurements, simulations, and system‑level analysis; provide on‑site or virtual support as required (required travel ~10%).
• Define and execute bench‑ and system‑level validation plans for PLL/VCO products covering phase noise, spurs, switching behavior, and temperature performance.
• Analyze competitor solutions and produce detailed performance comparisons to inform strategy.
• Mentor junior applications engineers and contribute to team best practices.

Requirements

Must‑have technical skills and demonstrated experience required for this role; preferred items are listed where indicated.

• System‑level understanding of frequency synthesis, phase noise, spurious mechanisms, and LO distribution in RF systems.
• 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 and measurement skills with spectrum analyzers, phase noise analyzers, VNAs, and oscilloscopes; strong analytical capability to correlate theory, simulation, and lab results.
• Experience independently developing reference designs, evaluation hardware, and application documentation.
• Proven ability to collaborate across design, systems, marketing, and sales teams.
• Excellent technical communication skills for both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Preferred: familiarity with ADI RF, timing, or mixed‑signal products; experience in aerospace/defense, SATCOM, or EW systems; experience mentoring engineers.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field is specified; Master’s degree is preferred. The posting did not list certifications or explicit equivalent‑experience language.

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.