Senior RFIC Design Engineer

Posted: 1 Mar 2024

Role Number:200514200

Would you like to join Apple’s growing wireless silicon development team? The wireless RFIC team architects, designs, and validates radio transceivers integrated into complex wireless SoCs. Our wireless organization is responsible for all aspects of wireless silicon development that transform the user experience at the product level, all of which is driven by a best-in-class vertically integrated engineering team spanning RF/Analog architecture and design, Systems/PHY/MAC architecture and design, VLSI/RTL design and integration, Emulation, Design Verification, Test and Validation, and FW/SW engineering. As Sr. RFIC Design Engineer within the Wireless Radio team, you will be at the center of a wireless SoC design group with a critical impact on getting Apple’s state-of-the-art wireless connectivity solutions into hundreds of millions of products.

Key Qualifications

Typically requires 10+ years of RF/analog and mixed-signal design experience in cutting-edge RF CMOS design.
Direct experience in designing and bringing into mass production of wireless transceivers in deep sub-micron RFCMOS technology.
Deep understanding of analog, mixed-signal and RF circuit design. This includes design of LNAs and PAs, PLL/VCO/DCO/LOGEN blocks, mixers, baseband filters and amplifiers, data converters and calibration methods associated with such high performance wireless systems. Experience should also include understanding of DFT and DFM techniques for mass production environment.
Deep understanding of analog design concepts such as analysis of noise, linearity, mismatch, stability, and other analog impairments.
Familiarity with various RF transceiver architectures and their trade-offs, system specifications and ability to work with system architects to translate system requirements into circuit requirements at IC level; strong understanding of impact of modulation type to radio architecture and requirements.
Proven capability to work with digital design group for an optimum partition between digital and analog domain.
Familiarity with the integration flows and challenges of wireless SoCs.
Strong knowledge of desense and able to work closely with board RF/HW/Antenna teams to optimize board/module layouts for desense mitigation. Also, has experience with desense mitigation with integrated PMUs/DSPs (i.e. substrate isolation, return loops, package isolation, frequency planning, etc)
Experienced in Cadence Virtuoso, Spectre RF, Matlab, EM simulation (EMX, HFSS), and similar tools.
Familiarity with mixed-signal mode verification methodology (SystemVerilog, AMS, Nanotime).
Extensive experience in Silicon characterization and debug.
Ability to drive strong production test/QA methodologies.

Description

As a Senior RFIC Design lead, you are going to be responsible for providing RFIC solutions for wireless SoC and driving them to mass production for Apple’s Wireless Connectivity products. Responsibilities include: - Lead design of radio transceiver chains including TX, RX, and PLL-LOGen for wireless connectivity products. - Drive radio KPI (power, area, performance) to meet product requirements. - Work with cross-functional teams including platform architecture, wireless design, RF HW and SW to define radio features enabling wireless innovation. - Work closely with RF Systems in block level and high level specifications of the TX and RX line ups and PLL-LOGen, and proper distribution of spec margins in the chain. - Hands-on design contributions starting from concept, architecture, and topology to transistor-level feasibility studies and KPI trade-off analysis to actual design, simulations, and extractions. - Design of RF and Analog loopbacks for calibration and compensation. - Work through Co-Existence scenarios and design to meet the CoEx requirements. - Oversee the floorplan layout and verification of the design to ensure a successful tape-out. - Close collaboration with RFIC test engineers in the bring up, debug and optimization of the wireless connectivity chip through the productization. - Provide design versus silicon measurements correlation, and compliance with specification for a volume production. - Work with the foundry team to understand the capabilities, and limitations of the new technology nodes to achieve the optimum radio performance. - Provide guidance on analog and RF issues across Apple.

Education & Experience

BS and 10+ years of relevant industry experience. MSEE and PhD is preferred.

Additional Requirements

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We also take affirmative action to offer employment and advancement opportunities to all applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Apple will not discriminate or retaliate against applicants who inquire about, disclose, or discuss their compensation or that of other applicants.

Pay & Benefits

At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $161,700.00 and $284,900.00, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits.

Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.