Research Associate (PhD Candidate) - RF and Millimeter-Wave Integrated Circuits 60 - 100 %

Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW; Windisch; On-site; CHF 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wide sports program

Cultural program

Equal pay

Doctoral promotion

Flexible working time (42h/week)

Teleworking option

Mentoring program

Job summary

Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW in Windisch, Aargau, seeks an RF/mmWave IC designer to lead design, calibration and validation for coherent W-band communication systems. The role spans circuit conception to experimental validation within a three-year fixed-term contract and involves collaboration with international partners.

The ideal candidate holds an MSc or PhD in Electrical Engineering or Microelectronics, with strong analog/RF IC experience, Cadence Virtuoso proficiency and HF

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Microelectronics or related field.
• Experience in analog/RF integrated-circuit design and with Cadence Virtuoso or comparable EDA tools.
• Solid understanding of gain, noise, linearity, stability and impedance matching.
• Experience with IC layout, EM simulation and high-frequency measurements.

Responsibilities

• Translating system requirements into RF/mmWave circuit specifications and architectures.
• Designing, simulating, laying out and verifying active and passive IC building blocks (amplifiers, mixers, oscillators, LO distribution, W-band front ends).
• Performing EM design of interconnects, passive structures and package interfaces, and characterize fabricated ICs.
• Investigating phase noise, hardware delays, group-delay variations, mismatches and temperature drift for coherent operation.
• Integrating circuits with antennas, packaging and measurement hardware and validating synchronization methods.

Skills

RFIC design

IC layout

EM simulation

high-frequency measurements

Education

MSc or PhD in Electrical Engineering

Microelectronics

Tools

Cadence Virtuoso

Job description

Flexibility, self-determination, creativity, interdisciplinarity - our mission

Your tasks

We are looking for a Research Associate to join our activities in radiofrequency and millimeter-wave integrated circuits for next-generation communication, sensing and synchronization systems.

The position is associated with a new research activity in W-band integrated circuits and coherent communication systems and is intended to develop into a doctoral research project in collaboration with a university partner.

We particularly welcome applications from MSc graduates interested in pursuing a PhD. Depending on experience and project timing, applications from candidates who have already completed a PhD are also welcome.

You will develop and experimentally validate integrated RF/mmWave circuits for coherent W-band communication and synchronization systems.

Responsibilities include:

• Translating system-level communication and synchronization requirements into RF/mmWave circuit specifications and architectures
• Designing, simulating, laying out and verifying active and passive IC building blocks, including amplifiers, mixers, oscillators, LO distribution and W-band front ends
• Performing EM design of interconnects, passive structures and package interfaces, and characterizing fabricated ICs
• Investigating phase noise, hardware delays, group-delay variations, mismatches and temperature drift, and assessing their impact on coherent operation
• Integrating circuits with antennas, packaging and measurement hardware and experimentally validating synchronization and calibration methods
• Experience with IC layout, EM simulation and high-frequency measurements
• Experience with SiGe BiCMOS, HBT or RF FD-SOI technologies is an advantage
• Independent yet team-oriented working style, strong problem-solving skills and good English communication

The doctoral-level research will address how two independent W-band nodes can establish and maintain a common time and phase reference despite impairments arising from oscillators, circuits, packaging and signal propagation.

The work will combine IC design, calibration and system-level error analysis, with the objective of demonstrating sub-picosecond synchronization and highly stable phase transfer between independent nodes.

This project is part of an international collaboration and therefore requires the ability to report findings clearly and precisely to various stakeholders, as well as the willingness and openness to work in an international and interdisciplinary environment.

Your profile

You are a motivated RF/mmWave IC designer who enjoys taking responsibility for project ranging from circuit conception to experimental validation.

• MSc or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Microelectronics or related field
• Experience in analog/RF integrated-circuit design and with Cadence Virtuoso or comparable EDA tools
• Solid understanding of gain, noise, linearity, stability and impedance matching
• Experience with IC layout, EM simulation and high-frequency measurements
• Experience with SiGe BiCMOS, HBT or RF FD-SOI technologies is an advantage
• Independent yet team-oriented working style, strong problem-solving skills and good English communication

The employment contract is for a fixed term of three years.

Your prospects:

The FHNW is part of a diverse society: it benefits from the resulting opportunities and acknowledges its responsibilities. In doing so, it goes a step further - the adoption of unconventional paths calls for creativity, openness and courage.

Your benefits:

• Wide range of university sports
• Cultural programme of lectures, concerts, theatre and films
• Established implementation of equal pay
• Targeted promotion of doctoral projects
• Annual working time (42 hours/week) with the option of part-time and teleworking
• Mentoring programme for career development

Start Date: immediately.

Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW

Bahnhofstrasse 6

5210 Brugg-Windisch

About the position:

Prof. Dr. Gerd Simons, Professor Sensoric and Electronic, Contact: [phone]

About the recruiting process:

Stavroula Kosmidis, HR Manager, Contact: [phone]