2027 RF Device Engineer

aero; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, CA is seeking an RF Device Engineer (MTS or Sr. MTS) to support reliability investigations of advanced RF systems using silicon, SiGe, SOI, III-V technologies for space applications.

This on-site role focuses on device testing and analysis. Applicants should have a Master’s in Electrical Engineering or related field, 0-1 year of experience, and willingness to travel ~15% for site visits.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Sciences, or related discipline (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months).
• 0-1 year of industry work experience.
• Experience with microelectronic, semiconductor, or RF devices or systems.
• Willing to travel occasionally to work location or customer site domestically/internationally ~15% if required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance (citizenship required).

Responsibilities

• Perform accelerated life testing on microelectronic devices to determine MTTF and reliability metrics.
• Conduct device characterization on GaN HEMTs, CMOS, MOSFETs, bipolar transistors, and RF devices.
• Execute resistance measurements and accelerated life testing on capacitors and PCB microvias.
• Perform high-power RF measurements including S-parameter analysis and noise measurements.
• Provide technical support to national security space programs and collaborators.
• Carry out applied research in microelectronic device reliability and RF system performance.
• Assist adoption and reliability assessment of new technologies for space systems.
• Duties may evolve with organizational needs.
• Collaborate with internal and external teams and travel as needed.

Skills

Strong written and oral communication

Team environment

Organizational skills

Flexibility

Interpersonal skills

Education

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering

Physics

Materials Sciences

Tools

Cadence

Silvaco

Tanner Tools

Microwave Office

Python

LabVIEW

MATLAB

Job description

About the Aerospace Corporation

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation's space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space- delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you'll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

Physical Sciences Laboratories (PSL)

PSL support the effective and timely development and operation of national security systems through scientific research and the application of advanced technologies. PSL has more than 150 specialized laboratories used to test, analyze, and troubleshoot virtually every aspect of rocket and satellite system design, development, construction, deployment, and operation. The expertise of the laboratories' technical staff allows PSL to stay abreast of new technological developments and program support issues associated with rapidly evolving space systems.

Microelectronics Technology Department (MTD)

The Microelectronics Technology Department (MTD) is part of PSL with specialized laboratories for testing, accelerating, and analyzing, failures in electronics used for space system. MTD is comprised of two sections: one that performs radiation effects testing and discrete microelectronics testing, while the other section performs failure analysis on microelectronics using tools that can identify anomalies from the macroscopic down to the atomic scale. MTD is looking for an RF Device Engineer (MTS or Sr. MTS -Microelectronics/Semiconductor Engineering) to support investigations of electronics reliability and physics of failure of advanced RF systems that use silicon, SiGe, SOI, III-V, II-VI, and other technologies for space applications.

Highlights of our lab's capabilities

Virtual Tour

Location

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA.

What You'll Be Doing

• Perform accelerated life testing on microelectronic devices using temperature and electrical stress biases to determine mean time to failure (MTTF) and reliability metrics
• Conduct device characterization on GaN HEMTs, CMOS, MOSFETs, bipolar transistors, and other advanced semiconductor technologies (including pulsed-IV, DC, and RF characterization)
• Execute resistance measurements on materials and accelerated life testing on capacitors and PCB microvias
• Perform high-power RF measurements including S-parameter analysis, power calculations, and noise measurements
• Provide technical support to national security space programs, internal research teams, and academic collaborators
• Conduct applied research in microelectronic device reliability and RF system performance for space applications
• Support adoption and reliability assessment of new technologies for space systems
• Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned as needed

What Corporate Skills You'll Bring

• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Must work well in a team environment
• Possess organizational, time management and project management skills
• Demonstrate flexibility and ability to adapt to changing organizational need
• Interpersonal skills to coordinate efforts and work with other internal and external organizations

What You Need to be Successful

• Master's degree from an accredited college/university program in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Sciences, or related discipline (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
• 0-1 year of industry work experience
• Experience with engineering or scientific project execution
• Experience with microelectronic, semiconductor, or RF devices or systems
• Willing to travel occasionally to work location or customer site/domestically/internationally approx. 15% if required
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

How You Can Stand Out

• Ph.D. degree from an accredited program in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Sciences, or related discipline (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
• Extensive experience with RF testing, design or engineering, including microwave devices or systems, MMICs, microelectronic devices, network analysis, amplifier biasing, impedance matching, load tuning, etc.
• Background working with space system programs is desired
• Experience with advanced test structure and circuit design using CAD tools such as Cadence, Silvaco, Tanner Tools, or Microwave Office
• Semiconductor fabrication or cleanroom experience
• Experience with FPGA/microprocessor programming
• Strong knowledge working with Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB or similar software for data analysis and collection is pref