Principal mmWave-RFIC Engineer

Blue Origin; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 230,773 - 323,081; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Education Support Program

Up to four weeks paid time off

Job summary

A leading aerospace company is seeking a Principal RF/mmWave IC Design Engineer in California. This pivotal role involves designing advanced RF/mmWave integrated circuits such as power amplifiers and mixers. Ideal candidates will have over 15 years of relevant experience, strong debugging skills, and a collaborative approach. Competitive compensation provided in the range of $230,773.00 to $323,081.85, along with benefits such as comprehensive insurance and paid time off.

Qualifications

• Must have 15+ years of experience in millimeter-wave/RFIC design using SiGe, CMOS, and SOI technologies.
• Strong expertise in analysis and optimization of transmitter and receiver front-ends.
• Experience with mmWave IC characterization and debugging required.

Responsibilities

• Design RF/mmWave front-end chipsets including power amplifiers and low-noise amplifiers.
• Collaborate with RF system engineers to translate requirements into chip specifications.
• Supervise integration and optimization throughout development lifecycle.

Skills

mmWave/RFIC design

Circuit analysis and optimization

Electromagnetic simulations

Analog building blocks

Proficiency in debugging ICs

Education

15+ years experience in RF/mmWave IC design

U.S. citizenship or permanent residency

Tools

Schematic and simulation tools

EM simulation software

Job description

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!

We are seeking a Principal RF/mmWave IC Design Engineer to drive the development of state‑of‑the-art RF/mmWave ICs at Blue Origin. In this pivotal role, you will be designing cutting‑edge integrated front‑end circuits such as power amplifiers, low‑noise amplifiers, phase shifters, variable‑gain amplifiers, mixers, multipliers, and synthesizers at RF/mmWave frequencies, primarily in advanced silicon technologies. Your innovation in front‑end implementation will be critical in realizing system architectures for next‑generation communication networks and advancing our mission of enabling millions of people to live and work in space for the benefit of Earth.

Special Mentions

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected up to 10% of the time
• Interviews will include a technical assessment
• This role is based onsite in San Diego, CA; the Bay Area, CA; or Renton, WA. A temporary remote work exception is approved while our Bay Area and San Diego sites are being developed.

Responsibilities

• Design state‑of‑the‑art RF/mmWave front‑end chipsets, including power amplifiers, low‑noise amplifiers, phase shifters, variable‑gain amplifiers, mixers, multipliers, and synthesizers.
• Partner with RF system engineers to run feasibility studies and architect RF/mmWave transmitter and receiver front‑ends, translating system‑level requirements into chip‑level specifications.
• Design and simulate on‑chip electromagnetic (EM) structures and collaborate with the package engineering team on co‑optimization of IC/package interfaces.
• Supervise chip‑level front‑end integration and optimization throughout the development lifecycle and ensure successful production.
• Work with third‑party design partners.

Minimum Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in millimeter‑wave/RFIC design using SiGe, CMOS, and SOI technologies, with successful completion of multiple product lifecycles for high‑volume chipsets.
• Strong experience with various circuit topologies for amplifiers, mixers, switches, and synthesizers, specifically at mmWave frequencies with fully integrated on‑chip implementations.
• Strong expertise in the analysis and optimization of transmitter and receiver front‑ends for complex modulated waveforms, including practical modeling and circuit simulations of TX/RX chains with time‑sampled waveforms.
• Hands‑on experience in mmWave IC characterization and debugging.
• Experience with analog building blocks such as operational amplifiers, bias generators, temperature sensors, LDOs, and ADC/DAC implementations.
• Proficiency in EM simulations for both on‑chip and package components.
• Prior experience with top‑level integration, including ESD, mixed‑signal/mixed‑mode verification, and DFM concepts.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with beamforming front‑ends and phased array implementations.
• Experience in high‑performance IC development using III‑V technologies (e.g., GaAs, GaN).
• Strategic mindset and strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across functions and drive complex projects to completion.
• Experience mentoring early‑career engineers.

Compensation Range for CA applicants: $230,773.00 – $323,081.85. WA applicants: $230,773.00 – $323,081.85. Other site ranges may differ.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long‑term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company‑paid holidays.
• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin's affirmative action plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [e-mail]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.