RFIC Design Engineer

EpsilonR; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare options with premium-free medical plan

401(k) plan with company match

Employee stock purchase program

Paid time off, including vacation and parental leave

Job summary

A leading company in RF product development is seeking a skilled RFIC designer in Cedar Rapids. The role focuses on designing silicon-based RF products, including LNAs and PAs, while collaborating with teams to enhance device performance. Candidates should have a strong RF design background and experience with Cadence Virtuoso.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of RFIC design experience.
• Self-motivated with strong communication skills.
• Hands-on experience in RF measurement.

Responsibilities

• Design RFIC building blocks for product development teams.
• Enhance existing IP designs for multiple products.
• Perform RF measurements and support integration efforts.

Skills

RF design

Communication

Documentation

Collaboration

Solution-oriented mindset

Python programming

Education

MSEE or PhD

Tools

Cadence Virtuoso

Job description

Position Overview
As part of the RF IP development team, you will contribute to the design and development of silicon-based RF products and reusable RF IP blocks deployed across multiple programs. Your primary focus will be on creating RF circuits such as low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), power amplifiers (PAs), and RF switches.

This role involves exploring, prototyping, and refining various RF circuit topologies to improve product competitiveness. You’ll work closely with product teams to develop solutions that meet or exceed rigorous customer requirements. A key responsibility will be the design and cataloging of LNA and switch architectures tailored to specific performance targets.

In addition, you'll support broader design efforts by assisting in RF IP integration, customization, and simulation-based performance verification. You’ll gather requirements from cross-functional teams and collaborate with systems engineers to define IP specifications. The role also includes optimizing device performance to enhance the effectiveness of RF circuits.

Job Responsibilities

• Design and develop RFIC building blocks to support product development teams, including all supporting documentation and integration materials.

• Enhance and adapt existing IP designs for use across multiple product lines.

• Allocate approximately 50% of your time to direct product development of LNAs, switches, and PAs for integration into RF front-end modules.

Required Experience/Skills

• MSEE with 8–10 years of experience, or PhD with 6+ years in RFIC design.

• Strong communication, documentation, organization, and presentation skills.

• Self-motivated, collaborative, and solution-oriented mindset.

• 8–10 years of hands-on RF design experience in Si, SOI, or SiGe technologies.

• Background in analog circuit design for RF systems, including components such as temperature sensors, DACs, ADCs, TIAs, bandgap references, current sources, and voltage regulators.

• Proficiency with the Cadence Virtuoso design suite, from schematic capture through to GDSII.

• Proven track record of delivering designs into high-volume production.

• Practical lab experience with RF measurement equipment.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in PA design using GaAs HBT/HEMT technologies.

• Familiarity with Verilog-A modeling.

• Python programming skills.

Compensation and Benefits:

Starting base pay will be based on factors like relevant experience, skills, education, business needs, market demands, and work location. The client offers varying base pay ranges across U.S. locations. Benefits include healthcare options (with a premium-free medical plan), a 401(k) plan with company match, an employee stock purchase program, and paid time off, including vacation, wellness days, and parental leave. Eligible employees may also participate in an incentive program, with additional awards like recognition and stock available for certain roles, contingent on individual and/or company performance.