Senior Lab Technician I

MaxLinear; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 34,440 - 46,838; Full time

Job summary

MaxLinear is seeking a Senior Lab Technician I to join our team in Carlsbad. You will focus on developing and validating next-generation hardware for AI and data center products, performing hands-on assembly, troubleshooting, and testing of engineering prototypes and evaluation platforms.

You will operate and modify test automation scripts, assemble PCBs and harnesses, collect and analyze test data, and prepare technical reports for engineering teams.

Qualifications

• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and drawings.
• Experience with AI hardware platforms (AI accelerators, GPUs, FPGAs, or ASICs) is a plus.
• Advanced soldering skills for assembly and rework.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and validation of hardware for AI and data center products.
• Hands-on assembly, troubleshooting, and testing of prototypes and evaluation platforms.
• Troubleshoot and repair engineering prototypes and customer platforms.

Skills

Schematic reading

Datasheet analysis

Soldering

AI hardware experience

Python scripting

Problem solving

Communication skills

Multitasking

Education

High School Diploma + 10 years

Bachelor’s Degree + 5 years

Tools

Oscilloscope

Spectrum analyzer

Network analyzer

Power meter

Job description

Responsibilities

MaxLinear is seeking a Senior Lab Technician I to join our team. In this role, you will focus on the following:

• Support the development and validation of next-generation hardware for artificial intelligence (AI) and data center products
• Hands‑on assembly, troubleshooting, and testing of engineering prototypes, product samples, and customer evaluation platforms, with a focus on supporting hardware platforms designed for AI applications
• Troubleshoot and repair engineering prototypes, product samples, and customer evaluation platforms
• Operate and modify test automation programs and scripts to support engineering activities
• Construct, assemble, and test electronic circuit prototypes and engineering units, including circuit boards, mechanical assemblies, and harnesses
• Support the assembly, testing, and validation of hardware platforms and prototypes designed for AI applications, including high-performance computing and data center environments
• Mount and install integrated circuit chips and other electronic components onto printed circuit boards (PCBs) as part of prototype assembly and testing
• Collect, analyze, and interpret test data; prepare comprehensive technical reports for engineering teams
• Establish and maintain testing and inspection processes for PCB prototypes, including documentation of test procedures and results
• Coordinate the procurement of electronic components, lab equipment, and materials required for prototype development and testing
• Collaborate with vendors and internal teams to source, evaluate, and order parts and equipment, ensuring timely delivery and compliance with project specifications
• Maintain inventory records and manage the receipt and distribution of procured items to support engineering activities

Qualifications

• Experience reading, interpreting, and working with electrical schematics, engineering drawings, and technical procedures
• Experience analyzing electronic component data sheets and attributes to support design and troubleshooting
• Advanced soldering skills for product assembly and rework
• Experience working with hardware and systems supporting AI applications, such as AI accelerators, GPUs, FPGAs, or custom ASICs, is highly desirable
• Familiarity with the requirements and validation processes for AI hardware products and platforms is a plus
• Experience operating lab test equipment, including signal generators, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, power meters, and oscilloscopes
• Experience troubleshooting electromechanical circuits and systems using systematic problem‑solving approaches
• Experience with scripting languages such as Python to automate testing and data analysis (preferred)
• Experience problem‑solving to resolve technical challenges
• Ability to communicate technical information effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Able to organize and manage multiple tasks efficiently to meet project deadlines
• High School Diploma or equivalent + 10 years of experience or Bachelor’s Degree + 5 years of experience

Compensation and Benefits

MaxLinear has a Total Compensation philosophy which includes base salary and annual discretionary bonus eligibility and many positions also include stock‑based compensation.

MaxLinear expects to offer a starting base salary within the range of: $ 25.20 to $ 33.95 per hour.

We offer competitive benefits designed to support employee health, welfare, and retirement and some highlights are: health care benefits, 401k savings plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), and paid time off.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against based on race, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.

Company Overview

MaxLinear is a global, NASDAQ‑traded company (MXL) where the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well. We are a fabless system‑on‑chip product company, striving to improve the world’s communication networks for everyone through our highly integrated radio‑frequency (RF), analog, digital, and mixed‑signal semiconductor solutions for access and connectivity, wired and wireless infrastructure, and industrial and multi‑market applications.

We hire the best people in the industry and engage them in some of the most exciting opportunities that connect the world we live in today. Our growth has come from innovative, bold approaches to solving some of the world’s most challenging communication technology problems in the most efficient and effective manner.

MaxLinear began by developing the world’s first high‑performance TV tuner chip using standard CMOS process technology. Others said we couldn’t achieve the extremely high‑performance requirements using CMOS, but we proved them wrong and achieved enduring global market leadership with our designs. Since then, we’ve developed a full line of products that drive 4G and 5G infrastructure; enable data center, metro and long‑haul optical interconnects; bring 10 Gbit to the home; power the IoT revolution; and enable robust and reliable communication in harsh industrial environments. Over the years, we’ve expanded through organic growth and through several acquisitions that have perfectly complemented our existing portfolio and enabled us to deliver complete end‑to‑end solutions in our target markets. One such example was the acquisition of Intel’s Home Gateway Platform Division that added Wi‑Fi, Ethernet, and Broadband Gateway Processor SoC technology to our connected home portfolio creating a complete and scalable platform of connectivity and access solutions to fully address our customers’ needs.

Our headquarters are in Carlsbad, near San Diego, California. We also have major design centers in Irvine and San Jose, California; Valencia, Spain; Bangalore, India; Munich, Germany; Israel; and Singapore.

We have approximately 1,200 employees, a substantial majority of whom have engineering degrees and include masters and Ph.D. graduates from many of the premiere universities around the world. Our employees thrive on innovation, outstanding execution, outside‑the‑box thinking, nimbleness, and collaboration. Together, we form a high‑energy business team that is focused on building the best and most innovative products on the market.