Sr. Principal Analog/RF/Mixed Signal IC Design & Development

NOKIA; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Nokia is seeking a senior engineer to lead the design of high-speed Transmit (TIA) and Receive (MZMD) components for coherent optical networks and data-center systems in Sunnyvale, CA. You will drive architecture, process-node innovations, and silicon bring-up, collaborating across product engineering and optical teams.

Responsibilities include design reviews, RF testing, layout optimization, and mentoring junior colleagues.

Qualifications

• Master’s (M.S.) or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with a minimum of 10 years of related experience.
• Experience in high-speed Analog/RF ASIC design (TIA, MZMD) with SiGe BiCMOS technology.
• Experience in low noise / high linear broadband analog circuits (>80GHz) for optical front-end.
• Experience in high-precision analog circuits (linear regulators, bandgaps, DAC/ADC).
• Deep understanding of transistor-level design, device physics, and stability analysis.
• Knowledge of transmission lines and high-frequency passive structures.
• Strong package and board-level design optimization.
• Experience with RF wafer probing, lab equipment, and evaluation of high-speed analog ICs.
• Ability to independently resolve complex organizational and technical challenges.
• Expertise with EDA CAD tools, custom analog layout, 3D EM modeling.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities; team player with good communication.

Responsibilities

• Design and development of Transmit (TIA) and Receive (MZMD) components for optical network systems.
• Innovate and develop new architecture utilizing advanced process nodes for product development.
• In charge of design, layout, silicon bring-up and characterization.
• Collaborate with product engineering and optical system groups to refine specifications into electrical specs.
• Contribute to design reviews, verifying design integrity and adherence to standards.
• Work with ASIC group to optimize development cycles per Nokia documentation standards.
• Provide guidance and mentor new hires and junior team members.

Skills

High-speed analog design

RF IC design

SiGe BiCMOS

CMOS processes

EDA CAD tools

Layout and bring-up

Problem solving

Communication skills

Mentoring

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering

Tools

EDA CAD tools

3D EM modeling

Lab equipment

Job description

Join Nokia's advanced photonics and semiconductor design team, developing next-generation analog ICs for high-speed optical communication systems. In this role, you will design and lead development of high speed Transmit (TIA) and Receive (MZMD) components for coherent long-haul and metro systems as well as PAM4 data center systems, primarily using SiGe BiCMOS and CMOS processes.

You will play a key role in delivering innovative solutions that enable faster, more efficient data transmission across data centers and telecommunications networks, and emerging AI-driven infrastructure.

• Responsible for design and development of Transmit (TIA) and Receive (MZMD) components for optical network systems (Coherent, PAM4, etc.).
• Innovate and develop new architecture utilizing advanced process nodes, preparing these processes for subsequent product development.
• In charge of many aspects of IC product development, such as design, layout, silicon bring-up and characterization.
• Collaborate with product engineering and optical system groups to evaluate, develop, and refine "white box" specifications into detailed electrical specifications for both Tx and Rx components.
• Provide significant technical contributions to design reviews, verifying design integrity and adherence to standards.
• Work with ASIC group by applying Nokia documentation standards to optimize development cycles.
• Offer technical guidance and share best practices in optical network design and development to mentor new hires and junior team members.

• Master's (M.S.) or Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering with a minimum of 10 years of related experience in Analog/RF ASIC design and development
• Demonstrated experience in high-speed Analog/RF IC designs (TIA, MZMD) with SiGe BiCMOS technology
• Proven experience in:
  • Low noise / high linear (>80GHz) broadband analog circuits for optical front-end
  • High-precision analog circuits (e.g., linear regulators, bandgaps, DAC/ADC).
• Deep understanding of detailed transistor-level design, device physics, and control/feedback loop stability analysis
• Knowledge of transmission lines and other high-frequency passive structures
• Strong understanding of package and board-level design optimization
• Experience with RF wafer probing, lab equipment, and evaluation of high-speed analog ICs
• Demonstrated ability to independently resolve complex organizational and technical challenges
• Solid expertise with EDA CAD tools, custom analog layout, 3D EM modeling
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities
• Highly- self-motivated, detail-oriented, and results-driven
• Must be a team player with good verbal and written communication skills