Sr Principal RF Engineer

FormFactor, Inc.; Beaverton (OR); On-site; USD 115,800 - 151,935; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits package including medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Quarterly profit-sharing bonuses

Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)

Paid time off

Job summary

A leading semiconductor company in Beaverton, Oregon is seeking a Sr. Principal RF Engineer. In this senior role, you will lead complex RF design initiatives and mentor junior engineers. The ideal candidate has over 10 years of experience in RF and high-speed digital design, with strong skills in EM simulation and RF measurements. The position offers a full benefits package, including medical, dental, and retirement options, with a salary range of $115,800 to $151,935 annually.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of electrical engineering experience with focus on RF or high-speed digital design.
• Strong proficiency with EM simulation tools like HFSS, ADS, AWR.
• Extensive RF measurement experience using VNA, TDR, wafer-level techniques.

Responsibilities

• Design advanced RF and high-speed digital interconnect structures.
• Perform system-level RF circuit design including matching networks.
• Lead hands-on evaluations using high-frequency instrumentation.

Skills

Digital Communications

High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS)

MATLAB

Python (Programming Language)

RF Calibration

RF Measurements

Education

MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering or Physics

Tools

EM simulation tools like HFSS, ADS, AWR

VNA

TDR

Job description

Shift:

Day shift.

Job Description:

FormFactor's RF Products group works closely with leading semiconductor manufacturers to solve advanced test and validation challenges. Our technologies directly enable next‑generation wireless and high‑speed communication systems—including 5G and mmWave modems, ultrahigh‑speed I/O interfaces, and RF solutions exceeding 100 GHz.

We are seeking a Sr. Principal RF Engineer with deep expertise in RF, high‑speed digital, and electromagnetic design. In this senior technical role, you will lead complex design initiatives, drive simulation‑based development, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to next‑generation RF product architectures.

Key Responsibilities:

High‑Frequency / High‑Speed Electrical Design

• Design advanced RF and high‑speed digital physical‑layer interconnect structures using simulation‑driven design methodologies.
• Perform system‑level RF circuit design, including matching networks, transmission‑line structures, and power delivery architectures.
• Develop, refine, and optimize electromagnetic (EM) simulation models using industry‑standard tools.

Modeling, Simulation, and Validation

• Create detailed EM and circuit‑level models; perform correlation between simulations and laboratory measurements.
• Conduct power‑integrity simulations of complex power‑delivery networks (both DC and AC domains).
• Automate simulation workflows to improve repeatability, speed, and data accuracy.

Hands‑On RF Test & Measurement

• Lead hands‑on evaluation using VNAs, TDRs, spectrum analyzers, wafer probers, and other high‑frequency instrumentation.
• Mentor engineering teams on measurement best practices, calibration methods, and data analysis.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of next‑generation RF calibration methodologies (e.g., SOL, SOLR, SOLT, multiline TRL).

Technical Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a senior technical expert, influencing architecture decisions and long‑term product roadmaps.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams—including mechanical, process, and product engineering—to optimize product performance and manufacturability.
• Provide technical mentorship to engineers across the RF product group and broader organization.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field (or equivalent industry experience).
• 10+ years of electrical engineering experience with significant focus on RF or high‑speed digital physical‑layer design.
• Strong proficiency with EM simulation tools such as HFSS, ADS, AWR, and related modeling software.
• Extensive experience using RF measurement techniques, including VNA, TDR, and wafer‑level RF measurements.
• Background in PCB design and understanding of fabrication constraints and signal‑integrity considerations.
• Familiarity with on‑wafer RF calibration techniques (SOL, SOLT, SOLR, TRL).
• Working knowledge of wireless, radar, or digital communications standards (e.g., 5G, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, PCIe) is a plus.
• Experience in automation, data processing, or scripting (e.g., Python, MATLAB) is beneficial.

Skills:

Digital Communications, High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS), MATLAB, Python (Programming Language), RF Calibration, RF Measurements.

Pay Range:

$115,800.00 - $151,935.00

Pay Range Explained:

This role in Beaverton, Oregon pays between $115,800.00 and $151,935.00 per year, depending on your experience, skills, and background. Pay may vary in other locations. We offer a full benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, a 401(k) with company match, employee stock purchase plan (ESPP), and paid time off. You'll also be eligible for quarterly profit‑sharing bonuses and flexible spending or savings accounts.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

FormFactor is an equal‑opportunity employer. FormFactor complies with all national, state, and local laws that seek to promote equal opportunities for any applicant or employee without regard to age, race, color, gender, gender identity/expression, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, disability, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, military service, or any other legally protected characteristics. These protections apply to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, training, promotions, and compensation.

Remote Eligibility

For roles that are designated as remote‑eligible, employees cannot be located in: AL, AK, AR, DE, GA, HI, IL, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MS, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, ND, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, WV, WI, WY. This list is continuously evolving and being updated; please check back with us if the state you live in is on the exclusion list. A role is remote‑eligible only when it is listed as "Remote" in the job location.