Staff Systems Integration & Test Engineer

MaxLinear; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 117,000 - 179,000; Full time

Job summary

MaxLinear in Carlsbad, CA is seeking a Staff Systems Integration & Test Engineer to join our hardware–software team. This role sits at the intersection of hardware and software to ensure products perform reliably across revisions.

You will deploy firmware releases, design test plans, create edge-case scenarios, and debug issues using lab equipment. You will collaborate with design, software, and applications teams and contribute to test automation for better coverage and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Hands-on hardware lab experience with test setup, measurement, and debugging device issues.
• Experience using or integrating automation/test frameworks.
• Proficiency in Python.

Responsibilities

• Deploy and validate new firmware releases on hardware platforms.
• Design, build, and execute test plans to characterize product behavior in a hardware lab.
• Develop stress scenarios and edge-case test conditions.
• Debug device issues using lab instrumentation and root-cause analysis.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to resolve issues and improve product quality.
• Document test methodologies, results and findings for internal/customer use.
• Operate automation systems/frameworks used across the test lab.
• Contribute to test automation script development to improve coverage and efficiency.

Skills

Hands-on hardware lab

Automation/test frameworks

Python

Digital/analog communications

Technical documentation

Self-motivated

High-speed SERDES testing

Firmware/embedded testing

Lab equipment (oscilloscopes, VNAs)

Optics/optical fiber networking

Data center networking

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering or related + 5 years; or MS + 3 years; or PhD

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Spectrum Analyzers

Vector Network Analyzers

Job description

Responsibilities

MaxLinear is seeking a Staff Systems Integration & Test Engineer to join our team (we have multiple positions open at different levels). This position works at the intersection of hardware and software to ensure our products perform reliably in real‑world environments. In this role, you will:

• Deploy and validate new firmware releases on hardware platforms, ensuring stability and performance across product revisions
• Design, build, and execute test plans to characterize product behavior in a hardware lab environment
• Develop stress scenarios and edge‑case test conditions to uncover product limitations and failure modes
• Debug device issues using lab instrumentation, root‑causing failures down to hardware or software origin
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with design, software, and applications engineering teams to resolve issues and improve product quality
• Document test methodologies, results, and findings for internal and customer‑facing use cases
• Operate and interface with automation systems/frameworks used across the test lab
• Contribute to test automation script development to improve test coverage, repeatability, and efficiency
  

Qualifications

• Experience working in a hands‑on hardware lab environment, including test setup, measurement, and debugging device issues
• Experience using or integrating with automation/test frameworks
• Proficiency in Python
• Knowledge of digital and analog communication systems and signal processing theory
• Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly document and present technical findings
• Self‑motivated with the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment
• Nice to have:
• Experience with high-speed SERDES testing
• Exposure to firmware development or embedded systems testing
• Hands‑on experience with lab equipment such as Oscilloscopes, Spectrum Analyzers, and Vector Network Analyzers (VNAs)
• Knowledge of optics and/or optical fiber networking (fiber types, connectors, electo‑optical converter technology)
• Familiarity with optical module standards and form‑factors
• Experience with data center networking infrastructure
• BS in Electrical Engineering or related + 5 years of experience, or MS + 3 years of experience, or Ph.D.
  

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's good faith estimate starting base salary range is: $117,000 to $179,000 Annually
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.
The actual starting base salary will be determined by the match to certain role‑related criteria such as educational degree(s) or equivalent, relevant work experience, skillset needed for the role, and geographic location; this is not an all-inclusive list as some roles may require unique skills or experience.
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 10Gbit 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.