Test Technician

Actalent; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 43,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking an RF Lab Technician for Chip Testing and Characterization in San Diego. You will perform RF chip tests, collect and validate data, and document results under engineers’ guidance, contributing to IC design and validation across stress and performance scenarios.

The role emphasizes hands-on testing, maintaining lab equipment, coordinating calibrations, and collaborating closely with IC designers and test engineers to drive data quality and reliable characterization.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of laboratory experience in a technical or engineering lab environment.
• Hands‑on experience operating RF test equipment including VNA, Spectrum Analyzer, and Oscilloscope.
• Experience documenting test results in a clear, organized, and traceable manner.

Responsibilities

• Perform chip testing by executing predefined test plans under varying stress, voltage, and performance conditions.
• Collect accurate measurement data from RF and lab test equipment; ensure results are valid and repeatable.
• Validate data quality and communicate findings to engineering teams.
• Configure and execute measurement setups tailored to specific experiments.
• Maintain and calibrate RF test equipment and manage calibration schedules.
• Collaborate with IC designers and test engineers to support device characterization.
• Contribute to lab process improvements and data quality initiatives.

Skills

VNA

Spectrum Analyzer

Oscilloscope

RF testing

Data collection

Calibration planning

Lab equipment maintenance

Instrumentation safety

Education

Associate degree in a technical field

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Tools

Vector Network Analyzer

Spectrum Analyzer

Oscilloscope

DMM

DC power supplies

LCR meters

Job description

Job Title: RF Lab Technician Chip Testing and Characterization

This role focuses on hands‑on RF chip testing, data collection, and lab management to support the design and characterization of custom integrated circuits. You will work closely with IC designers and test engineers, operating advanced RF test equipment to collect, validate, and document critical performance data across a variety of stress, voltage, and performance conditions. This position offers exposure to the full integrated circuit development lifecycle, from design through fabrication, characterization, and validation, and provides the opportunity to grow into a long‑term role based on performance and business needs.

Responsibilities

• Perform chip testing by executing pre‑defined test plans developed by engineers under varying stress, voltage, and performance conditions.
• Collect accurate measurement data from RF and lab test equipment, ensuring that results are valid, repeatable, and clearly documented.
• Validate and review collected data for consistency and accuracy, flagging anomalies and communicating findings to engineering teams.
• Configure and execute unique measurement setups tailored to specific engineering requirements and experiments.
• Independently establish measurement configurations based on engineer requirements, ensuring proper use of instrumentation and test setups.
• Support one‑off engineering experiments by preparing test configurations, running measurements, and documenting outcomes.
• Manage and maintain RF test equipment to ensure it remains operational, reliable, and available for engineering use.
• Coordinate calibration schedules for lab instruments and ensure all equipment remains within calibration intervals.
• Maintain accurate calibration records and documentation for all RF and lab test equipment.
• Track, organize, and maintain an inventory of laboratory assets, including test equipment and related accessories.
• Ensure test equipment remains compliant with internal lab standards and external calibration requirements.
• Collaborate closely with IC designers and test engineers, sharing test results and providing feedback that supports device characterization and validation.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of lab processes, test setups, and data collection methods to enhance efficiency and data quality.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 2 years of laboratory experience in a technical or engineering lab environment.
• Hands‑on experience operating a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA), Spectrum Analyzer, and Oscilloscope.
• Demonstrated ability to perform accurate measurement capture using RF and electronic test equipment.
• Experience validating measurement data and ensuring its integrity before sharing with engineering teams.
• Experience documenting test results in a clear, organized, and traceable manner.
• Experience coordinating instrument calibration schedules and activities.
• Experience maintaining calibration records for lab equipment.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret test data and identify irregularities or trends.
• Ability to configure and operate lab equipment safely and correctly to generate valid data.
• Associates degree (2‑year degree minimum) in a relevant technical field.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in a related engineering or technical discipline.
• Semiconductor or integrated circuit (IC) characterization experience.
• Hands‑on experience with signal generators, signal analyzers, digital multimeters (DMMs), DC power supplies or DC power systems, and LCR meters.
• Familiarity with semiconductor characterization setups and related test methodologies.
• Ability to support one‑off and exploratory engineering experiments with minimal supervision.
• Strong communication skills to work effectively with IC designers, test engineers, and remote design teams.

Work Environment

You will work in a small, specialized engineering group located in a dedicated building separate from other operations. The core onsite team includes approximately 12 IC designers and 2 test engineers, with additional support from layout engineers and design engineers located in other countries. The lab environment centers on advanced RF test equipment such as vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, signal generators, semiconductor characterization setups, digital multimeters, DC power supplies, and LCR meters. The role involves primarily lab‑based, hands‑on work configuring test setups, running measurements, and managing equipment. You will collaborate closely with a highly engaged engineering team, gaining direct exposure to the full IC development lifecycle and working side‑by‑side with IC designers and test engineers rather than in a high‑volume production setting. The team is experiencing increased customer demand and expanding workloads, offering long‑term growth potential and the possibility of conversion to a permanent position based on performance and business needs. The work setting is professional, technical, and collaborative, with a focus on precision, data quality, and continuous learning.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of San Diego, CA.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $31.00 - $37.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long‑term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in San Diego,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 23, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News‑Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.