Associate Rf Engineer Jobs in San Jose, CA (NOW HIRING)

Founded in 1976, Samtec is a privately held, $1 Billion global manufacturer of a broad line of electronic interconnect solutions, including High-Speed Board-to-Board, High-Speed Cables, Mid-Board and Panel Optics, Precision RF, Flexible Stacking, and Micro/Rugged components and cables. Samtec Technology Centers are dedicated to developing and advancing technologies, strategies and products to optimize both the performance and cost of a system from the bare die to an interface 100 meters away, and all interconnect points in between. With 40+ international locations and products sold in more than 125 different countries, Samtec's global presence enables its unmatched customer service. 

The preferred location for this position is the Samtec Vista Design Center in San Diego/Vista, CA. At this site, the salary range is $210,000- $290,000 annually, based on experience, plus generous Samtec bonuses paid three times per year (February, August, and late fall).

Summary/Objective:  Our high-speed optoelectronic transceiver design and development engineers own the design of our high-speed optical communication transceivers, including component selection such as opto-electronic devices and Physical Media Dependent ASICs, PCB design and layout, signal integrity, and device characterization and configuration optimization. Our mid-board optical transceiver products operate at low speeds (25G) up to today's leading data rates (e.g., 100G/400G/800G and beyond). The qualified candidate will be an expert in high-speed optoelectronics with adjacent competencies so they're able to trade off design decisions across many engineering disciplines - EE, high-speed RF/signal integrity, optics/photonics, mechanical, thermal, firmware/DSP, and process development - across the product development life cycle. They translate product requirements into product and project metrics and execute prototype bring-up, integration, characterization, and validation, including signal-integrity and optical link-budget analysis; these metrics also drive product qualification and production testing. In lead roles, they remove roadblocks in new product development (NPD) and advise NPD leaders. 

 Essential Functions/ Responsibilities: 

• Design and develop high-speed optoelectronic transceiver products - optimizing bandwidth, signal integrity, link budget, and power efficiency across NRZ and PAM4 signaling. 
• Model and simulate RF and optical subsystems using tools like ADS, HFSS, or Zemax to predict performance and refine designs.
• Integrate RF components (e.g., amplifiers, mixers) with optical elements (e.g., modulators, photodetectors) to create cohesive, high-functioning assemblies.
• Perform hands-on testing and validation of prototypes, using RF test equipment (e.g., network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, BERT) and optical tools (e.g., power meters, OTDRs, scope, VOA, optical switch).
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to RF-optical interactions, such as impedance matching, noise reduction, or optical loss.
• Collaborate with product managers and manufacturing to ensure designs are scalable, cost-effective, and compliant with applicable standards and MSAs (e.g., IEEE 802.3 Ethernet, OIF-CEI, CMIS, relevant MSA form factors), plus ITU and MIL-STD where required. 
• Document design specifications, test procedures, and performance data to support development milestones and production transitions.
• Research emerging RF-optics technologies and materials to enhance product capabilities and maintain a competitive edge.

Use this statement in all cases "The responsibilities as defined are intended to serve as a general guideline for this position. Associates may be asked to perform additional tasks depending on strengths and capabilities"   

Required Experience:

• 4+ years of experience in high speed optoelectronic transceiver product design, with a focus on integrated RF-optics systems.
• Familiar with RF design tools (e.g., Keysight ADS, Ansys HFSS) and optical simulation software (e.g., Zemax, OptiSystem).
• Hands-on experience with RF and optical test equipment - signal generators, vector network analyzers, BER testers, optical spectrum analyzers, and high-speed sampling/real-time oscilloscopes (DCA) for eye-diagram, jitter, and TDECQ characterization. 
• Strong knowledge of RF principles (modulation, impedance, EMI) and high-speed optoelectronic concepts (fiber optics, laser diodes, modulators/photodetectors, dispersion), including high-speed link concepts - NRZ/PAM4, SerDes, equalization (CTLE/DFE/FFE), FEC, jitter, and eye-diagram/BER analysis. 
• Ability to analyze and solve complex technical challenges at the intersection of RF and optical domains.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills for cross-functional collaboration and technical documentation.
• (Optional: Familiarity with specific applications/standards - e.g., hyperscale data center and AI/ML interconnects, 100G/400G/800G Ethernet, coherent optics, 5G fronthaul, satellite comms, PCIe, or military/ruggedized/radar environments.) 

Education: 

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, Photonics Physics or a related field is required. Master or Doctoral degree in those fields will be a plus.