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Contract Rf Ic Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Familiarity with various RF transceiver architectures and their trade-offs. Extensive experience in the simulation and design of lumped and distributed passive structures, such as CPW lines, coupled ...

Familiarity with various RF transceiver architectures and their trade-offs. Extensive experience in the simulation and design of lumped and distributed passive structures, such as CPW lines, coupled ...

Analog IC Design Engineer

Princeton, NJ · On-site

$104K - $137K/yr

The Analog IC Design Engineer will be a key member in the Advanced Imaging Group, will work with senior designers, define architecture, design and model circuit components for optimal performance ...

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Contract Rf Ic Design Engineer information

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$37K

$117.7K

$183K

How much do contract rf ic design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract rf ic design engineer in the United States is $117,680.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $97,500.00 and $139,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Contract RF IC Design Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract RF IC Design Engineer, you need a strong background in analog and RF circuit design, semiconductor physics, and relevant engineering degrees, typically in electrical or electronics engineering. Experience with EDA tools like Cadence Virtuoso, ADS, or Mentor Graphics, and knowledge of industry standards for IC layout and verification are essential. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication skills set top candidates apart. These competencies ensure the development of high-performance, reliable ICs that meet demanding technical specifications and project deadlines.

What is the difference between Contract Rf Ic Design Engineer vs Contract Digital IC Design Engineer?

AspectContract Rf Ic Design EngineerContract Digital IC Design Engineer
Required SkillsRF circuit design, analog and mixed-signal design, simulation toolsDigital logic design, HDL (VHDL/Verilog), FPGA/ASIC design
Work EnvironmentSemiconductor companies, telecommunications, aerospaceConsumer electronics, computing, data centers
CertificationsRelevant EE degrees, RF design certificationsEE degrees, digital design certifications

The main difference between a Contract Rf Ic Design Engineer and a Contract Digital IC Design Engineer lies in their focus areas. RF IC engineers specialize in high-frequency analog and RF circuit design, while digital IC engineers focus on digital logic and FPGA/ASIC development. Both roles require strong EE backgrounds but differ in their technical skills and industry applications.

What is a Contract RF IC Design Engineer?

A Contract RF IC (Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit) Design Engineer is a specialist who designs, develops, and tests integrated circuits that operate at radio frequencies, typically for wireless communication products. Working on a contract basis, these engineers are hired for specific projects and may work for different companies as needed. Their responsibilities include circuit design, simulation, layout, and verification of RF components such as amplifiers, mixers, and oscillators. They often collaborate with other engineers to ensure the circuits meet performance specifications and industry standards. Contract RF IC Design Engineers are essential in industries like telecommunications, consumer electronics, and aerospace.

What are some common challenges faced by Contract RF IC Design Engineers, and how can they be addressed?

Contract RF IC Design Engineers often face challenges such as quickly adapting to new project requirements, integrating with existing design teams, and managing tight deadlines. Since each client or project may use different design tools or methodologies, flexibility and strong communication skills are essential. Building a solid understanding of the project's specifications early on and maintaining open communication with both in-house engineers and project managers can help ensure smooth collaboration and timely delivery. Proactively seeking feedback and clarifying expectations also aids in overcoming these challenges.
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RF/MS IC Design Engineer, Optical Networking & SERDES

RF/MS IC Design Engineer, Optical Networking & SERDES

MaxLinear, Inc.

Irvine, CA

$104K - $212K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

Responsibilities

MaxLinear is seeking talented RF/MS IC Design Engineers at all levels to join our team and help shape the next generation of high-speed connectivity solutions.

MaxLinear is a leading provider of radio frequency (RF), analog, digital, and mixed-signal integrated circuits (ICs) and software solutions. MaxLinear's technologies empower next-generation products across a variety of markets, including high-speed interconnect solutions in hyperscale datacenters, broadband access, connectivity, infrastructure, and industrial systems. Our Key recent Product Offerings are:

  • Keystone: The first low-power 5-nm 100G PAM4 DSP SoC, optimized for active electrical and optical cables
  • Sierra: A single-chip solution for 5G Open RAN radio units
  • Wi-Fi 7 Solutions: The world's first Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7 tri-band single-chip solutions and access points
  • Panther: An ultra-low latency Data Processing Unit (DPU) storage accelerator for enterprise and hyperscale data centers, delivering up to 3.2 Tbps throughput

Whether you're a recent Ph.D. graduate or an experienced industry professional, you'll have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge data center interconnects, with a strong focus on high-speed PAM4 SerDes and optical technologies. We offer a clear career growth path from staff engineer to senior roles in the design team, with increasing technical responsibilities and leadership opportunities.

  • Work in a collaborative team driving architecture, design, implementation, and verification of RF/mixed-signal systems for SERDES and optical networking applications
  • Architect, design, simulate, and verify RF and Mixed Signal circuit IPs for high-speed SERDES and optical communication systems
  • Design and implement critical circuit blocks including: PLLs, VCOs, ADCs, DACs, and high-speed transceiver components
  • Debug silicon issues and collaborate with cross-functional teams to take IC to volume production
Qualifications
  • MaxLinear is seeking talented RF/MS IC Design Engineers at all levels to join our team and help shape the next generation of high-speed connectivity solutions.
  • Minimum of:  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: $104,728 to $212,170 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.

Employment Type: FULL_TIME