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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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Rf Ic Design Engineer information

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$37K

$117.7K

$183K

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

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for 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 does an RF IC Design Engineer do?

An RF IC (Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit) Design Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and testing integrated circuits that operate at radio frequencies, often used in wireless communication devices. Their work involves creating circuit layouts, simulating performance, and optimizing designs to meet stringent requirements for power, noise, and signal integrity. They collaborate closely with other engineers and use specialized software tools to ensure the ICs meet industry standards and client specifications. RF IC Design Engineers play a key role in advancing technology for smartphones, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other wireless applications.

What are some common challenges faced by RF IC Design Engineers during the product development cycle?

RF IC Design Engineers often encounter challenges related to balancing performance specifications with power consumption and cost constraints. Managing signal integrity, minimizing noise and interference, and ensuring the design meets stringent industry standards can be complex, especially in multi-disciplinary teams. Collaboration with layout engineers, system architects, and test engineers is crucial to address integration issues and iterate quickly on design improvements. Additionally, staying up-to-date with advancing technologies and emerging design tools is important for success in this fast-paced field.

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

To thrive as an RF IC Design Engineer, you need a solid background in analog and RF circuit design, electromagnetic theory, and semiconductor physics, typically supported by a degree in electrical engineering or a related field. Proficiency with electronic design automation (EDA) tools such as Cadence, ADS, and knowledge of industry standards is essential, along with experience in layout and simulation. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital soft skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams and troubleshooting complex issues. These skills ensure the development of reliable, high-performance RF integrated circuits that meet stringent technical and market requirements.

What is the difference between Rf Ic Design Engineer vs RF Systems Engineer?

AspectRf Ic Design EngineerRF Systems Engineer
Primary FocusDesigning RF integrated circuits and chipsDeveloping and optimizing RF systems and overall wireless solutions
Required SkillsCircuit design, RF theory, CAD tools, semiconductor processesSystem integration, signal processing, RF testing, system-level analysis
Work EnvironmentSemiconductor companies, chip design labsTelecom, wireless service providers, system integrators
CertificationsTypically none specific, but RF or electronics certifications helpOften certifications in systems engineering or wireless standards

While both roles involve RF technology, Rf Ic Design Engineers focus on designing RF integrated circuits at the chip level, whereas RF Systems Engineers work on the overall system design and integration of wireless solutions. The roles complement each other in the wireless industry, with the former emphasizing circuit-level expertise and the latter system-level implementation.

More about Rf Ic Design Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Rf Ic Design Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Rf Ic Design Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Rf Ic Design Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Rf Ic Design Engineer jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Rf Ic Design Engineer jobs? The top employers for Rf Ic Design Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Rf Ic Design Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Rf Ic Design Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Rf Ic Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 79% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $117,680 per year, or $56.6 per hour.
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 10 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