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Senior Rfic Design Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > RFIC Design General Summary: Define, design and develop ... by senior leadership to provide input on key decisions). • Completing some tasks with multiple ...

Principal RFIC Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$148.10 - $192.50/hr

Principal RFIC Design Engineer Experience Level: Professional Job Type: Regular Location: San Diego, CA, US, 92121 Requisition ID: 10404 Qorvo (Nasdaq: QRVO) supplies innovative semiconductor ...

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Showing results 1-20

Senior Rfic Design Engineer information

See San Diego, CA salary details

$74.9K

$142.9K

$207K

How much do senior rfic design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior rfic design engineer in San Diego, CA is $142,882.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $114,100.00 and $167,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Senior RFIC Design Engineer?

A Senior RFIC (Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit) Design Engineer is an experienced professional who designs, develops, and tests high-frequency integrated circuits used in wireless communication devices. They work extensively with analog and mixed-signal circuits, and are responsible for ensuring the performance, reliability, and manufacturability of RFICs for applications such as mobile phones, Wi-Fi, and IoT devices. In addition to technical design tasks, Senior RFIC Design Engineers often mentor junior engineers, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and contribute to the overall architecture of wireless systems.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior RFIC Design Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior RFIC Design Engineer, you need deep expertise in RF circuit theory, semiconductor physics, and hands-on experience with analog/mixed-signal IC design, usually backed by a master's or PhD in electrical engineering. Mastery of industry-standard EDA tools (such as Cadence Virtuoso, Spectre, and EM simulators) and familiarity with relevant process design kits (PDKs) and lab measurement equipment is essential. Strong analytical thinking, teamwork, and effective communication set outstanding engineers apart. These skills ensure the development of high-performance, reliable RFICs through efficient problem-solving, collaboration, and precise execution in a fast-evolving field.

What is the difference between Senior Rfic Design Engineer vs RFIC Design Engineer?

AspectSenior Rfic Design EngineerRFIC Design Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, specialized in RFIC designBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, with RF focus
Work EnvironmentDesign teams, R&D labs, semiconductor companiesDesign teams, semiconductor firms, integrated circuit companies
Industry UsageUsed in advanced wireless, telecom, and satellite systemsUsed in wireless communication, mobile devices, and RF components

The main difference is that a Senior Rfic Design Engineer typically has more experience and leadership responsibilities in RFIC design projects, whereas an RFIC Design Engineer may be earlier in their career or at a non-senior level. Both roles focus on RF integrated circuit design but differ in seniority and scope of responsibilities.

What are some common challenges faced by Senior RFIC Design Engineers during the chip design and validation process?

Senior RFIC Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as meeting stringent performance specifications within tight power and area constraints, managing electromagnetic interference, and ensuring the design complies with fabrication process limitations. Additionally, integrating RF circuits with digital and analog components on the same chip can introduce complex noise coupling issues that must be mitigated through careful layout and simulation. Close collaboration with layout engineers, validation teams, and system architects is essential to address these challenges and to deliver robust, manufacturable designs on schedule.

What are the most commonly searched types of Rfic Design Engineer jobs in San Diego, CA?

The most popular types of Rfic Design Engineer jobs in San Diego, CA are:

What cities near San Diego, CA are hiring for Senior Rfic Design Engineer jobs?

Cities near San Diego, CA with the most Senior Rfic Design Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Rfic Design Engineer job openings in San Diego, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 86% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $142,882 per year, or $68.7 per hour.

Sr. RFIC PLL Design Engineer , Amazon Leo

Amazon

San Diego, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 11 days ago


Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 7,086 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

Amazon Leo is an initiative to launch a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world. Come work at Amazon!
The Role:
As Senior RFIC PLL Design Engineer, you will engage with an experienced cross-disciplinary staff to conceive and design innovative product solutions. You will work closely with an internal inter-disciplinary team, and third party suppliers to drive key aspects of product definition, execution and optimization. You must be responsive, flexible and able to succeed within an open collaborative peer environment.
As a member of the RFIC team, you will be responsible for the architectural definition, design, simulation, layout, and extracted simulation for RF and clock PLLs (including frac-N) as well as transmit and receive front-ends from data converters to LNAs and PAs. This position requires strong knowledge of PLL design, especially for mmWave circuits. Strong focus will be on creating power and cost optimized solutions for a given system performance.
Export Control Requirement:
Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
Key job responsibilities
• Collaborate with communications systems, digital design, and chip implementation teams to specify and implement transceivers and RFIC front-end models which will delight future Amazon LEO customers.
• Lead implementation of area/power-efficient RFIC chips with multiple transceiver chains with integrated PLLs from concept to production.
• Work closely with packaging/HW/EE/FW teams to ensure seamless system integration providing best value for LEO customers.
• Collaborate with the digital design team to define analog/digital boundary requirements for circuit calibration, clock generation, and timing.
• Explore architectures for mm-wave and RF circuits like VCOs, mixers, phase shifters, LNAs, PAs, LO distribution, frequency multipliers and dividers, and envelope/power detectors, and make detailed presentations on power/area/performance trade-offs.
• Design and simulate on-chip inductors, baluns, and power combiners in tools such as EMX or HFSS.
• Perform circuit layout, RLC extraction, and run extracted simulation across various corners to make sure designs are robust and can be taken to volume production.
• Specify bench and production test plans for your designs.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field
- 7+ years of experience in mm-Wave/RFIC design, preferably in an advanced node
- Knowledge of PLL circuits and architectures, especially for mmWave designs
- Knowledge of current and upcoming RF standards in cellular (4G/5G NR), WiMAX, 802.11ad, microwave backhaul, or similar broadband wireless standards.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree or Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
- Strong knowledge of Frac-N PLL architecture/design tradeoffs
- RF transceiver architecture / design for beamforming systems (including zero-IF transceivers, low-IF transceivers, polar transmitters, and RF/LO/Baseband phase shifting).
- Experience leading integrated RF transceiver chipsets containing LNAs, PAs, ADCs, DACs, baseband filters, mixers, etc.
- Millimeter-wave circuit design and layout in FinFET, SOI, BiCMOS, and Bulk CMOS technologies.
- Analog circuit design fundamentals, such as Opamps, precision biasing, and LDOs. Electromagnetics of passive devices and device physics of leading edge silicon and III-V devices.
- Mixed-signal design and verification techniques.
- Hands on experience with RF test equipment such as network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and probe-stations.
- Strong written and verbal skills.
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company's reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you're applying in isn't listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, CA, San Diego - 159,200.00 - 215,300.00 USD annually

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About Amazon

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Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate and computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US