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Signal Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Signal Design Engineer information

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$80.5K

$141.4K

$290.5K

How much do signal design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for signal design engineer in the United States is $141,351.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $95,000.00 and $158,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a signal design engineer?

Signal Design Engineers are professionals who specialize in designing, implementing, and maintaining signaling systems used in railway networks, roadways, or communication infrastructure. Their primary role is to ensure that signal systems operate safely and efficiently, enabling the safe movement of trains, vehicles, or data. They work with hardware and software components, develop signaling layouts, and adhere to strict safety standards and regulations. Signal Design Engineers often collaborate with other engineers, project managers, and regulatory bodies throughout the design and implementation process.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a signal design engineer?

To thrive as a Signal Design Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical or electronics engineering, with expertise in signal processing, circuit design, and relevant engineering principles, often supported by a bachelor's degree or higher. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as MATLAB, CAD software, and signal analysis platforms, as well as certifications like Professional Engineer (PE) or IRSE (for rail), is commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for success in this role. These capabilities ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient design of signaling systems, which are vital for safety-critical industries like transportation and communications.

What are common challenges signal design engineers face when working on large infrastructure projects?

Signal Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating with multiple disciplines (like civil, electrical, and communications teams), ensuring designs meet strict safety and regulatory requirements, and integrating new signal technologies with legacy systems. Managing tight project deadlines while ensuring accuracy and compliance is also a frequent challenge. Effective communication and proactive problem-solving are essential to successfully deliver high-quality designs in this fast-paced, detail-oriented environment.

What is the difference between Signal Design Engineer vs RF Engineer?

AspectSignal Design EngineerRF Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Electrical Engineering, Communications, or related fields; certifications like FCC or IEEE are commonBachelor's or higher in Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, or related fields; similar certifications often required
Work EnvironmentDesign labs, testing facilities, and engineering officesTesting labs, field sites, and manufacturing environments
Industry UsageTelecommunications, broadcasting, aerospace, defenseWireless communications, satellite, radar, telecommunications

While both roles involve working with signals, Signal Design Engineers focus on creating and optimizing signal processing systems and algorithms, whereas RF Engineers specialize in designing and testing radio frequency hardware and systems. Both roles require strong technical skills and often overlap in telecommunications and wireless industries.

How much do signal design engineers make?

Signal design engineers typically earn a median annual salary ranging from $70,000 to $110,000, depending on experience, location, and industry. Advanced skills in communication systems, circuit design, and relevant certifications can lead to higher compensation, especially in specialized or high-demand sectors.

Is RTL design a good career?

RTL (Register Transfer Level) design is a core skill for Signal Design Engineers working in digital integrated circuit development. It involves hardware description languages like VHDL or Verilog and is essential for designing complex chips, making it a stable and in-demand career path in the semiconductor industry. Proficiency in simulation tools and understanding of digital logic are important for success in this field.
More about Signal Design Engineer jobs

What states have the most Signal Design Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Signal Design Engineer jobs include:

Infographic showing various Signal Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $141,351 per year, or $68 per hour.

Mixed Signal Design / Systems Engineer

Qualcomm

Santa Clara, CA • On-site

$117K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 6 days ago


Qualcomm rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 11 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

49th of 246 rated software companies


Job description

Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Multimedia Systems
General Summary:
We are seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking Systems and Mixed Signal Design Engineer to join our Fingerprint Sensor team and drive the development of innovative biometric solutions for next-generation mobile devices.
The ideal candidate brings experience in mixed-signal design and system engineering, with the ability to architect and design world-class mixed-signal sensor circuitry while also performing detailed system analysis and optimization. Depending on qualifications, the role may place greater emphasis on mixed-signal design or on systems engineering.
In this role, you will apply advanced CMOS mixed-signal IC design methodologies to architect and develop cutting-edge fingerprint sensor technologies, and drive circuit-level design and verification for products that push the boundaries of performance, reliability, and integration.
In addition, you will analyze use cases and product requirements, and perform functional decomposition to derive system requirements for implementation in hardware and/or software. You will also conduct system analysis and simulation modeling to propose algorithmic and/or system changes that optimize performance and power.
Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 5+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
  • 7+ years of Mixed Signal Design and Systems Engineering or related work experience.
  • Experience with algorithm development, validation, and system-level performance characterization.
  • Familiarity with ASIC specifications, sensor physics, or module-level design.
  • Experience in systems engineering, preferably with sensors and integrated modules
  • Proven ability to define architecture and integrate systems into commercial products.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with attention to performance in edge cases.
  • Experience with CMOS sensor design with TFT/LTPS technologies is a plus
  • Strong understanding of hardware/software interaction, including FW development and HW/SW co-optimization.
  • Hands-on experience using CADENCE, SPICE, MATLAB, Verilog/VHDL, Python and lab equivalent.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Participate or lead the definition, design and verification of advanced sensors
  • Participate or drive a full-cycle development, including system modeling, sensor pixel design, driver circuit design, and optimization across key performance metrics.
  • Develop hardware specifications for ASICs, sensors, and module components. In addition, translates the system-level requirements into sensor architectures, circuit specifications, and optimized sensor designs.
  • Execute sensor circuit- and pixel-level simulations using Cadence ADE/Spectre, HSPICE, MATLAB, and other industry-standard tools to validate performance across corners and drive iterative improvements.
  • Perform system-level studies such as architecture exploration, fundamental physics analysis, and performance trade-off evaluations.
  • Develop algorithms to improve system-level performance.
  • Guide and review pixel-level and block-level layout to ensure performance, area efficiency, manufacturability, and reliability.
  • Debug circuit, pixel, and system-level issues; refine designs based on insights from simulation tools and sensor characterization.
  • Support sensor bring-up through lab measurements, functional validation, and correlation between sensor behavior and simulation models.
  • Collaborate with system, firmware, product, and test engineering teams to achieve optimal sensor and system-level performance.
  • Prepare clear technical documentation, design descriptions, and test materials for internal stakeholders and external partners.
  • Supports design reviews for platform development; leads evaluation of system performance based on constraints and capabilities of design; works with multiple groups outside domain to support design integrity.
  • Independently identifies issues or patterns of issues related to systems-level software and hardware design and the implications for work within and across teams; makes overall recommendations for new technologies and to address ambiguous issues, design architectures, generate solutions, and develop models, code, and simulations.

Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits:
$179,000.00 - $297,800.00
The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer - and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link.
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.

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About Qualcomm

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Qualcomm is enabling a world where everyone and everything can be intelligently connected. You interact with products and technologies made possible by Qualcomm every day, including 5G-enabled smartphones that double as pro-level cameras and gaming devices, smarter vehicles and cities, and the technology behind the smart, connected factories that manufactured your latest purchase. Our powerful connectivity solutions keep you connected—even in remote areas. Qualcomm 5G and AI innovations are the power behind the connected intelligent edge. You’ll find our technologies behind and inside the innovations that deliver significant value across multiple industries and to billions of people every day.

Industry

Technology, communication and media

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

San Diego, CA, US

Year founded

1985