Senior RF Test & PCB Design Engineer

Job Description

Job Title: Senior RF Test & PCB Design Engineer

Position Description: Protingent Staffing has an exciting contract Senior RF Test & PCB Design Engineer with our client located in San Jose, CA.

Job Responsibilities:

• PCB Development: Lead the schematic entry, component selection, and layout routing optimization for complex RF evaluation boards using Cadence Allegro.
• Simulation & Analysis: Perform Signal Integrity (SI) and Power Integrity (PI) simulations. Utilize Ansys HFSS for EM modeling and impedance matching to ensure optimal RF performance.
• Hardware Bring-up: Own the board bring-up process, including debugging hardware issues and validating performance against design specifications.
• RF Characterization: Utilize lab equipment (VNAs, Spectrum Analyzers, Signal Generators) to perform various RF measurements and verify simulation-to-measurement correlations. Implement Machine Learning (ML) techniques to analyze large datasets and identify performance trends or anomalies.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with RFIC Design and System Engineering teams to define board requirements and provide feedback on chip-level performance.
• Documentation & Data Analysis: Maintain detailed design documentations and test reports for internal and external stakeholders. Collect, review and analyze test data.
  
  
  

Job Qualifications:

• Education: BS or MS in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field.
• Experience: 5 years of hands-on experience in RF PCB design and hardware development.
• Tools: Expert-level proficiency in Cadence Allegro/OrCAD and Ansys HFSS (or equivalent EM simulation tools).
• RF Fundamentals: Strong knowledge of RF theory, including S-parameters, transmission line theory, matching networks, and de-embedding techniques.
• Lab Expertise: Extensive experience with RF test equipment (VNAs, Spectrum Analyzers, Oscilloscopes) and high-speed probing techniques.
• Materials Knowledge: Deep understanding of PCB stack-ups, dielectric materials (e.g., Rogers, Megtron), and manufacturing constraints for high-frequency PCB designs.
  
  
  

Nice to Have:

• Automation: Proficiency in Python or C# for developing automated test suites to increase characterization throughput.
• Data Science for RF: Experience applying AI/ML models for predictive maintenance of test setups or for signal classification.
• Wafer-Level Testing: Experience with manual or semi-automated RF probe stations for on-wafer die characterization.
  
  
  

Job Details:

• Job Type: Contract
• Pay Range: $75 - $80 an hour.
• Location: San Jose, CA.
  
  
  

Benefits Package: Protingent offers competitive salaries, insurance plan options (HDHP plan or POS plan), education/certification reimbursement, pre-tax commuter benefits, Paid Time Off (PTO), and an administered 401k plan.

About Protingent: Protingent is an Award-Winning provider of top-tier Engineering and IT talent, trusted by companies at the forefront of innovation — from Software and Aerospace to AI, Clean Tech, Medical Devices, and Connected Technologies. We’re passionate about making a positive impact by connecting exceptional talent with meaningful opportunities and helping our clients build the future.