Sr. RFIC Layout Designer

About the role

The posting lists Irvine, CA. Work with integrated circuit designers and chip leads to determine chip floor plan including power and ground distribution and pad locations with packaging engineers. Accurately estimate schedule for layout work and identify complexity requiring early investigation. Perform layout of custom RF and analog circuit blocks with attention to matching and minimizing parasitic capacitance. Perform design rule checking, electrical rule checking and layout versus schematic checks and resolve errors.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Work with integrated circuit designers and chip leads to determine chip floor plan including power and ground distribution and pad locations with packaging engineers.
• Accurately estimate schedule for layout work and identify complexity requiring early investigation.
• Perform layout of custom RF and analog circuit blocks with attention to matching and minimizing parasitic capacitance.
• Perform design rule checking, electrical rule checking and layout versus schematic checks and resolve errors.
• Perform top-level layout integration with electrostatic discharge structures and pad assembly and perform final tape out including density fill, design for manufacturability checks, and sharing GDS with foundry.
• Work with EDA suppliers to trial new tools and features.
• Generate guides and demos to showcase layout technique improvements for the team.
• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed to meet critical milestones.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in electrical or computer engineering and 5+ years of professional experience as an IC layout designer; OR 8+ years of professional experience with integrated circuit layout design in lieu of a degree.
• You need Strong analog layout skills.
• Experience in advanced node IC layouts such as 22nm, 16nm, 7nm, 5nm or below.
• Experience in layout of circuits with frequencies up to 50GHz.
• Experience in layout of sensitive RF blocks such as low noise amplifiers, voltage controlled oscillators and mixers.
• You need Experience with skill programming.
• You need Experience with shell scripting, Perl, Python or similar language.
• You need Experience managing revision control systems.
• You need Experience with circuit design.
• Understanding of layout considerations for device matching, coupling and noise isolation.
• You need Working knowledge of Linux.
• You need Excellent communication skills (both oral and written).
• You need Able to work independently on challenging problems.
• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed to meet critical milestones.
• Must be eligible for ITAR requirements (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, Refugee, or Asylee).

Skills & tools

You will use analog layout. You will use RFIC layout. You will use mixed signal. You will use ASIC layout. You will use shell scripting. You will use Perl. You will use Python. You will use revision control. You will use circuit design. You will use Linux. You will use EDA tools.

Practical notes

ITAR: U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, Refugee, or Asylee required. Extended hours and weekends as needed to meet critical milestones. Note: Level 3 base salary range: $140,000.00 - $230,000.00. Total rewards include long-term incentives (company stock or cash awards), discretionary bonuses, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, comprehensive medical/vision/dental, 401(k), short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, paid vacation (3 weeks), and paid holidays (10+). Note: About the company

Based in Starbase, Texas, a company pursues work in spaceflight, telecom, and artificial intelligence. A unit handles rocket launches, leading yearly orbital counts beyond other national and commercial teams. Another unit runs Starlink, a satellite communications firm. A third area, through SpaceXAI, advances Grok and AI integration with X, while managing data center operations. Roles often cross these paths. Candidates with engineering, software, or operations backgrounds may find chances to join projects that span launch, connectivity, and machine learning efforts in this Texas-based enterprise.