$86,600 - $182,500 USD yearly
About the role
As an RF Characterization Engineer, you will own the design, implementation, and scaling of automated test racks and benches used for characterization and Design Validation Testing (DVT) of complex, highly integrated RF Front-End Modules (RF FEMs). You will develop software tools and data pipelines to evaluate RFEMs for 5G NR and 6G handsets.
What you'll do
- Partner with RF IC and Hardware Design Engineers during early planning phases to align test methodologies with design simulation models and propose targeted test routines.
- Design, enhance, and maintain scalable, automated RF test scripts and software environments utilizing VB.net, Python, C#, or LabVIEW.
- Lead lab bring-up, DVT, and comprehensive root-cause debugging of mobile prototype FEMs containing Power Amplifiers (PAs), Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs), switches, MIPI RFFE programming, and integrated filters.
- Analyze and plot performance results to share directly with design teams.
- Mentor Technicians on new software and laboratory equipment in development.
What you'll need
- BSEE with an emphasis on RF/Microwave systems.
- 5+ years of active industry experience in mobile cellular/wireless RF validation.
- Demonstrated proficiency programming for instrument communication and measurements, including with VB.net, Python, or C++.
- Mastery of lab infrastructure: Vector Network Analyzers (VNAs), Spectrum Analyzers, Vector Signal Generators (VSGs), power meters, and MIPI RFFE protocol analyzers.
- Strong working knowledge of 3GPP standards (LTE, 5G NR, FR1/FR2) and/or Wi-Fi architecture.
Skills: RF validation, VNA, spectrum analyzer, MIPI RFFE, FEM
More semiconductor jobs: Silicon validation jobs
This role has been open 12 days — well below the 39-day median for Post-Silicon Validation roles.
Post-Silicon Validation · Silicon Validation
|
Open roles in category
466
|
Median days open
39 d
|
Category median salary (all employers)
$168k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Skyworks | All employers we track in this specialty (466 roles · 66 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 7 | 466 |
| Open roles in the wider Silicon Validation & Test family | 65 | 2395 · 121 employers |
| Median days open | 47 d | 39 d (+8 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $168k |
Skills observed across this category: RF validation, VNA, spectrum analyzer, MIPI RFFE, FEM
Who's hiring in this category
- AMD · 62 open roles · median 39 d
- Qualcomm · 39 open roles · median 36 d
- Micron Technology · 31 open roles · median 46 d
- Apple · 30 open roles · median 16 d
- NVIDIA · 26 open roles · median 39 d
- Microchip Technology · 23 open roles · median 85 d
How we counted: 466 open Post-Silicon Validation (Silicon Validation) roles from 66 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 8 Nov 2026. Specialty figures count only roles carrying this exact specialty label, so an employer's related work in neighbouring specialties is not included there — it is counted in the wider Silicon Validation & Test family row. Figures refresh nightly.