$26 - $47 USD hourly
Work with 5G, Wi-Fi 6E/7, and next-gen connectivity products.
About the role
The RF Front-End EM Design Co-op will support the design, electromagnetic (EM) simulation, and optimization of passive components and integrated RF front-end modules (FEMs). This role contributes to product development for 5G, Wi-Fi 6E/7, and next-gen connectivity products.
What you'll do
- Build and run 2.5D/3D electromagnetic simulations of RF passive structures (filters, matching networks, transmission lines, baluns, spiral inductors, transitions).
- Extract S-parameters and develop EM-based models; integrate them into circuit-level simulations and system co-simulation.
- Optimize passive layouts for insertion loss, isolation, return loss, Q-factor, and size in multilayer laminate / IPD / wafer-level packaging.
- Correlate EM simulation results against measured (VNA / load-pull) data and refine models.
- Support layout, DRC-aware design, and design-of-experiments (DoE) studies for performance and manufacturability.
- Document methodology, results, and design trade-offs; present findings to the engineering team.
What you'll need
- Currently pursuing a BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Electromagnetics, RF/Microwave Engineering, or a related field.
- Able to work onsite for a period of 6 months during June - December 2027.
- Coursework in electromagnetics, RF/microwave circuit design, and transmission line theory.
- Understanding of S-parameters, impedance matching, resonators, and filter fundamentals.
- Familiarity with at least one EM simulation tool (ANSYS HFSS, Keysight ADS/Momentum, Sonnet, EMX, or CST).
- Basic scripting for automation and data analysis (Python or MATLAB).
Nice to have
- Hands-on experience with HFSS or ADS Momentum for passive structure design.
- Knowledge of RF front-end architectures (PA, LNA, switch, filter/duplexer modules) and FEM integration.
- Exposure to module/package technologies (laminate, IPD, WLP, flip-chip) and their EM effects.
- Understanding of filter design (acoustic/BAW/SAW, LC, cavity) and matching network synthesis.
- Lab experience with VNA measurement, calibration, and de-embedding.
- Familiarity with layout tools (Cadence Virtuoso, AWR) and version control.
Skills: RF Front-End, electromagnetic simulation, passive components, filters, S-parameters
More semiconductor jobs: RF design jobs · California jobs
This role has been open 85 days — well above the 52-day median for RF/Wireless Engineering roles.
RF/Wireless Engineering · RF Frontend
|
Open roles in category
266
|
Median days open
52 d
|
Category median salary (all employers)
$166k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Skyworks | All employers we track in this specialty (266 roles · 36 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 55 | 266 |
| Open roles in the wider Analog & Mixed-Signal family | 109 | 1541 · 115 employers |
| Median days open | 45 d | 52 d (−7 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $166k |
Skills observed across this category: RF Front-End, electromagnetic simulation, passive components, filters, S-parameters
Who's hiring in this category
- Skyworks (this employer) · 55 open roles · median 45 d
- Apple · 39 open roles · median 18 d
- Keysight Technologies · 32 open roles · median 69 d
- Qualcomm · 22 open roles · median 112 d
- MACOM · 17 open roles · median 11 d
- Analog Devices · 12 open roles · median 70 d
How we counted: 266 open RF/Wireless Engineering (RF Frontend) roles from 36 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 Analog & Mixed-Signal family row. Figures refresh nightly.