$29 - $49 USD hourly
About the role
As a Semiconductor/RF Module Design Co-Op based in Irvine, CA, you will work closely with experienced engineers on advanced RF module technologies. You will contribute to technology research, prototype development, simulation, and validation activities covering filter, RFIC, and module co-design.
What you'll do
- Research and evaluate advanced RF front-end architectures involving filter and RFIC co-design.
- Develop and analyze RF matching networks, filter structures, and module integration concepts.
- Create 3D electromagnetic models using HFSS and perform RF simulations using ADS.
- Support prototype design, fabrication, and evaluation of RF module concepts.
- Investigate RF interactions between integrated circuits, package structures, and passive components.
- Characterize prototype hardware and evaluate key RF performance metrics such as insertion loss, rejection, linearity, noise figure, and PAE.
- Correlate simulation and measurement results and recommend design improvements.
What you'll need
- Currently pursuing an M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or a related field, with emphasis in RF/Microwave Engineering, Electromagnetics, Wireless Communications, Analog/RF IC Design, or related disciplines.
- Availability to work onsite in Irvine, CA from January to June 2027.
- Strong understanding of RF and microwave circuit design, electromagnetic theory, and analog and RF integrated circuits.
- Strong understanding of S-parameters, impedance matching, and RF front-end architectures.
- Experience with RF simulation tools such as ADS, HFSS, Cadence, or equivalent.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Nice to have
- Research experience involving RF front-end systems, RF filters, RFICs, or electromagnetic modeling.
- Familiarity with filter synthesis, passive component design, or RFIC/module integration.
- Experience with RF laboratory instrumentation, including Vector Network Analyzers (VNA), Spectrum Analyzers, Signal Generators, and Power Meters.
- Experience with Python, MATLAB, or other automation and data analysis tools.
- Familiarity with PCB/package layout tools such as Cadence Allegro.
More semiconductor jobs: Hardware design jobs · Irvine jobs
This role has been open 82 days — well above the 46-day median for Hardware Systems Engineering roles.
Hardware Systems Engineering · AI ML Hardware
|
Open roles in category
1126
|
Median days open
46 d
|
Category median salary (all employers)
$150k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Skyworks | All employers we track in this specialty (1126 roles · 109 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 14 | 1126 |
| Open roles in the wider Software, Firmware & Systems family | 57 | 6531 · 156 employers |
| Median days open | 74 d | 46 d (+28 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $150k |
Who's hiring in this category
- Intel Corporation · 88 open roles · median 33 d
- KLA Corporation · 66 open roles · median 59 d
- Applied Materials · 60 open roles · median 40 d
- ASML · 59 open roles · median 17 d
- NVIDIA · 58 open roles · median 74 d
- Teradyne · 58 open roles · median 51 d
How we counted: 1126 open Hardware Systems Engineering (AI ML Hardware) roles from 109 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 Software, Firmware & Systems family row. Figures refresh nightly.