Tx Sub-System Validation Engineer for RF Cellular Transceivers (m/f/d)

Overview

We live in a mobile device driven world where the need to a continuously increasing data throughput, un-interrupted connectivity and low latency data exchange are demanding continuously evolving communication techniques and innovation. At Apple we are committed to develop best-in-class mobile devices that enable simultaneously an un-compromised customer experience and ever increasing battery time. Keeping our commitment is possible by being in the forefront of the innovation, by bringing to our teams outstandingly experienced and motivated people. The success we are striving is the result of very skilled teams, collaborating in an environment which cultivate creativity, partnership, thinking of old problems in new ways and an un-compromised need for excellence. If that sounds like the kind of environment that you find intriguing, then let's talk.

Job Description

We are looking to hire a Tx focused RF System Validation Engineer in a group that develops cellular modems that will be used in Apple's mobile devices. You will be responsible for the validation and optimisation of the transmitter embedded in the cellular RF sub-system which is part of different innovative mobile products. Your responsibility will cover all cellular radio access technologies, terrestrial or non-terrestrial communication. Your work will require intensive collaboration with various development or productization teams across the world. We are looking for an enthusiastic, experienced and self-contained technical expert who can help us with tomorrow’s challenges.

Responsibilities

• Definition and planning of the test scope, through thorough studies and excellent understanding of the system specifications in order to identify the most relevant and challenging system use-cases.
• Implementation of the defined test cases, requiring equally strong RF, HW and SW competences and the usage of cellular system knowledge to conceive meaningful test campaigns with un-compromised coverage and short execution time.
• Collaborate closely with tooling experts to program routines in the test framework and work daily with RF measurement equipment and communication testers for cellular standards in a non signalling and signalling mode.
• Evaluate key performance parameters according to the design or 3GPP specifications including the debugging and optimisation of RF parameters at a system level to meet regulatory compliance in mass production.
• Debugging of functional or performance issues will require a strong RF expertise with the capability to understand how those RF critical metrics can influence the system behaviour.
• The scope of the verification can cover all the currently supported radio access techniques: 2G/3G/4G/5G in both single carrier and multi carrier operation.
• Drive RF related problems to a solution involving and collaborating with all relevant colleagues from different fields (System Engineering, hardware, firmware and software development teams).
• Be adept in the preparation of reports to present the current status and progress tracking of open work packages.
• Your collaboration skills will enable you to overcome technical challenges which need to be resolved by different teams located in various locations across the world.

Minimum Qualifications

• In depth knowledge of RF measurement techniques and expertly familiar with the standard lab based test equipment. e.g. spectrum analysers and VNAs etc.
• Experienced with the handling of state-of-the‑art RF measurement instruments and their automation. e.g. Dedicated testers for LTE or 5G
• Excellent understanding of analog and digital RF transceiver implementations, along with the key performance indicators of an Tx system. e.g. ACLR, EVM.
• Working knowledge of 3GPP standards with focus on RF requirements and particularly those related to the Tx or Uplink.
• Detailed understanding of how the Tx KPIs and the 3GPP specification impacts system level performance.
• Strong programming skills with languages such as Python, Matlab, C/C++ is an advantage and an expert in creating test automation scripts to run in lab and an automated regression environment.
• Proven cross‑functional collaboration experience involving multiple teams and disciplines.
• Passionate about the utilisation of AI/ML in your daily activities.
• Team spirit, excellent communication skills and the desire to accept diverse challenges are essential.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Tx linearisation and efficiency improvement techniques like envelope tracking and digital pre‑distortion and their characterisation methods.
• Skilled in post‑processing, statistical analysis, and visualisation of large data sets in tools like Tableau and Python Libraries.
• Experience in leveraging AI/ML to monitor, detect, and analyse anomalies in large data sets.
• Trained in utilising AI/ML to constrain optimisation space by guiding searches within complex, high‑dimensional problems or improving efficiency and covering more of the solution space than traditional brute‑force measurement methods.
• MS or PhD or equivalent experience in Electronic Engineering.