RF Applications Engineer

Senior Product Applications Engineer – PLL/VCO & Phased Array Radar

About the Role

As a Senior Product Applications Engineer at Analog Devices (ADI), you will serve as a technical authority for PLL, VCO, and frequency‑generation products, with a primary focus on phased‑array radar, electronic warfare, and advanced RF systems. You will enable customers to successfully integrate ADI timing and RF solutions into complex, multi‑channel architectures by providing system‑level guidance, developing application collateral, and solving challenging real‑world design problems.

In this senior role, you will work closely with IC design, systems engineering, marketing, and key customers to shape product definitions, accelerate adoption in radar and aerospace/defense markets, and mentor junior engineers. Your work will directly influence next‑generation phased‑array performance, including phase noise, spurious performance, synchronization, and scalability.

Key Responsibilities

Phased Array & RF System Expertise

• Develop deep system‑level understanding of phased‑array radar, EW, SATCOM, and high‑performance RF signal chains, with emphasis on frequency synthesis, LO distribution, and synchronization
• Advise customers on phase noise budgeting, spurious analysis, coherency, and calibration in large multi‑channel systems

PLL/VCO Application Leadership

• Serve as the primary applications expert for PLL, VCO, clocking, and frequency‑generation ICs, supporting high‑frequency and low‑jitter use cases
• Guide device selection and architecture tradeoffs involving fractional‑N PLLs, wideband synthesizers, external VCOs, and integrated solutions

Advanced Tool & Reference Design Development

• Lead development of evaluation boards, phased‑array reference platforms, simulation tools, and software utilities that demonstrate best‑in‑class RF and timing performance
• Create application notes and design examples addressing real‑world challenges such as LO leakage, spur mitigation, multi‑chip synchronization, and thermal effects

Cross‑Functional Technical Leadership

• Collaborate closely with IC design, systems engineering, marketing, and sales to influence product roadmaps and accelerate adoption in radar and ADEF markets
• Act as a technical bridge between customers and internal teams, translating system requirements into actionable product feedback

Complex Customer Problem Solving

• Support strategic customers by diagnosing and resolving advanced RF and timing issues using measurements, simulations, and system‑level analysis
• Provide on‑site or virtual design support for critical customer programs

Product Validation & Characterization

• Define and execute bench‑level and system‑level validation plans for PLL/VCO products, including phase noise, spurs, switching behavior, and temperature performance
• Support qualification activities relevant to aerospace, defense, and high‑reliability applications

Competitive & Market Intelligence

• Analyze competitor PLL, VCO, and clocking solutions, creating detailed performance comparisons and identifying architectural advantages
• Provide insights to strengthen ADI’s leadership in phased‑array and RF timing solutions

Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing

• Mentor junior applications engineers and contribute to best practices for RF and timing applications across the team

Must‑Have Skills

RF & Timing System Expertise

• Strong system‑level understanding of frequency synthesis, phase noise, spurious mechanisms, and LO distribution in RF systems
• Hands‑on experience with phased‑array radar or multi‑channel RF architectures

PLL/VCO Applications Experience

• Proven expertise applying PLLs, VCOs, clock generators, and synthesizers in high‑performance RF designs
• Ability to optimize architectures for noise, power, tuning range, lock time, and scalability

Advanced Problem Solving & Debug

• Exceptional ability to debug complex RF issues using spectrum analyzers, phase noise analyzers, VNAs, and oscilloscopes
• Strong analytical skills for correlating theory, simulation, and lab results

Application Development Leadership

• Experience independently developing reference designs, evaluation hardware, and application documentation
• Ability to clearly communicate best practices and design tradeoffs to customers

Cross‑Disciplinary Collaboration

• Demonstrated success working across design, systems, marketing, and sales teams to deliver customer‑focused solutions

Technical Communication Excellence

• Ability to explain complex RF and timing concepts clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences, including customer presentations and written collateral

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field; Master’s degree preferred
• 5+ years of experience in product applications engineering, RF systems engineering, or customer technical support
• Direct experience with phased‑array radar, EW, SATCOM, or aerospace/defense RF systems strongly preferred
• Familiarity with ADI RF, timing, or mixed‑signal products
• Experience mentoring engineers or leading technical initiatives