PLL IC Design Engineer - TeraWave

About the role

Blue Origin is seeking an IC Design Engineer to work on the development of integrated Phase-Locked Loops (PLLs) and clocking systems in advanced CMOS/SiGe processes. This role is essential for advancing our technology offerings in space communication systems.

Responsibilities

• Owning the system and circuit design of PLLs and clock distribution circuits in advanced CMOS technologies, focusing on performance optimization and trade-off analysis (phase noise / jitter, power, etc.).
• Utilizing full proficiency in Spectre and AMS flows to develop high-performance PLL circuits.
• Collaborating with RF and SOC system architects and chip leads to define requirements for PLLs and their sub-blocks based on system specifications.
• Overseeing layout, top-level integration, floorplanning, and verification of the overall design for successful tape-out cycle.
• Working closely with validation and product engineers to develop test plans, facilitate bring-up, optimize performance, and ensure reliable & high-yield production cycles.
• Investigating and implementing fundamental analog building blocks to enhance overall circuit performance.
• Mentoring junior engineers for best design practices in analog domain.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline
• 7+ years of experience in the design and development of fractional-N PLLs, DLLs, and their sub-circuits in FinFET CMOS nodes such as 7n or more advanced.
• Extensive experience in the design of PLL building blocks such as VCOs, high-speed integer and frac-N pre-scalers, PFDs, charge-pumps, etc.
• Experience with clock domain synchronization techniques within systems involving multiple PLLs and/or clock domains.
• Experience with clock distribution circuit design techniques and optimization, including clock trees, frequency multipliers and dividers, CML buffers, inductive peaking, etc.
• Full proficiency in mixed-mode modeling, simulation, and verification methodologies using toolsets such as MATLAB, Spectre, SystemVerilog, and AMS.
• Extensive experience in PLL silicon characterization and debugging.
• Proficiency in the design of fundamental analog/RF building blocks, including amplifiers, filters, clock buffers, and bias generators.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Electrical Engineering related technical discipline
• Strong expertise in loop design for phase noise/jitter, spur profile, area, and power optimization.
• Experience designing All-Digital PLLs (ADPLL) and or sub-sampling PLLs is a plus.
• Experience with fundamental analog building blocks such as LDOs, and operational amplifiers.
• Fundamental understanding of device physics for process selection and performance optimization.
• Familiarity with digital design, digital verification, and SystemVerilog modeling.