Sr Principal RF Engineer

Forming Our Future together

FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM), is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full semiconductor product life cycle - from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design de-bug, to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely upon FormFactor’s products and services to accelerate profitability by optimizing device performance and advancing yield knowledge. The company serves customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Rooted in our core values - Focus on the Customer, Ownership & Accountability, Respectfully & Effectively Communicate, and Motivate & Develop People - we foster an environment where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but celebrated. Everyone can make an impact here. Whether it's improving products, supporting customers, or positively influencing peers and the community, the contributions of our people matter.

Shift:

The regular hours for this position are day shift.

Job Description:

FormFactor’s RF Products group works closely with leading semiconductor manufacturers to solve advanced test and validation challenges. Our technologies directly enable next-generation wireless and high-speed communication systems-including 5G and mmWave modems, ultra-high-speed I/O interfaces, and RF solutions exceeding 100 GHz.

We are seeking a Sr. Principal RF Engineer with deep expertise in RF, high-speed digital, and electromagnetic design. In this senior technical role, you will lead complex design initiatives, drive simulation-based development, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to next-generation RF product architectures.

Key Responsibilities:

High-Frequency / High-Speed Electrical Design

• Design advanced RF and high-speed digital physical-layer interconnect structures using simulation-driven design methodologies.

• Perform system-level RF circuit design, including matching networks, transmission line structures, and power delivery architectures.

• Develop, refine, and optimize electromagnetic (EM) simulation models using industry-standard tools.

Modeling, Simulation, and Validation

• Create detailed EM and circuit-level models; perform correlation between simulations and laboratory measurements.

• Conduct power-integrity simulations of complex power-delivery networks (both DC and AC domains).

• Automate simulation workflows to improve repeatability, speed, and data accuracy.

Hands-On RF Test & Measurement

• Lead hands-on evaluation using VNAs, TDRs, spectrum analyzers, wafer probers, and other high-frequency instrumentation.

• Mentor engineering teams on measurement best practices, calibration methods, and data analysis.

• Contribute to the development and refinement of next-generation RF calibration methodologies (e.g., SOL, SOLR, SOLT, multiline TRL).

Technical Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a senior technical expert, influencing architecture decisions and long-term product roadmaps.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams-including mechanical, process, and product engineering-to optimize product performance and manufacturability.

• Provide technical mentorship to engineers across the RF product group and broader organization.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field (or equivalent industry experience).

• 10+ years of electrical engineering experience with significant focus on RF or high-speed digital physical-layer design.

• Strong proficiency with EM simulation tools such as HFSS, ADS, AWR, and related modeling software.

• Extensive experience using RF measurement techniques, including VNA, TDR, and wafer-level RF measurements.

• Background in PCB design and understanding of fabrication constraints and signal-integrity considerations.

• Familiarity with on-wafer RF calibration techniques (SOL, SOLT, SOLR, TRL).

• Working knowledge of wireless, radar, or digital communications standards (e.g., 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, PCIe) is a plus.

• Experience in automation, data processing, or scripting (e.g., Python, MATLAB) is beneficial.

Skills:

Digital Communications, High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS), MATLAB, Python (Programming Language), RF Calibration, RF Measurements

Education & Experience:

Minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years experience; or equivalent experience | Required

Pay Range:

$115,800.00 - $151,935.00

Pay Range Explained:

This role in Beaverton, Oregon pays between $115,800.00 and $151,935.00 per year, depending on your experience, skills, and background. Pay may vary in other locations. We offer a full benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, a 401(k) with company match, employee stock purchase plan (ESPP), and paid time off. You’ll also be eligible for quarterly profit-sharing bonuses and flexible spending or savings accounts.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

FormFactor is an equal opportunity employer. FormFactor complies with all national, state, and local laws that seek to promote equal opportunities for any applicant or employee without regard to age, race, color, gender, gender identity/expression, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, disability, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, military service, or any other legally protected characteristics. These protections apply to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, training, promotions, and compensation.

For roles that are designated as remote-eligible, employees cannot be located in: AL, AK, AR, DE, GA, HI, IL, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MS, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, ND, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, WV, WI, WY. This list is continuously evolving and being updated, please check back with us if the state you live in is on the exclusion list. A role is remote-eligible only when it is listed as "Remote" in the job location.