Principal Systems/DSP Engineer
Role details
Job location
Tech stack
Job description
Define and architect low-power DSP architectures for 224G PAM4 and 448G SerDes designs, driving key trade-offs between power, performance, and area Develop and maintain behavioral models of mixed-signal transceiver circuits using MATLAB, Simulink, C, and/or Python for system-level performance prediction and design specification Develop, evaluate, and optimize equalization algorithms including FFE, DFE, CTLE, and MLSE/MLSD for 224G/448G channel loss and impairment compensation Derive and specify analog front-end (AFE), DAC/ADC, and PLL performance targets from system-level BER and link budget analyses Design and optimize adaptive DSP algorithms for channel compensation, including adaptation convergence strategies, calibration sequencing, and robustness across PVT corners Architect and evaluate clock and data recovery (CDR) algorithms and loop dynamics, including jitter tolerance analysis, bang-bang and linear CDR trade-offs, and frequency acquisition strategies Perform system-level simulations and trade-off analyses balancing power consumption (digital and analog), performance, and BER requirements Collaborate closely with analog, digital RTL, and physical design teams to ensure algorithm-to-implementation fidelity and power-efficient silicon realization Develop and evaluate FEC solutions including inner/outer FEC architectures, RS-FEC (KP4/KP8) integration, and concatenated coding schemes per IEEE 802.3dj and OIF CEI-224G standards Drive silicon bring-up and characterization test plans, correlating pre-silicon system models with post-silicon measurements to validate DSP performance Define lab validation methodologies and work with characterization teams on silicon debug, performance benchmarking, and standard compliance testing Provide technical leadership to customers and partners on system-level link performance, interoperability, and algorithmic optimization
Requirements
Masters or Ph.D in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields 10+ years of experience in DSP system architecture and algorithm development for high-speed serial communication systems, with hands-on work at 112G PAM4 or higher data rates Deep expertise in digital communication and signal processing theory, including PAM4 modulation, equalization architectures, CDR loop dynamics, and statistical channel modeling Expert-level proficiency in system modeling using MATLAB, Simulink, C, and/or Python with demonstrated ability to build production-quality behavioral models Strong working knowledge of high-speed serial protocols and standards including Ethernet (IEEE 802.3ck/df/dj), PCIe, UCIe, and OIF CEI specifications Solid understanding of mixed-signal circuit design concepts (DAC/ADC architectures, PLL phase noise, AFE linearity) and their impact on DSP algorithm performance and link budget Proven ability to collaborate across analog, digital, and verification teams to translate algorithmic intent into silicon-ready implementations Hands-on experience with 112G/224G SerDes products with proven tapeout or silicon characterization results Detailed knowledge of OIF CEI-224G and IEEE 802.3dj standards including link budget allocation, compliance test methodologies, and FEC performance metrics Experience with chiplet D2D interconnects, optical/electrical interfaces (VCSEL, EML), or DRAM/HBM PHY systems a plus