Job Description:Microchip is looking for a SERDES Characterization Engineer II to join our Electrical Characterization team in Burnaby, BC - a key part of our Product Engineering group. This team sits at the cutting edge of high-speed connectivity, responsible for validating and optimizing the SERDES interfaces that power our newest products. We're talking about interfaces running up to 32Gbps NRZ or 128Gbps PAM4, supporting industry-defining protocols like PCIe, CXL, and OIF. As a Characterization Engineer, you'll build automated test platforms that push SERDES performance across process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) extremes - ensuring our designs are rock-solid and ready for high-volume deployment into datacenter, automotive, and even space applications. If you're excited by the challenge of working on some of the fastest, most demanding electrical interfaces in the industry - and want to see your work ship in mission-critical systems around the world - this role is for you.
Responsibilities:Join our SERDES team at the forefront of high-speed connectivity design. You'll work hand-in-hand with mixed-signal designers to characterize, analyze, and debug cutting-edge SERDES architectures - gaining deep, hands-on insight into some of the most advanced analog circuits in the industry, including multi-mode transmitters, PLLs, clock/data recovery (CDR) circuits, and sophisticated receiver architectures (CTLEs, AFEs, FFEs, and DFEs).
In this role, you will:
- Shape next-generation IP - Drive R&D efforts on new mixed-signal designs, pushing the boundaries of electrical performance on state-of-the-art SERDES.
- Build smart tools - Develop automated test scripts and custom firmware that streamline SERDES performance tuning and unlock faster iteration.
- Engineer test hardware - Design high-performance PCBs and lab hardware that enable rigorous electrical compliance testing.
- Solve hard problems - Dig into complex SERDES circuit failures, root-cause issues, and translate findings into concrete design improvements.
- Communicate impact - Author clear, detailed characterization plans and high-quality technical reports that guide design decisions across the team.
This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of analog design, digital signal processing, and systems engineering - tackling the technical challenges that make next-generation high-speed interfaces possible.
Requirements/Qualifications:- BS/MS in Electrical Engineering or Engineering Physics.
- 1-2 years related experience in the field
- Knowledge of semiconductor fundamentals, circuit theory and high-speed signals
- Hands-on proficiency with lab instruments such as spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, BERTS and VNAs.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong communication and presentation skills.
- Hardware experience with high-speed analog circuits in a lab or test environment
- Familiarity with script-based test automation using Python or other languages
Travel Time:0% - 25%
Pay Range:We offer a total compensation package that ranks among the best in the industry. It consists of competitive base pay, restricted stock units, and quarterly bonus payments. In addition to these components, our package includes health benefits that begin day one, retirement savings plans, and an industry leading IESPP program with a 6-month look back feature. Find more information about all our benefits at the link below:
Benefits of working at Microchip
The annual base salary range for this position is $76,000 to $114,000.*
*Range is dependent on numerous factors including job location, skills and experience.
