IC Design Engineers

IC Design Engineer

Location: Cambridge, UK

Department: Development

Reports To: Senior IC Design Manager

Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent

About Us:

Forefront RF is an innovative fabless semiconductor company developing cutting-edge RF technology for mobile device manufacturers. Our mission is to revolutionize RF front-end technology by enabling seamless global connectivity – and ultimately, to unlock the long-standing vision of true software-defined radio. We are developing advanced, multi-chip RF modules that integrate adaptive circuitry, digitally controlled components, embedded software, and complex analog/RF designs into highly compact form factors.

Our Values:

We place a strong emphasis on fostering a culture rooted in collaboration, teamwork, and accountability. We believe that when we work together, drawing on each team member's unique strengths, we can achieve remarkable results.

Our commitment to integrity, respect, honesty, and openness forms the foundation of our interactions, both within the company and with our valued partners and clients. We encourage ambition, initiative, and visionary thinking, as we understand that these qualities drive innovation and propel us towards success.

In addition, we value adaptability, proactivity, and resilience. We are looking for individuals who are comfortable with ambiguity and can navigate through it, demonstrating a proactive approach to problem-solving.

These values collectively define who we are and want to be as a team and guide us as we navigate the exciting journey ahead. If you align with our mission and values, and are ready to grow with us, we would love to hear from you.

Job Overview:

We are looking for IC Design Engineers to support the development and simulation of RF silicon ICs for our tunable RF front-end modules. This role is ideal for a motivated graduate or early-career engineer with a strong technical foundation who wants to build a career in RF IC design.

You will work closely with Senior IC Designers to carry out layout tasks, perform circuit and system-level simulations, and help with documentation and measurements. This is a hands-on position that provides an excellent opportunity to learn and grow in a high-paced, collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in the design and layout of RF IC building blocks such as LNAs, RF switches, and digitally tunable capacitors (DTCs).
• Support simulation activities, including transistor-level, block-level, and top-level simulations using industry-standard tools.
• Set up and run verification flows (e.g., LVS, DRC, PEX) and document simulation results.
• Collaborate with senior engineers on lab measurements and post-silicon evaluation.
• Contribute to model development and simulation environments for co-simulation with RF modules.
• Support the documentation of test results, design notes, and performance summaries.
• Proactively participate in team discussions and reviews, asking questions and learning from feedback.

• Bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering, microelectronics, or something similar.
• Exposure to IC design environments, with hands-on experience in Cadence preferred.
• Familiarity with simulation tools such as Spectre, RFPro, or Momentum is a plus.
• Basic understanding of analog/RF concepts and passive/active building blocks.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Willingness to learn and ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Competitive salary and pension contributions
• Company share option scheme
• 25 days holiday + national holidays
• Weekly company lunches
• Flexible work hours and remote work options

We believe in equal opportunities

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.