Director of Engineering (RFIC Focus)

About Oso Semiconductor

Oso Semiconductor is an early-stage fabless semiconductor company developing next-generation mmWave beamforming technology. Founded by UC Berkeley PhDs, our proprietary RFIC architecture delivers 2–4x power reduction for phased array systems across satellite communication (SATCOM), 5G, and radar. We've raised Series A funding, secured our first defense and commercial customers, and are preparing to scale the team 3X.

The Role

We are hiring a Director of Engineering to lead our engineering organization through its next phase of growth. This is a hands-on technical leadership role: you will help set the architectural direction for our mmWave RFIC platform while personally contributing to circuit design. You will build, scale, and manage the engineering team as we grow.

The right person is a senior RFIC leader who has built teams before, takes initiative, and wants the accountability of owning engineering outcomes end to end. We need an engineering leader who is capable of circuit design and building a team. This role does both.

Responsibilities

• Engineering Leadership: Own the engineering organization. Guide technical strategy, define team structure, and establish processes that scale.
• Hands-On RFIC Design: Design, simulate, layout, and integrate front-end circuits (LNAs, PAs, phase shifters, VGAs). You will be designing alongside your team, not just managing.
• Technical Vision: Help to define and drive the architectural direction of our mmWave beamforming chips and phased array systems.
• Product Development: Oversee the full chip lifecycle: design, verification, testing, and managing fabrication and OSAT relationships; from prototyping through mass production.
• Team Building: Recruit, manage, and mentor RFIC, system, and mixed-signal engineers. Build a culture of technical excellence.
• Strategic Collaboration: Work directly with the CEO/CTO, BD, and customers to align engineering execution with market opportunities.
• Innovation & IP: Help develop novel architectures and build the company's patent portfolio.
• Operational Excellence: Drive best practices in design methodology, simulation, testing, and manufacturability.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in RFIC/mmWave design, system architecture, and product development (minimum 5+ years professional/industry experience).
• Proven track record building and scaling engineering teams, ideally in a startup or high-growth environment.
• Expert proficiency with Cadence EDA suite (Virtuoso, Spectre, and ADE), EM simulation tools (Ansys HFSS, Momentum, or EMX), and RF test methodologies.
• Deep expertise in mmWave front-end circuits: PAs, LNAs, phase shifters, VGAs, and passive structures.
• Strong understanding of phased array systems and RF signal chains.
• Experience with tapeouts, chip packaging, testing, DFM, and reliability.
• Track record delivering RFIC products from design through production.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience bringing beamforming RFICs from concept to volume production.
• Experience in SATCOM, 5G, or radar markets.
• Experience working with foundries and managing semiconductor supply chains.
• Strong transmit circuit design background, particularly high-frequency PA techniques.
• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Electrical Engineering.
• Strategic mindset: engineering decisions framed in terms of business outcomes and competitive positioning.

Why Oso Semi?

• Start-up Impact: Have a direct impact on technology that could change the world.
• Hands-on + strategic: Not a pure management role. You'll be in the design tools.
• Meaningful equity: Senior-level grant with real upside at our stage.
• UC Berkeley DNA: Founded by PhDs published in IEEE conferences and journals.
• First Principles Innovation: Multiple patents providing 2-4x reductions in power. 
• Established Traction: Signed multi-year, high-volume customer agreements in defense  and commercial markets (SATCOM, radar, and 5G).

What We Offer

• Equity: Stock option grant with 4-year vesting and 1-year cliff.
• Medical, Dental & Vision: Comprehensive health coverage with employer-sponsored medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Hybrid Schedule: Monday–Wednesday in office.
• Time Off: Unlimited PTO.
• 401(k): Employer-matched retirement plan.
• Parental Leave: Equal parental leave for all parents.
• Team Culture: Regular team lunches, events, and celebrations.
• Life Insurance: Company-paid life insurance.
• FSA & HSA: Flexible spending and health savings account options available.
• Commuter Benefits: Pre-tax transit and parking benefits.

Oso Semiconductor is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.