Staff Engineer – RF/Mixed Signal IC Design (On-site. West Lafayette, USA)
Quick facts
- Pay
- $160K–$190K
- Type
- Full-time
- Location
- West Lafayette, Indiana
- Background
- PhD
- Skills
- Python
- Industry
- Engineering — 264 open jobs
- Visa in listing
- H-1B, OPT
- Apply
- Free to apply — never pay anyone for a job offer or visa sponsorship
Job description
Reinvent Wireless Silicon: Staff RF/Mixed-Signal IC Engineer – Lead Wi-R SoC Design
On-site – West Lafayette, IN | Competitive Base + Meaningful Equity
We provide relocation packages and visa transfers (if required) for engineers currently in the San Francisco Bay Area and other U.S. hubs.
About Ixana
Ixana is a Purdue University spinoff pioneering brain-inspired wearable computing. We've developed Wi-R, a patented communication tech that's 100x more energy-efficient than Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Join our 60-person team building the next era of real-time, AI-powered human-computer interaction.
The Wi-R Revolution
Wi-R is our patented non-radiative near-field communication technology that creates secure "wire-like wireless" experiences through small E-field bubbles around your body. This breakthrough enables unprecedented energy efficiency at sub-0.1 nanojoules per bit, making long-term wearable and implantable devices finally practical.
See Wi-R in action: Visit ixana.ai for demos of high-speed data streaming through skin contact: https://vimeo.com/ixana/pairing-contact-transfer
What You’ll Do
- Lead design, verification, and integration of analog and mixed-signal IPs into Wi-R SoCs
- Own RF IC development from architecture to post-silicon bring-up
- Collaborate across firmware, digital, and board teams for optimal performance
- Mentor junior engineers and drive long-term technical strategy
- Publish and document work with conference-level rigor
What We're Looking For
- Experience leading 2+ successful analog/mixed-signal tapeouts
- PhD in Analog/Mixed Signal Design OR MS with 7+ years industry experience
- Expertise in wireless communication ICs
- ISSCC, JSSC, CICC, VLSI publications (or equivalent chip-lead experience)
Preferred
- Familiarity with ADS, LTSpice, or similar tools
- Board-level and firmware debugging skills
- Experience with Altium, Eagle, or OrCAD
- Python or LabVIEW scripting for automation
- Hands-on use of scopes, signal generators, and RF lab tools
Compensation & Benefits
- Base salary: $160K–$190K – equivalent to ≈ $250K+ Bay-Area purchasing power
- + Performance bonus + meaningful early-stage equity
- Relocation bonus, partner job-search help
- Full visa sponsorship (STEM-OPT transfer / H-1B / TN / future green card)
- Medical, dental, vision, 401(k), generous PTO, inventor cash awards
Why Join Us
- Work on deep tech that matters
- Collaborate with world-class experts and industry leaders
- Own your work end-to-end and see real impact
- Enjoy a culture of speed, rigor, and respect
- Competitive salary, equity, and global exposure
Ready to re-wire the future of human-computer interaction?
Apply via our careers page. In your note, tell us how you’d push the limits of Wi-R chip design.
Ixana is an equal opportunity employer committed to advancing human-computer interfaces through innovative low-power electronics innovation.
Keywords:
RF IC Design, Mixed Signal, Analog Design, IC Tapeout, SoC, ISSCC, JSSC, VLSI, Equity, Ultra-Low Power, Wearables
Visa sponsorship record
No public sponsorship records foundWe didn't find H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 or green card (PERM) filings under the name Ixana in the Department of Labor and USCIS data. That doesn't mean the job can't be sponsored — the company may file under a different legal name, be new to sponsorship, or sponsor a visa that isn't in these datasets (for example H-2B or J-1).
Tip: ask the recruiter early, in writing, which visa they sponsor and whether they cover the legal and filing fees.
Which visas can work for this job
Occupation: Engineers, All Other (SOC 17-2199) — estimated from the job title.
- Mentioned in the listing
H-1B, OPT
- H-1B cap-exempt employer
Regular cap-subject employer — a new H-1B needs to win the lottery in March (unless you already hold cap-counted H-1B status).
- TN (citizens of Canada and Mexico)
This kind of role may fit the USMCA profession “Engineer” — it depends on the actual duties. No lottery, no cap; you need the matching degree or license.
- E-3 (Australia) and H-1B1 (Chile, Singapore)
Same degree requirement as H-1B, but no lottery and a separate quota that is rarely filled.
- O-1 (extraordinary ability)
For candidates with awards, publications, press, a high salary or critical roles at distinguished organizations. No cap, no lottery; the employer files a petition.
- STEM OPT extension (F-1 students)
Requires an E-Verify employer. We didn't find this company in the E-Verify list — ask HR.
Salary vs prevailing wage
Level IV (fully competent)Engineers, All Other · Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN. Annual prevailing wages set by the Department of Labor (OFLC).
| Level | Prevailing wage | H-1B lottery odds* |
|---|---|---|
| Level I | $68,661 | ~15% |
| Level II | $92,435 | ~31% |
| Level III | $116,210 | ~46% |
| Level IV | $139,984 | ~61% |
This job pays $160,000–$190,000 a year — that's Level IV (fully competent). In the wage-weighted H-1B lottery a Level IV registration gets 4 entries; estimated selection chance about 61% — better than average.
* Odds are DHS projections for the FY2027 wage-weighted lottery (actual results vary by year and employer). Since the FY2027 cap season the H-1B lottery is weighted by wage level: Level I = 1 entry, II = 2, III = 3, IV = 4. The level is set by the offered wage against the prevailing wage for the occupation and worksite. Separately, a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions for workers outside the US was announced in 2025; as of September 2026 a federal court ruling keeps it unenforceable while appeals continue — check the current status.
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor OFLC disclosure data (H-1B/H-1B1/E-3 LCA, PERM), OFLC prevailing wage data, USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub, E-Verify participating employers. Data loaded: LCA FY2024–FY2026, PERM, USCIS Data Hub, OFLC wages; updated 2026-10-03. Employers are matched by name, so records of companies with similar names can occasionally be mixed up. This is general information, not legal advice — talk to an immigration attorney about your case.