Principal Application Engineer – Ethernet Products

Job Title

Principal Application Engineer – Ethernet Products

Role Summary

Provide technical application support and system-level solutions for Automotive Ethernet switch and PHY products, primarily serving automotive customers in China and Industrial customers as needed. Work closely with the local China field application team, R&D experts, sales and marketing to deliver customer enablement, reference designs, and demonstrations.

Experience Level

Senior-level. The posting requests approximately 7–10 years of relevant experience in hardware and embedded software development for automotive electronics.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include:

• Provide customer application support and on-site assistance for Automotive Ethernet switches and PHYs, especially on software and customer program integration.
• Develop and update firmware, drivers, and Ethernet configuration to meet customer requirements.
• Lead development of customer enablement and configuration tools, including updates for generic switch functions and custom applications.
• Create customer-facing technical documentation: application notes, white papers, FAQs, and training materials.
• Initiate and lead reference design projects and product/system demonstrators in cooperation with internal application teams and third parties.
• Run trainings and workshops with automotive OEMs and electronic subsystem suppliers in China.
• Support customer POCs, design-in projects, conferences, and trade shows to drive local adoption.

Requirements

Must-have skills and experience (concise):

• 7–10 years of experience in hardware and embedded software development using automotive semiconductors and electronics.
• Deep knowledge of microcontrollers; experience with NXP S32 is preferred.
• Hands-on experience with embedded microcontrollers and firmware development.
• Strong software skills: C/C++, low-level drivers, RTOS, Linux, and Python.
• Understanding of Ethernet network implementations, Ethernet switches, and physical-layer products.
• Experience implementing time synchronization and TSN-related protocols in Ethernet networks.
• Experience with high-bandwidth communication technologies and system integration (examples: Ethernet-based optical solutions, PON, SDN, PCIe).
• Proven debugging and problem-solving capabilities; experience dealing directly with customers.
• Clear communicator with cross-cultural collaboration skills; fluent in English.
• Nice-to-have: experience using AI-assisted coding tools.

Education Requirements

Master's or PhD in Electronics, Communications, Computer Science, or a similar technical discipline.

About the Company

Company: NXP Semiconductors

Headquarters: Nijmegen, Netherlands

NXP Semiconductors N.V. is a global semiconductor company that provides High Performance Mixed Signal and Standard Product solutions. With over 45,000 employees and operations in more than 35 countries, NXP is a leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, catering to automotive, industrial IoT, mobile, and communication infrastructure markets. The company is committed to innovation and sustainability, advancing a smarter, safer, and more sustainable world through technology.