Principal Applications Engineer
SynopsysJob Title
Principal Applications Engineer
Role Summary
Senior applications engineer in the Hardware and Test organization focused on Design-For-Test (DFT) and ATPG technologies. The role leads technical resolutions for customer deployments, drives methodology and tool integration, and partners with R&D, product, and field teams to improve test flows and debug workflows.
Experience Level
Level - Senior. Typical experience: Master's degree with ~8+ years or Bachelor's degree with ~10+ years; equivalent practical experience accepted.
Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities include technical leadership for DFT deployments, customer engagement, and cross-functional coordination.
- Lead technical resolution of test technology deployments, escalations, and customer issues.
- Advise on test compression, scan integration, and test-vector generation requirements and priorities.
- Define and enforce best practices for design test methodology reviews, signoff checklists, and field engagement models.
- Drive AI-enabled flow initiatives and improve integration/debug workflows using TestMAX or equivalent tools.
- Create feedback loops with R&D and Product to improve tool quality, documentation, and enablement.
- Perform trend analysis on field issues to strengthen deployment quality and reduce tape-out risk.
- Support critical tape-out schedules and occasional onsite customer engagements.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and experience. Educational degree requirements are listed under Education Requirements below and removed from this section.
- Hands-on DFT experience for SoC and ASIC development, including customer-facing applications engineering.
- Deep expertise in ATPG, DFT, BIST, and logic test methodologies.
- Practical experience with TestMAX DFT, TestMAX ATPG, TestMAX Manager, or equivalent toolsets.
- Experience integrating DFT into synthesis flows and creating tester-ready ATPG vectors to support tape-out handoffs.
- Strong execution skills: technical planning, risk management, escalation leadership, and clear stakeholder communication.
- Ability to work across multiple programs with rigor and urgency; willingness to travel occasionally for critical engagements.
- Nice-to-have: prior support in competitive accounts or extensive tape-out support history.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's degree (with ~10+ years experience) or Master's degree (with ~8+ years experience) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent practical experience. Equivalent practical experience is explicitly acceptable in lieu of a listed degree.
About the Company
Company: Synopsys
Headquarters: Mountain View, California, USA
Synopsys is a leading company in electronic design automation (EDA) and semiconductor IP solutions. It provides tools and services for designing and verifying complex semiconductor devices and systems. The company plays a pivotal role in the semiconductor industry, helping engineers innovate and deliver higher-quality products faster. Synopsys is committed to advancing technology standards and offers a range of software and hardware solutions to its clients globally.
