Principal Applications Engineer

Job Title

Principal Applications Engineer

Role Summary

The Principal Applications Engineer will support NXP's SerDes Networking Solution (SNS) products by working with internal IC design, systems, firmware and test teams, field teams, and customer engineering teams to enable system design, board bring-up, and successful customer deployments.

Primary tasks include technical customer support and debug, developing application collateral (reference designs, layout guidelines, characterization reports), and validating board-level designs for multi-gigabit SerDes connectivity.

Experience Level

Senior (Principal). The role expects extensive industry experience; the posting specifies 12+ years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include technical support, validation, and collateral development to enable customer adoption of SerDes solutions.

• Collaborate with IC design, systems, firmware, and test teams to translate field issues and customer requirements into product improvements and features.
• Review customer schematics and PCB layouts for signal-integrity and power-integrity best practices (impedance control, terminations, return-paths, via design, reference-plane strategy).
• Lead board-level bring-up and validation using oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, and other lab equipment; produce test reports and recommendations.
• Provide on-site or remote debug support for complex customer issues.
• Develop and maintain application collateral: reference designs, layout guidelines, design checklists, characterization reports, application notes, and training materials.
• Participate in trade shows and provide field application engineering (FAE) training and demonstrations.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience required for successful performance in this role.

• 12+ years of hands-on experience in hardware design, applications engineering, or system validation focused on high-speed interfaces.
• Familiarity with high-speed data communication protocols and interfaces, including Ethernet networking and switching, MIPI CSI-2, and display protocols (DP/eDP).
• Strong understanding of high-speed SerDes fundamentals: channel loss, reflections, return loss, insertion loss, ISI, jitter, equalization, and clocking.
• Demonstrated experience with multi-Gbps serial links (examples: Ethernet, PCIe, DisplayPort, USB3.x/USB4, proprietary SerDes).
• Proficiency with SI/PI tooling and simulations (S-parameter analysis, eye/jitter simulations) and ability to correlate simulation with measurements.
• Hands-on experience with lab equipment: high-bandwidth oscilloscopes, TDR, VNA, BERT, protocol analyzers, logic analyzers.
• Strong PCB design skills for high-speed signals: layer stack-up, routing constraints, differential pair routing, reference planes, decoupling, and power delivery.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills and ability to work effectively with global, cross-functional teams.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or a related technical field is specified.

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.