Principal Engineer - Applications (Precision Signal Chain, Data Converters / Linear)
MicrochipJob Title
Principal Engineer - Applications (Precision Signal Chain, Data Converters / Linear)
Role Summary
Principal Applications Engineer on the Mixed Signal & Linear Division applications team. Drive product specifications, evaluate architecture trade-offs with design engineering, and enable system-level customer use for precision analog and mixed-signal products.
Primary focus on either ADCs (primarily SAR) or precision linear products (op amps, comparators, voltage references, current-sense amplifiers) with the expectation to broaden across the full precision signal chain.
Experience Level
Senior - principal-level role. Posting specifies 10+ years of experience in analog/mixed-signal applications, design, validation, or systems engineering.
Responsibilities
Work across product definition, evaluation, and customer enablement throughout the product lifecycle.
- Author and maintain device specifications and drive them through milestones, capturing product goals, features, and application requirements.
- Translate customer needs and market input into clear requirements and non-negotiable specification parameters.
- Collaborate with design engineering to evaluate architecture trade-offs and refine block-level definitions early in development.
- Perform hands-on application-level evaluation of new silicon; test device behavior in real-world use cases and reference circuits.
- Design, review, and bring up reference and evaluation hardware focused on complete signal-chain solutions (sensor front end, amplification, reference, conversion).
- Develop application collateral: application notes, design guides, reference designs, evaluation board documentation, and review datasheets for technical accuracy.
- Support simulation-model releases (SPICE macromodels, behavioral models) and verification of application-level accuracy.
- Resolve complex customer design issues, provide technical training, and mentor junior applications engineers.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and experience.
- Deep hands-on expertise in either precision linear/analog or data converters (SAR and/or delta-sigma ADCs, DACs).
- Working knowledge of the complementary area (e.g., how amplifier and reference choices affect converter performance).
- Experience contributing to product requirements or device definition and driving specification decisions.
- Solid bench evaluation and debug skills with standard lab instrumentation; experience with PCB design and hardware bring-up.
- Proficiency with SPICE simulation and circuit analysis tools.
- Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills for datasheets, application notes, and training.
- Ability to manage multiple projects, work independently, and collaborate across cross-functional teams.
Nice-to-have:
- Depth in both linear/analog and data converters.
- Embedded programming for MCU-based evaluation over SPI/QSPI/I2C/I3C.
- Data analysis or lab automation skills (Python, MATLAB).
- Analog mixed-mode simulation (AMS), behavioral modeling, or SPICE macromodel development experience.
- Direct customer-facing experience (design-in support, requirements discovery, training) and domain knowledge in industrial, metering, medical, or automotive markets.
Education Requirements
Minimum: BSEE, MSEE, or PhD in Electrical/Electronic Engineering (or closely related technical field) with 10+ years of relevant experience. No explicit statement of equivalent-experience alternative provided in the posting.
About the Company
Company: Microchip
Headquarters: Chandler, Arizona, USA
Microchip is a leading semiconductor company focused on developing innovative solutions to enhance the human experience. With a commitment to empowering innovation, Microchip prioritizes the value of its employees by fostering a culture that supports their growth and contributions.
