Senior Applications Engineer

Job Title

Senior Applications Engineer

Role Summary

Senior member of the Signal Integrity Products Applications Team responsible for driving product-level application workstreams, customer engagements, and NPI deliverables for the CopperEdge portfolio and related module products. Acts as the primary technical contact for assigned products and coordinates across hardware, firmware, and software teams.

Focus areas include module firmware development, in-house test infrastructure and firmware, on-board copper signal integrity characterization, customer support, and mentoring other engineers.

Experience Level

Senior-level. Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of relevant industry experience.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities span NPI ownership, customer-facing support, external engagement, and team leadership.

• Own NPI workstreams for assigned products across module firmware, test infrastructure firmware, and on-board copper application support; plan and deliver to schedule.
• Define firmware requirements from lab data and customer use-cases; lead firmware bring-up, integration testing, and validation.
• Design, develop, and maintain firmware for in-house test equipment and lab automation; document architecture and procedures.
• Lead signal integrity characterization and compliance testing for on-board copper channels; analyze S-parameters and link budgets to provide design guidance.
• Serve as primary technical contact for customers: run customer calls, perform root-cause analyses, support qualification testing, and produce technical collateral (application notes, test reports, design guides).
• Represent the company at conferences, interoperability events, and customer sites; apply industry standards (Ethernet, OIF, IEEE) to customer solutions.
• Mentor and guide other engineers on product-specific tasks, customer interactions, and technical problem solving.
• Communicate status, risks, and technical findings clearly to internal stakeholders and customers.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience for this role.

• Minimum ~8 years experience in signal integrity, optical transceivers, active copper cables, or high-speed host system qualification.
• Hands-on embedded firmware development experience for optical modules, copper assemblies, or test/measurement equipment; familiarity with module management interfaces such as CMIS, I2C, and SPI.
• Mastery of signal integrity fundamentals including PAM4 signaling, TxFIR, and receiver equalization; practical experience with RF and SI measurements (VNA, S-parameters).
• Proficiency with test and measurement tools (Bit Error Rate Testers, oscilloscopes, network analyzers) and designing/interpreting complex test scenarios.
• Experience with Python for equipment control, automation, and data analysis.
• Working knowledge of Ethernet standards and data center networking architectures as they apply to product applications.
• Proven ability to lead technical workstreams, perform root-cause analysis, estimate timelines, and manage multiple priorities.
• Strong written and oral communication skills; experience presenting to customers and at external events.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally approximately quarterly; ability to obtain or hold a valid passport.
• Contributions to technical publications, patents, or conference presentations are an asset.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, or a related discipline is required. A Master’s degree is preferred; an advanced degree may be used to substitute up to two years of experience. Equivalent practical experience in relevant technical fields may be considered.

About the Company

Company: Semtech

Headquarters: Camarillo, California, USA

Semtech Corporation is a high-performance semiconductor company providing IoT systems and Cloud connectivity solutions. The company focuses on delivering innovative technology solutions that support a smarter, more connected, and sustainable planet, with a dedication to quality across infrastructure, industrial, and consumer markets.