Principal Applications Engineer - Power Electronics

Principal Applications Engineer – Power Electronics (DC-DC Converters)

Location: San Jose / Milpitas, CA (hybrid)

Compensation: $180,000 – $210,000 base 15% or higher annual bonus (historically higher)

Relocation: Available assistance if needed, preference for local candidates

Overview

We are seeking a senior-level Principal Applications Engineer with deep expertise in low-voltage DC-DC converters (Buck conversion products) to support advanced power module products used in high-performance computing, networking, storage, and other demanding applications.

This role is highly technical and customer-facing, combining hands-on lab work, post-sales design-in support, and close collaboration with internal design, validation, and field engineering teams. The position is based in the San Jose / Milpitas area and supports a major local customer.

The ideal candidate is a former design engineer or verification engineer who has worked directly on DC-DC converter designs and enjoys solving complex technical problems in lab environments while working closely with customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the technical subject matter expert for DC-DC converter and buck conversion products.
• Provide post-sales technical guidance and design-in support to customer engineering teams.
• Conduct complex qualification and verification testing in local labs and at customer sites (approximately 50–75% onsite depending on project phase).
• Support field engineers by resolving advanced technical questions and system-level issues.
• Verify products against customer specifications and application requirements.
• Collaborate closely with internal design engineering, validation, manufacturing, and business development teams to resolve issues and deliver results on schedule.
• Translate customer technical needs into product recommendations, specifications, and development feedback.
• Identify potential design or integration risks early and communicate clearly with both customers and internal teams.
• Coordinate product integration efforts between component suppliers, internal teams, and customers.
• Develop and deliver technical presentations and seminars for customers and field engineering teams.
• Define initial project scope, prepare project plans, and maintain technical documentation.
• May sit onsite with customers locally for extended periods during critical project phases.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (Master’s preferred).
• 8 years of experience in design engineering, applications engineering, or verification engineering within power electronics.
• Strong hands-on experience with low-voltage DC-DC converter design, validation, and application support.
• Deep understanding of power conversion topologies, power integrity, thermal considerations, and system-level performance tradeoffs.
• Extensive comfort working in lab environments performing qualification and validation testing.
• Proven ability to support mid-to-large customers in complex technical environments.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain complex technical topics clearly to customers and internal teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in power modules used for data centers, networking, computing, or industrial systems.
• Experience supporting field application engineering teams.
• Mandarin language skills are a plus.

Work Environment

• Hybrid role based in the San Jose area.
• Work from home option when not performing lab or customer-site work.
• Significant hands-on lab exposure using advanced power electronics platforms.
• Close collaboration with global engineering and manufacturing teams.