KT
Applications Engineer
Accepting applicationsKinetic Technologies · San Jose, CA
Full-Time Mid_senior CadenceMentorPower Managementpower management
Posted
1d ago
Category
Design
Experience
Mid_senior
Country
United States
Senior Applications Engineer – Power Management (DC/DC Buck Converters)
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Senior Applications Engineer with deep, hands-on expertise in DC/DC buck converters and power management ICs. This role requires strong system-level design, validation, and device debug skills. The Senior Applications Engineer will act as a technical leader, supporting complex customer designs, driving root-cause analysis, and collaborating closely with R&D, validation, and marketing teams to ensure robust product adoption and successful customer deployments.
Key Responsibilities
Serve as a technical expert for DC/DC buck converter products, supporting customers from initial architecture through production release
Lead hands-on lab activities including schematic development, PCB bring-up, validation, and device debug of power management ICs
Design, build, and debug evaluation modules (EVMs) and customer reference designs
Perform detailed system-level validation including efficiency, transient response, stability, thermal, protection features, and reliability testing
Drive root-cause analysis of device, system, and layout-related issues using bench measurements and failure analysis techniques
Review and approve customer schematics and PCB layouts, providing expert guidance on power integrity, grounding, EMI/EMC, and thermal performance
Partner closely with IC design, validation, and test teams to debug silicon issues and influence product improvements
Support customer development schedules by providing timely, technically sound recommendations and solutions
Develop and own high-quality technical collateral, including:
EVM User’s Guides
Application Notes and Design Notes
White Papers and Reference Designs
Mentor junior applications engineers and contribute to best practices for lab methodology and documentation
Represent the applications team in technical reviews, customer meetings, and internal design discussions
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, ECE, or related field
6+ years of experience in power electronics or semiconductor applications engineering
Strong hands-on experience with DC/DC buck converter design and analysis
Proven expertise in schematic capture and PCB design using industry-standard tools (e.g., Altium, Cadence, OrCAD, or equivalent)
Extensive lab experience with power measurement, debugging, and validation using oscilloscopes, electronic loads, network analyzers, and power analyzers
Demonstrated ability to debug complex hardware issues at the device and system level
Strong technical writing skills with experience producing customer-facing technical documentation
In-depth understanding of customer product development cycles and manufacturing requirements
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
Experience with silicon validation and post-silicon debug of power management ICs
Strong background in control loop stability, compensation design, and small-signal analysis
Experience with EMI/EMC mitigation and compliance strategies
Prior customer-facing or Field Applications Engineering (FAE) experience
Experience mentoring or leading technical teams
Key Competencies
Deep lab-centric problem solving and analytical skills
Ability to independently drive complex debug and validation efforts
Strong communication skills bridging customers, applications, and IC design teams
Technical leadership and ownership mindset
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Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Senior Applications Engineer with deep, hands-on expertise in DC/DC buck converters and power management ICs. This role requires strong system-level design, validation, and device debug skills. The Senior Applications Engineer will act as a technical leader, supporting complex customer designs, driving root-cause analysis, and collaborating closely with R&D, validation, and marketing teams to ensure robust product adoption and successful customer deployments.
Key Responsibilities
Serve as a technical expert for DC/DC buck converter products, supporting customers from initial architecture through production release
Lead hands-on lab activities including schematic development, PCB bring-up, validation, and device debug of power management ICs
Design, build, and debug evaluation modules (EVMs) and customer reference designs
Perform detailed system-level validation including efficiency, transient response, stability, thermal, protection features, and reliability testing
Drive root-cause analysis of device, system, and layout-related issues using bench measurements and failure analysis techniques
Review and approve customer schematics and PCB layouts, providing expert guidance on power integrity, grounding, EMI/EMC, and thermal performance
Partner closely with IC design, validation, and test teams to debug silicon issues and influence product improvements
Support customer development schedules by providing timely, technically sound recommendations and solutions
Develop and own high-quality technical collateral, including:
EVM User’s Guides
Application Notes and Design Notes
White Papers and Reference Designs
Mentor junior applications engineers and contribute to best practices for lab methodology and documentation
Represent the applications team in technical reviews, customer meetings, and internal design discussions
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, ECE, or related field
6+ years of experience in power electronics or semiconductor applications engineering
Strong hands-on experience with DC/DC buck converter design and analysis
Proven expertise in schematic capture and PCB design using industry-standard tools (e.g., Altium, Cadence, OrCAD, or equivalent)
Extensive lab experience with power measurement, debugging, and validation using oscilloscopes, electronic loads, network analyzers, and power analyzers
Demonstrated ability to debug complex hardware issues at the device and system level
Strong technical writing skills with experience producing customer-facing technical documentation
In-depth understanding of customer product development cycles and manufacturing requirements
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
Experience with silicon validation and post-silicon debug of power management ICs
Strong background in control loop stability, compensation design, and small-signal analysis
Experience with EMI/EMC mitigation and compliance strategies
Prior customer-facing or Field Applications Engineering (FAE) experience
Experience mentoring or leading technical teams
Key Competencies
Deep lab-centric problem solving and analytical skills
Ability to independently drive complex debug and validation efforts
Strong communication skills bridging customers, applications, and IC design teams
Technical leadership and ownership mindset
Show more Show less