Principal Field Applications Engineer - High-Speed Interconnect

semtech; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Semtech is a global leader in high-performance analog ICs for high-speed optical and copper interconnect. As AI workloads drive exponential bandwidth growth toward 1.6T infrastructure, interconnect is a major driver of data center scaling and opportunity.

The Principal Field Applications Engineer - High-Speed Interconnect will secure design wins, lead customer co-development across 1.6T/3.2T+ and influence product roadmaps while serving as a trusted advisor to VP-level stakeholders across data

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field; Master’s or Ph.D. preferred.
• 5+ years of proven AE/FAE experience with expert technical capability and strategy.

Responsibilities

• Drive design wins for high-speed drivers and TIAs with key data center customers.
• Accelerate design-in cycles by removing technical barriers.
• Lead co-development initiatives for 1.6T and 3.2T+ with customer teams.
• Create joint innovation programs with Tier 1 hyperscalers establishing Semtech as a strategic partner.
• Align product roadmap with customer technology evolution plans.

Skills

High-speed interconnect

Signal integrity

Pre/post-sales support

Strategic advisory

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

Oscilloscope

Characterization equipment

Job description

Data Center Market Focus

Location: Remote (UK/EMEA)

Travel: 35% or less

Revenue Responsibility: $100M+ Design Win Portfolio across Nvidia and other EMEA optical customers

THE OPPORTUNITY

Semtech is a global leader in high-performance analog ICs for high-speed optical and copper interconnect. As AI workloads drive exponential bandwidth growth toward 1.6T infrastructure, interconnect is becoming the major limiting factor in data center scaling, creating an unprecedented market opportunity at the intersection of technical innovation and commercial impact.

This Principal Field Applications Engineer - High-Speed Interconnect represents a pivotal strategic hire, a technical strategist and commercial catalyst positioned to drive $100M+ in design-win revenue and establish market dominance across hyperscaler data centers.

The dual mandate is clear: secure immediate design wins with Semtech's current portfolio of high-speed analog ICs for optical and copper connectivity in AI networks, while simultaneously leading long-term customer co-development initiatives that will define our competitive position in next-generation 1.6T and 3.2T connectivity.

The role also extends technical scope to support key regional accounts in PON and Mobile Transport. These engagements draw on the same underlying product families and technical skill set, high-speed analog/mixed-signal ICs, signal integrity, and optical/electrical characterisation, making this a natural extension of the core mandate.

Success requires becoming a trusted technical advisor whom Tier 1 hyperscaler customers welcome into their most confidential labs, not as a vendor, but as an extension of their design teams. You'll leverage consultative discovery to uncover the situational factors, business consequences, and decision criteria that drive customer choices.

Your technical credibility will open doors; your strategic approach will close deals. Your voice will directly influence Semtech's product roadmaps, serving as strategic advisor to VPs in sales and product lines, co-creating breakthroughs that establish Semtech as the indispensable partner for the future of data center connectivity.

This role is for someone who thrives where breakthrough technology meets strategic business impact, someone ready to shape the future of an industry being transformed by AI.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Customer Co-Development & Innovation

• Drive design wins for Semtech's portfolio of high-speed drivers, TIAs, copper redrivers, and other products, working closely with engineering teams from key data center customers.
• Accelerate customer design-in cycles, proactively removing technical barriers to secure immediate revenue opportunities.
• Lead co-development initiatives for next-generation technologies (1.6T, 3.2T+) with customer engineering teams, defining the future of data center connectivity.
• Create joint innovation programs and proof-of-concept projects with Tier 1 hyperscaler providers that establish Semtech as their strategic technology partner.
• Align Semtech product roadmap with customer technology evolution plans, ensuring our solutions arrive precisely when markets mature.

PON & Mobile Transport Account Support

• Provide technical and pre/post-sales support to key European PON and Mobile Transport accounts.
• Apply signal integrity, high-speed analog, and characterisation expertise across product lines.
• Support design-in activities, technical evaluations, and troubleshooting for these accounts as required.
• Balance and prioritise time across data center and PON/Mobile Transport engagements in line with regional business needs.

Technical Excellence & Customer Support

• Lead technical evaluations and drive technical differentiation in competitive situations.
• Provide comprehensive pre-sales and post-sales customer support for strategic design-ins.
• Troubleshoot and debug complex technical issues with a relentless commitment to solving problems.
• Guide customers on hardware design, PCB layout, signal integrity optimisation, firmware integration, and system validation.
• Support customer qualification processes with equipment manufacturers, network operators, and cloud service providers.
• Create application notes, white papers, and design guides establishing thought leadership.

Cross-Functional Strategic Influence

• Influence product management and R&D priorities based on customer insights and market intelligence.
• Serve as strategic technical advisor to VPs in sales and product lines, bridging the gap between customer needs and product strategy.
• Partner with engineering teams to ensure customer co-development projects receive appropriate resources and priority.
• Drive internal alignment across product management, engineering, marketing, sales, and operations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related technical field (Master's or Ph.D. preferred)
• 5+ years of proven AE/FAE experience, demonstrating expert-level technical capability and strateg