Applications Engineer

Kinetic Technologies; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Kinetic Technologies in San Jose, CA is seeking a Senior Applications Engineer with deep hands-on experience in DC/DC buck converters and power management ICs. You will lead system-level design, validation, and debugging, and act as a technical leader supporting complex customer designs.

You will drive root-cause analysis, collaborate with R&D, validation, and marketing, and develop high-quality technical collateral. Strong communication and mentoring skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, ECE, or related field.
• 6+ years of experience in power electronics or semiconductor applications engineering.
• Hands-on DC/DC buck converter design and analysis.
• Schematic capture and PCB design using industry-standard tools (Altium, Cadence, OrCAD).
• Lab experience with power measurement, debugging, and validation.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical expert for DC/DC buck converter products from 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 reference designs.
• Perform system-level validation including efficiency, transient response, stability, thermal, protection features.
• Drive root-cause analysis of device, system, and layout issues using bench measurements and failure analysis.
• Review and approve customer schematics and PCB layouts, advising on power integrity, grounding, EMI/EMC, and thermal performance.
• Partner with IC design, validation, and test teams to debug silicon issues and influence product improvements.
• Support customer development schedules with timely, technically sound recommendations and solutions.
• Develop high-quality technical collateral: EVM guides, application notes, white papers, reference designs.
• Mentor junior applications engineers and contribute to lab methodology and documentation best practices.
• Represent the applications team in technical reviews, customer meetings, and internal design discussions.

Skills

DC/DC buck design

Power electronics

Schematic capture

PCB design

Lab measurements

Technical writing

Customer-facing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, ECE, or related field

Tools

Altium

Cadence

OrCAD

Job description

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 strategiesPrior 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