Applications Engineer

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

Job summary

Kinetic Technologies in San Jose, CA seeks a Senior Applications Engineer with deep hands-on DC/DC buck converter and power management IC experience. You will lead design-support for customer deployments, perform system-level validation, and guide debugging and root-cause analysis across cross-functional teams.

You will develop evaluation modules, reference designs, and technical collateral (EVM guides, notes, white papers) while mentoring junior engineers and influencing product improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, ECE, or related field.
• 6+ years in power electronics or semiconductor applications engineering.
• Hands-on DC/DC buck converter design and analysis experience.
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB design using Altium, Cadence, OrCAD, or equivalents.
• Lab experience with power measurement, debugging and validation equipment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical expert for DC/DC buck converter products across architecture to production release.
• Lead lab activities: schematic development, PCB bring-up, validation, and device debugging.
• Design, build, and debug evaluation modules and reference designs.
• Perform system-level validation: efficiency, transient response, stability, thermal, protection and reliability.
• Drive root-cause analysis using bench measurements and failure analysis.
• Review customer schematics and layouts for power integrity, grounding, EMI/EMC, and thermal.
• Collaborate with IC design, validation, and test teams to debug silicon issues.
• Develop high-quality collateral: EVM guides, design notes, white papers, reference designs.
• Mentor junior applications engineers and share lab methodologies.

Skills

DC/DC buck converter design

Power electronics

Schematic capture

PCB design tools

Lab measurement and testing

Technical writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering

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 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