Applications Engineer - Principal

Synopsys, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Synopsys is seeking a Principal Applications Engineer to lead technical engagements that help customers accelerate simulation and optimize product development. You will collaborate with Sales pre-sales, diagnose bottlenecks, and design future-state workflows using Synopsys tools.

Applicants bring 10+ years in engineering simulation, strong Python automation, and deep knowledge of nonlinear solids, structural dynamics, and multi-physics. Travel up to 30% may be required.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in engineering simulation or consulting with customer exposure.
• Deep expertise in nonlinear solids, structural dynamics, and numerical methods.
• Production experience with leading FEA tools and Python automation.

Responsibilities

• Lead pre-sales scoping and value demonstrations for customers.
• Diagnose workflow bottlenecks and design enhanced simulation processes.
• Troubleshoot multi-physics issues in customer environments.
• Create Python-based automation to accelerate workflows.
• Translate feedback into product requirements and roadmaps.
• Mentor junior engineers and share knowledge across teams.
• Develop reusable methodologies for scalable delivery.

Skills

Structural mechanics

Finite element analysis

Python automation

Multi-physics coupling

Technical storytelling

Customer engagement

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Ansys Mechanical

Ansys LS-Dyna

Abaqus

NASTRAN

Python libraries (requests, numpy)

Job description

We Are

Synopsys is the leader in engineering solutions from silicon to systems, enabling customers to rapidly innovate products. We deliver industry-leading silicon design, IP, simulation and analysis solutions, and design services. We partner closely with our customers across a wide range of industries to maximize their R&D capability and productivity, powering innovation today that ignites the ingenuity of tomorrow.

You Are

You have spent a decade building expertise at the intersection of structural mechanics, finite element analysis, and knowledge of how a engineering design team works. You know the value of simulation tools includes the physics, and its role in the design workflow.

You can walk into a customer engagement knowing exactly what to ask to understand whether they have a modeling problem, a process problem, or a tools problem. You are comfortable presenting a technical strategy to a room of engineers and the business case to their leadership team.

You have experience with Python automation, deep knowledge of solid mechanics, structural dynamics, and multi-physics coupling deeply enough to troubleshoot when results do not make sense. The idea of mentoring junior consultants appeals to you because you remember what it was like to learn this work, and you know how to transfer knowledge in a way that sticks.

At Synopsys, you will lead consulting engagements that directly affect whether customers can simulate faster, decide smarter, and ship products on time. The workflows you build, the workshops you run, and the relationships you establish will shape how engineering teams across industries adopt simulation as a core capability, not just a compliance checkbox.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Partner with Sales teams during pre-sales technical evaluations to scope consulting engagements, demonstrate capabilities, and articulate the value proposition to customer stakeholders


• Run technical engagements with customer engineering teams to diagnose workflow bottlenecks, establish best practices, and design future-state simulation processes using Synopsys tools


• Troubleshoot complex multi-physics simulation issues in customer production environments, working hands-on to resolve modeling, convergence, and performance problems that are blocking their timelines


• Build Python-based automation solutions using product APIs and general libraries to accelerate customer workflows, enable design variation studies, and reduce time-to-insight


• Collaborate with Product Management and R&D teams to translate customer feedback, technical gaps, and emerging use cases into actionable product requirements and roadmap priorities


• Develop trusted advisor relationships with customer engineering leaders and executives, serving as the technical voice that bridges hands-on engineering work and business decision-making


• Mentor junior applications engineers, reviewing their technical work, coaching on customer engagement skills, and helping them grow their simulation expertise


• Create repeatable methodologies, frameworks, and enablement materials that can be leveraged across the applications engineering organization to scale delivery and maintain quality'

The Impact You Will Have

• Drive measurable reductions in customer simulation cycle times, enabling faster product development and time-to-market for next-generation systems across automotive, aerospace, electronics, and industrial sectors


• Increase adoption and utilization of Synopsys simulation tools within strategic accounts by delivering engagements that prove clear ROI and build internal champions who advocate for expansion


• Shape the roadmap for Synopsys Professional Services offerings by surfacing real customer needs, workflow gaps, and market opportunities that inform new service packages and capabilities


• Strengthen customer retention and expand revenue by delivering high-satisfaction consulting engagements that demonstrate technical depth and business value


• Build lasting organizational capability within customer teams through knowledge transfer, workshops, and mentoring that continues to deliver value long after the engagement concludes


• Influence Synopsys product development priorities by bringing real-world customer use cases, technical feedback, and feature requests directly to engineering and product teams with the context needed to prior

What you will need

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Physics, or a related technical discipline


• 10+ years of hands-on experience in engineering simulation, workflow optimization, or technical consulting roles working directly with customers or internal engineering teams


• Deep expertise in nonlinear solids, structural mechanics, structural dynamics, finite element analysis, and related numerical methods with the ability to troubleshoot complex modeling and convergence issues


• Production experience with finite element analysis tools such as Ansys Mechanical, Ansys LS-Dyna, Abaqus, or NASTRAN, including hands-on modeling, analysis setup, and results interpretation


• Proven ability to build Python-based workflow automation using product APIs and general Python libraries to streamline simulation processes and enable scalable solutions


• Strong executive communication skills with demonstrated ability to present technical concepts, business cases, and strategic recommendations to both engineering teams and C-level stakeholders


• Willingness to travel up to 30% for customer engagements, workshops, on-site consulting delivery, and occasional conferences or training events


• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Physics, or related discipline is a plus


• Experience with multi-physics simulation workflows, design variation studies, and optimization is a plus


• Background in applying AI/ML techniques in engineering design and simulation contexts is a plus

The team you will be apart of

You will join the Applications Engineering team, a highly technical and customer-facing organization that serves as the critical bridge between Synopsys product technology and customer success. This team partners closely with Sales throughout the customer engagement lifecycle, supporting opportunities through technical expertise, delivering product demonstrations, and showcasing how Synopsys solutions address complex engineering challenges. Your role will focus on leading technical evaluations, proof-of-concepts, and consulting engagements that help customers understand the business and engineering value they can derive from Synopsys simulation and analysis technologies. As a Principal-level engineer, you will be expected to mentor junior team members, contribute to the team's technical capabilities, and serve as a trusted advisor to both customers and internal stakeholders.