Applications Engineering Manager

black.ai; Tempe (AZ); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Syenta in Tempe, AZ seeks an experienced Application Engineering Manager to bridge advanced manufacturing technology with a global customer base. You will translate complex customer needs into actionable project plans and lead the applications engineering team to deliver high-impact solutions.

You will oversee technical delivery, manage cross-functional collaboration with R&D, process, and hardware teams, and drive successful customer engagements while building credibility in advanced packaging.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in Applications Engineering, Technical Sales, or Engineering Management.
• Background in semiconductors, advanced packaging, or electronics.
• Proven experience managing customer-facing technical projects.

Responsibilities

• Act as lead technical expert during pre-sales and capture customer requirements.
• Design detailed project proposals with scope, milestones and approach.
• Oversee full lifecycle of customer projects from kickoff to delivery.
• Serve as final escalation point for complex technical challenges.
• Deliver technical presentations and demos to stakeholders.
• Recruit, mentor, and manage a growing applications engineering team.

Skills

Applications Engineering

Technical Sales

Engineering Management

Customer-facing communication

Project management

Education

B.S./M.S. in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

CAD/CAM tools

System-level troubleshooting

Job description

About Syenta

Syenta is pioneering a new era in semiconductor manufacturing with our groundbreaking Localised Electrochemical Manufacturing (LEM) technology. Our manufacturing products build cutting edge advanced packaging for the semiconductor industry by combining patterning and metallization into a single tool. We do that by achieving high-speed, high-resolution metallization at significantly lower costs and energy use, while minimizing emissions and waste.

Founded in Australia, our growing footprint in the US represents a key milestone in our journey. We are building a world-class team where seasoned engineers and ambitious emerging talent collaborate to solve some of the toughest challenges in semiconductor manufacturing.

About the Role

We are seeking an Application Engineering Manager to serve as the primary technical interface between Syenta’s advanced manufacturing technology and our global customer base.

This is a high-impact, hybrid role requiring a blend of deep semiconductor technical expertise, project management discipline, and commercial acumen. You will translate complex customer requirements into actionable project proposals, oversee technical delivery, and build the foundational applications engineering team responsible for customer success.

This role is critical to scaling Syenta’s customer engagements and strengthening our technical credibility in advanced packaging.

Responsibilities

Technical Sales Interface

• Act as the lead technical expert during the pre-sales process
• Conduct deep-dive discovery sessions to understand customer requirements, constraints, and pain points
• Translate customer needs into technically viable and commercially aligned solutions

Proposal Development

• Design and develop detailed project proposals including scope, milestones, and technical approach
• Ensure alignment between customer requirements and Syenta’s product capabilities
• Own feasibility assessments across advanced packaging applications

Project Management & Delivery

• Oversee the full lifecycle of customer projects from kickoff through delivery
• Ensure timelines, technical milestones, and deliverables are met
• Maintain high ownership and accountability across all active projects

Technical Escalations

• Serve as the final escalation point for complex technical challenges
• Work cross-functionally with R&D, process, and hardware teams to resolve issues
• Maintain strong customer trust through effective problem resolution

Customer Engagement & Presentation

• Deliver technical presentations, demos, and updates to customer stakeholders
• Interface with senior technical leaders (e.g., CTOs, Directors of Engineering)
• Handle sensitive technical information with professionalism and discretion

Team Leadership & Build-Out

• Recruit, mentor, and manage a growing team of applications engineers
• Establish best practices for customer interaction, documentation, and project tracking
• Build scalable processes to support increasing customer demand

Requirements

Experience

• 7+ years in Applications Engineering, Technical Sales, or Engineering Management
• Background in high-tech industries such as semiconductors, advanced packaging, or electronics
• Proven experience managing customer-facing technical projects

Education

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field

Technical Expertise

• Strong understanding of advanced semiconductor packaging, including:
• 2.5D, 3D integration, FOWLP / FOPLP, Hybrid bonding, Bridge architectures
• Familiarity with chip-last, chip-on-wafer/substrate processes
• Experience with hardware/software integration, CAD/CAM tools, and system-level troubleshooting

Communication & Customer Skills

• Ability to clearly communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Strong customer-facing experience, including presenting and managing sensitive information
• Proven ability to translate customer requirements into actionable technical plans

Leadership

• Demonstrated experience leading technical teams and driving project execution
• High ownership mindset with the ability to operate autonomously in a fast-paced environment

Why Choose Syenta?

This is a rare opportunity to build a critical function from the ground up at a pivotal stage of company growth.

What We Offer

• Early-stage equity opportunities
• Potential 401(k) and other benefits
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage plans, supported by Company
• Professional Growth – We’re scaling fast, so responsibilities can expand significantly in tandem with the business
• Team Events – Annual company event in Australia to collaborate and celebrate
• Work-Life Balance – Flexible leave policies and an understanding that meaningful work can coexist with a fulfilling personal life
• 15 days PTO and 10 days sick leave

Syenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.