Design Application Engineer

GlobalFoundries; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 202,000; Full time

Job summary

GlobalFoundries in Santa Clara is seeking an Application Engineer to provide technical leadership for customer design enablement and support semiconductor design implementation across GF technologies. You will drive customer success, resolving complex issues and leading execution from engagement through tape-out readiness.

You will collaborate with PDK, modeling, IP, and EDA teams; develop application notes and reference flows; manage scope, milestones, risks, and deliverables while mentoring

Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's or PhD with relevant experience in electrical/computer engineering or CS.
• Demonstrated expertise in IC design and EDA tools and enablement.
• Ability to independently solve complex technical problems and guide customers.

Responsibilities

• Own technical execution for assigned customers, applications, technology platforms, or engineering workstreams.
• Drive implementation of customer design enablement capabilities in collaboration with internal development teams.
• Resolve complex customer and engineering challenges through structured root‑cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Coordinate technical solutions across PDK, modeling, IP, EDA, reliability, product engineering, quality, sales, and customer orgs.
• Improve engineering standards, reusable design flows, and support infrastructure.
• Manage technical scope, deliverables, milestones, dependencies, risks, and recovery plans.
• Provide technical leadership through design reviews, documentation, and knowledge sharing.
• Represent Application Engineering in customer engagements and cross‑functional forums.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend adoption based on value.
• Develop high‑quality application notes, troubleshooting guides, and reference flows.

Skills

IC Design

EDA Tools

Design Enablement

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline

Master's degree with 2+ years of relevant experience

PhD with 1+ years of relevant experience

Tools

PDK familiarity

Modeling tools

Job description

About GlobalFoundries

GlobalFoundries (GF) is a leading full-service semiconductor foundry providing a unique combination of design, development, and fabrication services to some of the world’s most inspired technology companies. With a global manufacturing footprint spanning three continents, GF makes possible the technologies and systems that transform industries and give customers the power to shape their markets. For more information, visit www.gf.com.

Summary of Role

The Application Engineer provides technical leadership for customer design enablement and supports semiconductor design implementation across GlobalFoundries technologies. This role is responsible for driving customer success, resolving complex technical issues, developing scalable engineering solutions, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure successful customer design execution from initial engagement through tape-out readiness. The successful candidate will own customer and design enablement responsibilities, lead technical execution, and contribute to continuous improvements in engineering methodologies, workflows, and reusable solutions.

Essential Responsibilities

• Own technical execution for assigned customers, applications, technology platforms, or engineering workstreams.
• Drive implementation of customer design enablement capabilities in collaboration with internal development teams and support organizations.
• Resolve complex customer and engineering challenges through structured root‑cause analysis, risk assessment, and corrective action implementation.
• Coordinate technical solutions across PDK, modeling, IP, EDA, reliability, product engineering, quality, sales, and customer organizations.
• Improve engineering standards, reusable design flows, case management processes, automation, and support infrastructure.
• Manage technical scope, deliverables, milestones, dependencies, risks, and recovery plans for assigned projects.
• Provide technical leadership through design reviews, case reviews, documentation, training, and knowledge sharing.
• Represent Application Engineering in customer engagements and cross‑functional technical forums.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, design methodologies, and EDA tool capabilities and recommend adoption based on technical and business value.
• Develop high‑quality application notes, troubleshooting guides, reference flows, operational procedures, and technical documentation.

Other Responsibilities

• Perform all activities in a safe and responsible manner and support all Environmental, Health, Safety, and Security (EHS&S) requirements and programs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline with 4+ years of relevant experience; OR
• Master’s degree with 2+ years of relevant experience; OR
• PhD with 1+ years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in one or more Application Engineering disciplines, including: IC Design Design Methodology and EDA Tools Design Enablement
• Ability to independently solve complex technical problems and develop customer‑focused solutions.
• Experience leading or contributing to projects from initiation through successful completion.
• Strong collaboration and cross‑functional teamwork skills.
• Demonstrated ability to improve engineering methods, standards, and reusable solutions.
• Ability to provide technical guidance and support to peers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise spanning multiple technical disciplines relevant to semiconductor design enablement.
• Ability to lead ambiguous, complex, and non‑recurring technical challenges across organizations and customer engagements.
• Demonstrated ability to establish new approaches that deliver sustained organizational or customer impact.
• Experience mentoring engineers and growing technical capability within an organization.
• Familiarity with semiconductor design flows, PDKs, EDA tools, and customer support environments.
• Recognized by peers, customers, and stakeholders for technical expertise and customer support effectiveness.
• Demonstrated record of consistently delivering business value and meeting commitments.
• Strong customer advocacy and relationship management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to influence and lead across cross‑functional teams and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and navigate complex technical discussions.
• Experience providing mentoring, coaching, and knowledge transfer to technical teams.
• Demonstrated accountability, ownership, and professional judgment.
• Proficiency with business productivity and collaboration tools including Microsoft Office, Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft Copilot, and related applications.

Expected Salary Range

$85,000.00 - $202,000.00

The exact Salary will be determined based on qualifications, experience and location.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

An offer with GlobalFoundries is conditioned upon the successful completion of pre‑employment conditions, as applicable, and subject to applicable laws and regulations.

GlobalFoundries is fully committed to equal opportunity in the workplace and believes that cultural diversity within the company enhances its business potential. GlobalFoundries goal of excellence in business necessitates the attraction and retention of highly qualified people. Artificial barriers and stereotypic biases detract from this objective and may be illegally discriminatory.

All policies and processes which pertain to employees including recruitment, selection, training, utilization, promotion, compensation, benefits, extracurricular programs, and termination are created and implemented without regard to age, ethnicity, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third‑party affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic or category specified by local, state or federal law