Field Application Engineer - Robotics Networking

NXP Semiconductors NV; United States; Remote; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

NXP Semiconductors NV is seeking an experienced engineering professional to join our Global Sales team as a robotics networking specialist. You will guide customers through Ethernet switch, PHY, and SerDes selection, bring-up, and software integration for autonomous robotic platforms.

The role emphasizes hands-on design validation, topologies like SPE backbones, and PoDL distribution, with travel within the US and remote collaboration. Strong C/C++ and ARM expertise are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent.
• 10+ years in embedded systems development or applications support with networking, switch, or SoC platforms, with demonstrated technical leadership.
• Systems-level understanding of robotics platforms (humanoids, AMRs, drones).
• Proficient in C/C++ firmware development and debugging with ARM microcontrollers.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of Ethernet controllers, switches, PHY technologies, including MAC/PHY/DMA, and SPE/BASE-T1 standards.
• Experience with deterministic real-time Ethernet (TSN) and EtherCAT; PoDL familiarity.
• Strong troubleshooting skills with schematic review, signal analysis, and lab tools.
• Strong communicator with autonomous work style.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead and system-level expert for robotics networking solutions, guiding customers through Ethernet switch, PHY, and SerDes selection, bring-up, and software integration.
• Architect and support next-generation in-robot network topologies including zonal/microzonal architectures and PoDL power-data distribution.
• Provide hands-on design support and performance validation—schematic reviews, bench bring-up, lab debugging, and tuning of Ethernet and real-time protocol interfaces for deterministic latency.
• Deliver on-site and remote proof-of-concept builds using NXP evaluation kits and reference designs for AMR, drone, and humanoid use cases.
• Lead technical training—webinars, workshops, and customer deep-dives—on NXP's robotics networking portfolio.

Skills

Embedded systems

Networking expertise

C/C++

ARM microcontrollers

Real-time networking

TSN and EtherCAT

Single-Pair Ethernet

SPE backbones

Schematic review

Lab debugging

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Tools

FreeRTOS

Zephyr

NuttX

ROS 2

Job description

Location

USA (home office) - Preference for California Bay Area, Boston metro, Detroit metro, or Austin. Candidates must be willing to travel.

Introduction

AI is rapidly moving beyond research labs and into the real world-powering advancements in vehicles, factories, hospitals, homes, and everyday devices. NXP's Global Sales organization is the force that transforms our intelligent edge vision into meaningful market impact. We operate on the front lines of innovation, delivering real-world AI, secure edge intelligence, and breakthrough technologies to the customers shaping tomorrow's world. As a strategic partner at the intersection of customer ambition and NXP capability, our global sales team drives alignment, opens new markets, and builds the relationships that lead to design wins and revenue growth. Through deep market insight and long-term collaboration, we embed customer-centricity into every decision and help accelerate innovation at the system-solution level. This disciplined, client-first mindset enables us to architect integrated, future-ready solutions that deliver sustained value and strengthen NXP's competitive advantage. We thrive in a high-performance, high-ownership environment-competing boldly, executing with urgency, and celebrating results. If you want to win big, grow fast, and work with the customers building what's next, NXP Global Sales is where ambition becomes achievement.

What to Expect

We are seeking a highly motivated, experienced engineer to join our FAE team supporting the rapidly growing robotics market - Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), drones, and humanoid platforms.

You will help our customers deploy industry-leading networking and high-speed communication technologies - Ethernet, SerDes, TSN, EtherCAT , and Power-over-Dataline/Ethernet - into next-generation robotic systems where deterministic, low-latency communication is critical for perception, motion, and motor control. This is a US home-office-based role, with preference for candidates in the California Bay Area, Boston metro, Detroit metro, or Austin, but all US locations will be considered. Candidates must be willing to travel, primarily within the US.

Your Role

Serve as the technical lead and system-level expert for NXP robotics networking solutions - guiding customers through Ethernet switch, PHY, and SerDes selection, bring-up, and software integration, with a clear view of how networking connects compute, perception, motor-control, and power across the full robot architecture.

Architect and support next-generation in-robot network topologies - including zonal and microzonal architectures, Single-Pair Ethernet (SPE) backbones, 10BASE-T1S sensor/edge segments, and combined power-and-data distribution using PoDL .

Provide hands-on design support and performance validation - schematic reviews, bench bring-up, lab debugging, and tuning of Ethernet and real-time protocol interfaces for deterministic latency in robotics applications.

Deliver on-site and remote proof-of-concept builds using NXP evaluation kits and reference designs, demonstrating end-to-end network solutions for AMR, drone, and humanoid use cases.

Lead technical training - webinars, workshops, and customer deep-dives - on NXP's robotics networking portfolio.

Core Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering , Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent.
• 10+ years in embedded systems development or applications support with networking, switch, or SoC platforms, with demonstrated technical leadership.
• Systems-level understanding of robotics platforms (humanoids, AMRs, drones) - including how networking enables real-time coordination across compute, perception, motor control, and power subsystems.
• Proficient in C/C++ firmware development and debugging with ARM microcontrollers.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of Ethernet controllers, switches, and PHY technologies - including MAC/PHY/DMA, switch configuration, and Single-Pair Ethernet (BASE-T1, 10BASE-T1S).
• Experience with deterministic real-time Ethernet - TSN and EtherCAT - and familiarity with PoDL for combined power-and-data distribution in robotics.
• Strong troubleshooting skills with schematic review, signal analysis, and lab tools.
• Strong communicator with both technical and non-technical audiences; demonstrated ability to operate autonomously.

Specialty & Bonus Skills

• Knowledge of CAN networking technologies - CAN FD, CAN SIC, and emerging CAN XL - including use in joint modules, BMS, and zonal nodes.
• Familiarity with RTOS platforms ( FreeRTOS , Zephyr, NuttX ), embedded Linux (Ethernet driver/ switchdev ), and robotics middleware (ROS 2, DDS, PREEMPT_RT).
• Familiarity with SerDes interfaces, PCIe Gen3/Gen4, and high-speed signal integrity considerations.
• Knowledge of functional safety (IEC 61508, ISO 13849) and cybersecurity (IEC 62443), including Et