Field Application Engineer – Robotics Networking

NXP Semiconductors; United States; Remote; USD 166,000 - 229,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid leave

Job summary

NXP Semiconductors is seeking a highly experienced engineer to join our FAE team focused on robotics networking for AMRs, drones, and humanoid platforms. You will guide customers through Ethernet switch, PHY, and SerDes choices, and integrate software for real-time robot perception and control.

You will lead network topology design, provide hands-on support, and deliver on-site and remote proof-of-concept work using NXP kits and reference designs.

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.
• Experience with deterministic real-time Ethernet - TSN and EtherCAT; familiarity with PoDL.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead and system-level expert for robotics networking solutions across Ethernet switch, PHY, and SerDes.
• Architect and support next-generation in-robot network topologies including SPE, 10BASE-T1S, and PoDL.
• Provide hands-on design support, schematic reviews, bench bring-up, lab debugging, and verification for deterministic latency.
• Lead on-site and remote proof-of-concept builds using evaluation kits and reference designs.

Skills

C/C++ firmware

ARM microcontrollers

Ethernet controllers

TSN / EtherCAT

Networking concepts

Autonomy / communication

Education

Bachelors or Masters in EE / CSE

Tools

ROS 2

DDS

PREEMPT_RT

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 - to 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 Ethernet network segmentation (VLANs, MACsec, IEEE 802.1X).

We also provide competitive benefits, incentive compensation, and/or equity for certain roles.

• health.
• dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k), and paid leave.

A reasonable estimate of the base salary range as of the date of this posting is: $166,200 to $228,500 annually.

NXP is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer regardless of age, color, national origin, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, status as a disabled veteran and/or veteran of the Vietnam Era or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

In addition, NXP will provide reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified disabled individuals.

NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) enables a smarter, safer, and more sustainable world through innovation. As the world leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, NXP is pushing boundaries in the automotive, industrial & IoT, mobile, and communication infrastructure markets. For more information, visit www.nxp.com Bright Minds. Bright Futures. We believe that a key component to growing our business is to develop our people. To enable you to grow your career at NXP, we offer online and offline learning opportunities to help you develop some of your core and professional skills. Commitment At NXP. We recognize NXP is a powerful change agent as we continue to deliver innovative solutions that advance a more sustainable future. We remain steadfast in our commitment to sustainability and making measurable year-on-year progress. Also, we aim to create an inclusive work environment and we will not tolerate racism, discrimination or harassment of any kind. We have programs in place focused on diversity, inclusion and equality. Thank you for considering a career at NXP. To help you prepare for the different steps in our hiring process, see the following useful advice and tips.