Principal Applications Engineer

NXP Semiconductors; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

NXP Semiconductors is seeking a senior hardware-focused engineer for the SerDes Networking Solution team in the United States. You will collaborate across IC design, systems, firmware, and test to translate customer needs into product improvements and drive successful board bring-up.

Responsibilities include reviewing schematics for signal and power integrity, leading validation with high‑bandwidth equipment, and creating collateral such as reference designs and training materials for field

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or related field.
• 12+ years of experience in hardware design, applications engineering, or system validation.
• Familiarity with Ethernet, MIPI CSI-2, and DP/eDP display protocols.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with IC design, systems, FW, and test teams to translate field issues into product improvements.
• Review customer schematics for SI/PI best practices.
• Lead board-level bring-up and validation using oscilloscopes and analyzers and generate test reports.

Skills

Hardware design

Applications engineering

System validation

High-speed signaling

SI/PI tools

Lab equipment

PCB design for high-speed

Communication

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or related field

Tools

VNA

TDR

BERT

Oscilloscope

Protocol analyzers

Job description

Locations available: San Diego and San Jose, California or Austin, Texas

Job Description:

NXP’s SerDes Networking Solution (SNS) team delivers open-standard Automotive SerDes Alliance (ASA) Motion Link multi-Gigabit connectivity for next-generation sensors and vehicle displays. As part of the Applications Engineering team, you will work with both internal engineering teams to develop collaterals to ease customer adoption of our SerDes solutions, as well as with NXP’s field teams and customer engineering teams to ensure successful system design and bring-up.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with IC design, systems, FW, and test teams to translate field issues and customer requirements into product improvements and new features.
• Review customer schematics and layouts for signal‑integrity and power‑integrity best practices (impedance control, terminations, return paths, via design, reference plane strategy).
• Lead board‑level bring‑up and validation using oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers; generate test reports and recommendations.
• Provide on‑site or remote debug support for complex customer issues.
• Develop and maintain application collateral: reference designs, layout guidelines, design checklists, characterization reports, application notes, training materials.
• Participate in trade shows and provide FAE training

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or related field.
• Extensive experience (12+ years) in hardware design, applications engineering, or system validation.
• Familiarity with high-speed data communication protocols and interfaces, including Ethernet networking and switching, MIPI CSI-2, and display protocols (DP/eDP)
• Strong understanding of high‑speed SerDes fundamentals: channel loss, reflections, return loss, insertion loss, ISI, jitter, equalization, and clocking.
• Demonstrated experience with multi‑Gbps serial links (e.g., Ethernet, PCIe, DP, USB3.x/USB4, proprietary SerDes).
• Proficiency with SI/PI tools and simulations (e.g., S‑parameter analysis, eye/jitter simulations) and comfort interpreting simulation and measurement correlation.
• Hands‑on experience using lab equipment: high‑bandwidth oscilloscopes, TDR, VNA, BERT, protocol analyzers, logic analyzers, and related tools.
• Strong skills in PCB design for high‑speed: layer stack‑up, routing constraints, differential pairs, reference planes, decoupling, and power delivery.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills to explain complex technical topics to both expert and non‑expert audiences. ⁽⁵⁾
• Ability to work effectively with global, cross‑functional teams (design, systems, test, marketing, field).

More information about NXP in the United States…

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.