Principal System Engineer - (DC/DC Converters)

Sterling Engineering; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Engineering in California seeks a Principal Systems Engineer to join the Power Electronics Division. This senior, customer-facing, pre-sales role acts as a trusted technical advisor to leading technology customers, shaping next-generation power system solutions.

The role is highly conceptual, requiring expertise in DC-DC converters and low-voltage buck conversion, with strong communication skills to translate complex requirements into scalable architectures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline (Master’s degree preferred).
• Experience in pre-sales or technical advisory roles is essential.
• Strong ability to translate complex technical requirements into architectures.

Responsibilities

• Act as senior technical authority supporting pre-sales and customer engagements across major accounts on the West Coast.
• Partner with customers to understand system-level requirements and propose advanced power solutions.
• Serve as the technical bridge between customers, applications engineering, product management, and design engineering teams.
• Lead system-level architecture discussions involving low-voltage DC-DC converters and buck conversion power units.
• Support strategic accounts including hyperscale and advanced technology customers.
• Influence product direction by providing customer-driven technical insights to internal stakeholders.
• Deliver high-impact technical presentations, solution reviews, and executive-level discussions.
• Travel regularly to customer sites along the West Coast, primarily in San Jose and Seattle.

Skills

DC-DC converters

Pre-sales experience

Customer-facing

Systems engineering

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Compensation: $180,000–$210,000 base salary + 15% annual bonus

Reports to: Director of Global Applications Engineering

Overview

We are seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to join our Power Electronics Division. This is a senior, customer-facing, pre-sales focused role for a highly experienced power electronics technologist. The position serves as a trusted technical advisor to some of the world’s most advanced technology companies, partnering closely with customers and internal engineering teams to shape next-generation power system solutions.

This role is highly conceptual and systems-oriented. There is no lab or hands-on testing component. Success in this position requires deep expertise in DC-DC converters and low-voltage buck conversion products, strong customer communication skills, and the ability to translate complex technical requirements into innovative, scalable architectures.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a senior technical authority supporting pre-sales and customer engagements across major West Coast accounts
• Partner closely with leading customers to understand system-level requirements and propose advanced power solutions
• Serve as a technical bridge between customers, applications engineering, product management, and design engineering teams
• Lead system-level architecture discussions involving low-voltage DC-DC converters and voltage conversion (Buck Conversion) power units.
• Support strategic accounts, including hyperscale and advanced technology customers
• Influence product direction by providing customer-driven technical insights to internal stakeholders
• Deliver high-impact technical presentations, solution reviews, and executive-level discussions
• Travel regularly to customer sites along the West Coast, primarily in San Jose and Seattle

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline (Master’s degree preferred)
• In-depth knowledge of Low-Voltage DC-DC converters and Buck Converter technology (Subject Matter Expert)
• Background in applications engineering, field applications engineering, or systems engineering
• Proven experience in customer-facing, pre-sales, or technical advisory roles
• Strong system-level thinking with the ability to evaluate tradeoffs and design custom solutions
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage both deeply technical teams and senior customer stakeholders
• Experience supporting large, sophisticated customers in data center, cloud, or advanced computing environments