Senior Applications Engineer

Amphenol CDI; Cerritos (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Amphenol CDI is a global leader in high-performance interconnect solutions. The Senior Applications Engineer serves as the technical authority for RF/microwave solutions, supporting customer design-in, adoption, and long-term success.

You will collaborate with Sales, Engineering, Product Development, and Marketing to ensure customer requirements are understood and translated into viable product solutions. You will own customer engagement from concept through production, provide system-level

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related technical discipline required.
• 7–10 years of experience in Applications Engineering, Field Engineering, or Product Development within interconnects, RF/microwave, aerospace, defense, or related high-reliability markets.

Responsibilities

• Act as the technical authority and primary customer interface across the CDI product portfolio, with deep expertise in RF/microwave solutions
• Own and lead customer engagement from concept through production, independently driving design-in, technical alignment, and program closure
• Provide system-level guidance and architectural support, enabling customers to optimize performance, integration, and overall solution design
• Lead resolution of complex technical and commercial challenges, delivering clear, timely, and business-aligned solutions with minimal oversight
• Partner closely with sales to convert opportunities into design wins, directly influencing bookings, margin, and market share
• Evaluate and validate custom design opportunities, including feasibility, costing, and margin alignment to ensure commercially viable solutions
• Support customer qualification and compliance requirements across key markets, including aerospace, defense, and communications
• Deliver pre- and post-sale technical support, maintaining ownership of customer success and ongoing product adoption
• Provide market, application, and competitive insights to guide product development, positioning, and long-term strategy
• Develop and maintain high-quality technical collateral, including application notes, reference designs, and customer-facing documentation
• Serve as a mentor and technical leader, elevating team capability and setting the standard for customer engagement and execution
• *Other duties as required in support of the department and the company*

Skills

MS Office

SharePoint

ERP/SAP

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related technical discipline

Tools

CAD tools

Signal integrity analysis

Test equipment

Job description

Amphenol CDI is a global leader in high-performance interconnect solutions. From enabling mission-critical communications for military and aerospace customers to driving innovation in commercial and test & measurement markets, we engineer the connections that power tomorrow’s technology. With our principal manufacturing site located in Cerritos, California, and global engineering resources across Amphenol, we serve a wide range of customers in Military & Defense, Aerospace, Commercial, Space, Industrial, and Test & Measurement sectors.

SUMMARY

The Senior Applications Engineer at Amphenol CDI serves as a technical authority and primary resource for RF and interconnect solutions, supporting customer design-in, adoption, and long-term success. This role partners closely with Sales, Engineering, Product Development, and Marketing to ensure customer technical requirements are clearly understood, translated into viable product solutions, and leveraged to influence product and market strategy. The Senior Applications Engineer will act as a go-to expert for the broader team, providing guidance and mentorship as needed, while also directly engaging with customers and strategic accounts to drive technical wins and shape future product direction.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Act as the technical authority and primary customer interface across the CDI product portfolio, with deep expertise in RF/microwave solutions
• Own and lead customer engagement from concept through production, independently driving design-in, technical alignment, and program closure
• Provide system-level guidance and architectural support, enabling customers to optimize performance, integration, and overall solution design
• Lead resolution of complex technical and commercial challenges, delivering clear, timely, and business-aligned solutions with minimal oversight
• Partner closely with sales to convert opportunities into design wins, directly influencing bookings, margin, and market share
• Evaluate and validate custom design opportunities, including feasibility, costing, and margin alignment to ensure commercially viable solutions
• Support customer qualification and compliance requirements across key markets, including aerospace, defense, and communications
• Deliver pre- and post-sale technical support, maintaining ownership of customer success and ongoing product adoption
• Provide market, application, and competitive insights to guide product development, positioning, and long-term strategy
• Develop and maintain high-quality technical collateral, including application notes, reference designs, and customer-facing documentation
• Serve as a mentor and technical leader, elevating team capability and setting the standard for customer engagement and execution

*Other duties as required in support of the department and the company*

BUSINESS IMPACT & PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

• Influence ≥7% of total company bookings through direct technical leadership and customer engagement
• Deliver ≥12 design wins annually across the CDI product portfolio, establishing a pipeline of future production revenue

QUALIFICATIONS

To succeed in this job, an individual must satisfactorily perform each essential job function. The requirements below represent the required knowledge, skill, and ability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related technical discipline required.
• 7-10 years of experience in Applications Engineering, Field Engineering, or Product Development within interconnects, RF/microwave, aerospace, defense, or related high-reliability markets.
• Demonstrated track record of translating customer requirements into product solutions and securing design wins.
• Strong background in customer-facing roles, including design-in support, technical presentations, and solution selling.
• Experience collaborating cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Engineering, and Operations to drive business outcomes.
• Proven ability to conduct competitive analysis, assess market trends, and provide input to product roadmaps.
• Hands-on familiarity with CAD tools, signal integrity analysis, or test equipment (network analyzers, oscilloscopes, etc.) desirable.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Conversational in any other language is a plus.

JOB SKILLS

• Advanced/Proficient in MS Office Suite and SharePoint.
• Knowledge of ERP systems, SAP preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

As part of their job duties, the employee must sit for lengthy periods while operating a computer. They frequently use their hands to type, handle objects, and communicate verbally. Additionally, they may need to stand, walk, reach, and occasionally lift objects weighing up to twenty (20) pounds. This role requires lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching overhead, reaching at or below shoulder level, and keyboarding. According to ADA regulations, reasonable accommodation will be provided to ensure that individuals with disabilities can perform the job's essential functions.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Amphenol CDI is fully committed to minimizing the environmental impact of its operations, activities, and products. To achieve this, we adhere to all applicable environmental regulations and laws, prevent pollution, and continuously improve our environmental performance in all our global operations. This is possible through an Environmental Management System that provides a framework for setting and reviewing our environmental objectives and targets. We aim to identify and reduce any negative environmental impact our business activities may have.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

• ASTM F-2412-2005, ANSI Z41-1999, or ANSI Z41-1991 rated safety toe shoes in specific areas.
• Clear ANSI Z87.1 safety-rated glasses in specific areas.
• Hearing protection in specific locations.
• Ability to compile with JSA in specific areas.

EXPORT COMPLIANCE DISCLAIMER

This position includes access or potential access to ITAR and EAR (Export Administration Regulations) technical data. Therefore, candidates must qualify as US Persons, defined as US Citizens or Permanent Residents (Green Card Holders).

TRAVEL

Approximately40% of travel is expected.

SALARY INFORMATION:

According to several states' laws, this position's salary range falls between $100,000 and $130,000 annually. However, this salary information is merely a general guideline. When extending an offer, Amphenol CDI considers various factors such as the position's responsibilities, scope of work, candidate's work experience, education/training, essential skills, internal pay equity, and market considerations.