Sr. Applications Engineer

Kinetic Technologies, L.L.C.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Kinetic Technologies, L.L.C. in San Francisco seeks a Senior Applications Engineer with deep hands-on expertise in DC/DC buck converters and power management ICs. You will lead system-level design, validation, and device debug across customer projects.

You will own evaluation modules, perform efficiency, stability, and reliability testing, review schematics and layouts for power integrity, and mentor junior engineers while collaborating with R&D, validation, and marketing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 6+ years of experience in power electronics or semiconductor applications engineering.
• Strong hands-on experience with DC/DC buck converter design and analysis.
• Proven expertise in schematic capture and PCB design using industry-standard tools.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical expert for DC/DC buck converter products, supporting customers from initial architecture through production release.
• Lead hands-on lab activities including schematic development, PCB bring-up, validation, and device debug of power management ICs.
• Design, build, and debug evaluation modules (EVMs) and customer reference designs.
• Perform detailed system-level validation including efficiency, transient response, stability, thermal, protection features, and reliability testing.

Skills

Power electronics

DC/DC buck design

Lab validation & debugging

Schematic capture

PCB layout review

Customer-facing support

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium

Cadence

OrCAD

Job description

Senior Applications Engineer – Power Management (DC/DC Buck Converters)

We are seeking an experienced Senior Applications Engineer with deep, hands‑on expertise in DC/DC buck converters and power management ICs. This role requires strong system‑level design, validation, and device debug skills. The Senior Applications Engineer will act as a technical leader, supporting complex customer designs, driving root‑cause analysis, and collaborating closely with R&D, validation, and marketing teams to ensure robust product adoption and successful customer deployments.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical expert for DC/DC buck converter products, supporting customers from initial architecture through production release
• Lead hands‑on lab activities including schematic development, PCB bring‑up, validation, and device debug of power management ICs
• Design, build, and debug evaluation modules (EVMs) and customer reference designs
• Perform detailed system‑level validation including efficiency, transient response, stability, thermal, protection features, and reliability testing
• Drive root‑cause analysis of device, system, and layout‑related issues using bench measurements and failure analysis techniques
• Review and approve customer schematics and PCB layouts, providing expert guidance on power integrity, grounding, EMI/EMC, and thermal performance
• Partner closely with IC design, validation, and test teams to debug silicon issues and influence product improvements
• Support customer development schedules by providing timely, technically sound recommendations and solutions
• Develop and own high‑quality technical collateral, including:
  • EVM User’s Guides
  • Application Notes and Design Notes
  • White Papers and Reference Designs
• Mentor junior applications engineers and contribute to best practices for lab methodology and documentation
• Represent the applications team in technical reviews, customer meetings, and internal design discussions
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, ECE, or related field
• 6+ years of experience in power electronics or semiconductor applications engineering
• Strong hands‑on experience with DC/DC buck converter design and analysis
• Proven expertise in schematic capture and PCB design using industry‑standard tools (e.g., Altium, Cadence, OrCAD, or equivalent)
• Extensive lab experience with power measurement, debugging, and validation using oscilloscopes, electronic loads, network analyzers, and power analyzers
• Demonstrated ability to debug complex hardware issues at the device and system level
• Strong technical writing skills with experience producing customer‑facing technical documentation
• In-depth understanding of customer product development cycles and manufacturing requirements
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
• Experience with silicon validation and post‑silicon debug of power management ICs
• Strong background in control loop stability, compensation design, and small‑signal analysis
• Experience with EMI/EMC mitigation and compliance strategies
• Prior customer‑facing or Field Applications Engineering (FAE) experience
• Experience mentoring or leading technical teams
  

Key Competencies

• Deep lab‑centric problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to independently drive complex debug and validation efforts
• Strong communication skills bridging customers, applications, and IC design teams
• Technical leadership and ownership mindset