Innovation Engineer

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. seeks an Innovation Engineer – Market Development in San Jose, California. This role focuses on driving application-driven growth for optoelectronic products through collaboration with engineering teams, developing scalable demo platforms, and translating emerging opportunities into successful designs. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Electrical Engineering, experience with microcontrollers, and a strong understanding of optoelectronic components. Join a proactive and innovative team in a role that offers hands-on technical engagement and strategic market development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Strong understanding of optoelectronic components and system integration.
• Experience with microcontroller programming and I²C communication.
• Hands-on lab experience with system debugging and prototype validation.
• Ability to work independently and drive application ideas proactively.

Responsibilities

• Develop scalable system concepts for emerging optoelectronic applications.
• Collaborate with customer engineering teams to integrate OPTO products.
• Prototype and validate OPTO sensors and isolators.
• Define vertical focus areas and build customer penetration plans.
• Deliver technical and sales trainings, develop demo platforms.

Skills

Hands-on lab experience

Microcontroller programming

I²C communication

Optoelectronic components integration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Job description

Innovation Engineer – Market Development (Optoelectronics)

About The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated Innovation Engineer – Market Development to drive application‑driven growth for our Optoelectronics portfolio (Sensors and Isolators) in North America.

This role combines hands‑on engineering, system‑level thinking, and strategic market development.

You will work directly with customer engineering teams, develop scalable demo platforms, and translate emerging application opportunities into successful design‑ins across key verticals.

This is not a purely reactive support role. It is a proactive growth position focused on building the next generation of optoelectronic applications.

Key Responsibilities

Application Innovation

Develop scalable system concepts in robotics, wearables, smart glasses, LiDAR, ADAS, HMI, IoT/Smart Home, lighting, and other emerging optoelectronic applications.

Customer Design‑In Development

Collaborate directly with customer engineering teams to integrate OPTO products into system designs and drive successful design‑ins, addressing power consumption, optical path, mechanical constraints, and validation requirements.

Technical Support & Development

Prototype and validate OPTO sensors (ALS, proximity, RGB, photodiodes, IR emitters) and OPTO isolators (optocouplers, SSRs, MOSFET drivers, TRIACs). Program microcontrollers, implement I²C communication, perform system‑level debugging, and support customer design and qualification activities.

Strategic Market Development

Define vertical focus areas, build customer penetration plans, conduct application growth analysis, and collaborate regularly with teams in Europe and Asia to scale successful concepts globally.

Technical Engagement

Deliver technical and sales trainings, develop demo platforms and white papers, and create enablement materials for Sales, FAEs, distribution partners, and global teams.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
• Strong understanding of optoelectronic components and system integration
• Experience with microcontroller programming and I²C communication
• Hands‑on lab experience with system debugging and prototype validation
• Ability to work independently and drive application ideas proactively

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in robotics, automotive (ADAS), wearable devices, IoT/Smart Home, or sensor‑based systems or Power Electronics
• Familiarity with optical path design, power optimization, and system validation setups
• Experience working in global, cross‑functional teams

What We’re Looking For

• A proactive, creative engineer who enjoys building and validating new concepts
• Someone comfortable working directly with customer engineering teams
• A technically strong professional who can translate system requirements into practical solutions
• A self‑driven individual who thrives in an international, collaborative environment