Applications Engineer - Principal

Synopsys • USA Off-Site, PA

9d • $160,000 - $240,000 • Remote

About The Position

Synopsys is hiring a Principal-level Applications Engineer to lead customer-facing consulting engagements involving structural mechanics, finite element analysis, and engineering simulation workflows. The role bridges Synopsys simulation technology and customer success, helping engineering teams diagnose workflow and modeling challenges, adopt best practices, and develop future-state processes using Synopsys tools. The engineer will work with Sales during technical evaluations and collaborate with customer stakeholders, Product Management, and R&D. The position also includes mentoring junior applications engineers and creating reusable methodologies and enablement materials.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• 10 or more years of hands-on experience in engineering simulation, workflow optimization, or technical consulting, working directly with customers or internal engineering teams.
• Deep expertise in nonlinear solids, structural mechanics, structural dynamics, finite element analysis, and related numerical methods, including troubleshooting complex modeling and convergence issues.
• Production experience with finite element analysis tools such as Ansys Mechanical, Ansys LS-Dyna, Abaqus, or NASTRAN, including modeling, analysis setup, and results interpretation.
• Proven ability to build Python-based workflow automation using product APIs and general Python libraries.
• Strong executive communication skills, including presenting technical concepts, business cases, and strategic recommendations to engineering teams and C-level stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% for customer engagements, workshops, on-site consulting, and occasional conferences or training events.

Nice To Haves

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Physics, or a related discipline.
• Experience with multi-physics simulation workflows, design variation studies, and optimization.
• Background applying AI/ML techniques in engineering design and simulation contexts.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Sales during pre-sales technical evaluations to scope consulting engagements, demonstrate capabilities, and explain value to customer stakeholders.
• Lead technical engagements to diagnose workflow bottlenecks, establish best practices, and design future-state simulation processes using Synopsys tools.
• Troubleshoot complex multi-physics simulation issues in customer production environments, including modeling, convergence, and performance problems.
• Build Python-based automation using product APIs and general libraries to accelerate workflows, enable design variation studies, and reduce time-to-insight.
• Collaborate with Product Management and R&D to turn customer feedback, technical gaps, and emerging use cases into product requirements and roadmap priorities.
• Develop trusted relationships with customer engineering leaders and executives, bridging hands-on engineering work and business decisions.
• Mentor junior applications engineers by reviewing technical work and coaching them on customer engagements and simulation expertise.
• Create repeatable methodologies, frameworks, and enablement materials for the applications engineering organization.
• Deliver workshops, knowledge transfer, and consulting engagements that build customer capability and demonstrate technical and business value.

Benefits

• Annual bonus eligibility.
• Equity eligibility.
• Other discretionary bonuses may be available.
• Comprehensive health, wellness, and financial benefits as part of a competitive total rewards package.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal