Principal Engineer - Applications (Precision Signal Chain, Data Converters / Linear)

Microchip Technology Inc.•Austin, TX

About The Position

The Principal Applications Engineer helps define the next generation of Microchip’s precision analog and mixed-signal products across the complete precision signal chain, including op amps, comparators, voltage references, current-sense amplifiers, ADCs, DACs, and digital potentiometers. The role drives device specifications, works with design engineering on architecture trade-offs, and brings a system-level customer perspective to products with long lifecycles. The initial focus will depend on the candidate’s background and will be either ADCs, primarily SAR, or linear products such as op amps, comparators, voltage references, and current-sense amplifiers, with opportunities to broaden across the signal chain and take on product-family ownership. The position works closely with product marketing, architecture, design engineering, product engineering, validation, and test throughout new-product development. It also supports sustaining and lifecycle activities for assigned devices. Responsibilities include defining products, evaluating new silicon in application settings, enabling complete signal-chain solutions, developing technical collateral, resolving customer issues, delivering training, and guiding junior applications engineers.

Requirements

BSEE, MSEE, or PhD and 10+ years of experience in analog/mixed-signal applications, design, validation, or systems engineering.
Deep hands-on expertise in at least one of precision linear/analog products or data converters.
For precision linear/analog expertise: knowledge of op amps, comparators, voltage references, or current-sense amplifiers, including stability and compensation, noise, offset and drift, input/output stage trade-offs, and capacitive-load behavior.
For data-converter expertise: knowledge of SAR and/or delta-sigma ADCs or DACs, including input drive and settling, reference design, anti-aliasing, and converter metrics such as INL/DNL, ENOB, SNR/SFDR, and THD.
Working knowledge of the other area as it applies to precision signal-chain design, including how amplifier and reference choices affect converter performance.
Experience contributing to product requirements or device definition.
Solid bench evaluation and debug skills using standard lab instrumentation, plus experience with PCB design and hardware bring-up.
Proficiency with SPICE simulation and tools for circuit analysis and design verification.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical documentation such as datasheets and application notes.
Ability to manage multiple projects, work independently, and collaborate across teams.

Nice To Haves

Depth in both linear/analog and data converters.
Embedded programming for MCU-based device evaluation over standard serial interfaces such as SPI, QSPI, I2C, or I3C.
Data analysis or lab automation experience using Python or MATLAB.
Analog mixed-mode simulation (AMS), behavioral modeling, or SPICE macromodel development.
Direct technical engagement with customers, including design-in support, requirements discovery, or training.
Published application notes or articles, or experience delivering technical workshops.
Domain knowledge in an end market such as industrial, energy metering, medical, or automotive.

Responsibilities

Author and maintain device specifications for assigned new products and derivatives, driving them through defined milestones and capturing product goals, key features, specifications, and application requirements.
Translate customer needs, market input, and application use cases into clear requirements and key specification parameters, including non-negotiable specifications.
Work with design engineering during early specification phases to evaluate architecture trade-offs and refine block-level definitions.
Perform hands-on application-level evaluation of new silicon in real-world use cases and reference circuits from the customer’s perspective, and provide findings to design, validation, and product teams ahead of release.
Design, review, and bring up reference and evaluation hardware, focusing on complete signal-chain solutions such as sensor front ends, amplification, references, and conversion.
Develop application collateral, including application notes, design guides, reference designs, and evaluation board documentation.
Support simulation-model releases, including SPICE macromodels and behavioral models, for accuracy in application use.
Write and review datasheets and specification-derived collateral for technical accuracy and consistency ahead of product release.
Resolve complex, escalated design issues with customers and field applications teams.
Deliver technical training on product operation and system-level signal-chain design.
Provide technical guidance to junior applications engineers.
Support sustaining and lifecycle activities for assigned devices.