Principal Product Definition Engineer

JOB SUMMARY

Semtech is a leading supplier of high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors powering high-speed optical interconnects for hyperscale and AI data center networks, enterprise networking, wireless infrastructure, and passive optical access networks. The successful product definition engineer has deep technical credibility both inside and outside of Semtech, as well as good analytical and communication skills; and plays a critical leadership role as an interface between product marketing and engineering teams, defining technical requirements, performance targets, and features for our next-generation IC products.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• (40%) Product Definition for Next-generation High-Speed IC Products

Interface with customers and component partners to understand system and interconnect technical requirements, and distill these down to IC-level specs, in the form of detailed product requirements documents. Collaborate with analog, digital, and mechanical engineering teams and product management to work through design tradeoffs and feasibility analysis. Refine and iterate with engineering to improve designs and optimize requirements throughout the development and NPI process based on measured data, simulations, and customer feedback. Perform optical link analysis and simulation to support requirements definition and inform key parameter targets and tradeoffs

• (25%) Optical Component and System Ecosystem Engagement

Drive Semtech’s technical engagement with the broader optical component and system equipment vendor ecosystem. Build and maintain strategic relationships with PIC vendors, laser and photodiode suppliers, host silicon providers to ensure technical compatibility, interoperability, and roadmap alignment.Work with optical module and system architects, platform SI engineers, and other key network hardware partners to align on requirements and roadmap.

• (15%) Customer Technical Evangelism

Engage directly with customer engineers and end users as a subject matter expert to communicate key aspects of Semtech technology, product performance, and technical value proposition, and compare notes on industry technical direction.

• (15%) Industry Standards and MSA Engagement

Lead Semtech’s active participation in the industry standards bodies that define the next generation of high-speed interconnect applications. Work with product definition peers and applications engineering teams to drive technical contributions to optical and electrical standards, MSA groups, and related forums to influence specification direction, build external credibility with peer companies, and translate standards activity into actionable product roadmap and NPI guidance.

• (5%) Represent Semtech at Conferences & Customer Events

Engage with key strategic customers and ecosystem partners at major industry conferences (DesignCon, OFC, CIOE, ECOC, OCP, and/or similar), and give technical papers or presentations as appropriate to promote Semtech technology and market position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, or other relevant field
• 8+ years of progressive hands-on technical experience in relevant engineering disciplines including high-speed analog and mixed signal circuit design and validation, optical components and transceivers, and/or physical layer networking.

• Deep expertise in signal integrity, signal equalization techniques, optical link budgets, and analog/mixed-signal system requirements for high-speed broadband communications applications, including both direct-detect and coherent optical transmission. Appreciation of IC layout concepts, device models, and the effects of parasitics and other non-idealities on high-speed circuit performance.

• Experience engaging with optical component vendors (PIC, photodiode, or module suppliers) in a design, system-level integration, co-development, and/or ecosystem partnership capacity.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills; able to engage credibly with IC design engineers, customer technical teams, and industry peers. Good judgment when communicating externally with customers
• Team player able to work smoothly across functional teams, build trust, credibility and influence with key internal stakeholders, and work collaboratively to achieve goals without needing direct positional authority to do it. Able and willing to provide help and support outside of direct area of responsibility as needed
• Comfortable working across global time zones; experience collaborating cross-functionally in a global team environment.
• Self-starter able to operate in a dynamic, sometimes ambiguous environment, make key decisions based on partial data when needed, and manage risks and unknowns

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree (MSc, MEng, PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, or a related discipline
• Direct prior experience in analog and mixed signal circuit design and IC development for high-speed communications systems
• Direct prior experience designing and developing active optical components (lasers, PICs, PDs), optical transceivers, and/or high-speed networking systems (switches, routers, NICs, etc.). Experience with coherent optical component, transceiver, and/or system development highly desired.
• Understanding of linear and non-linear channel simulation techniques; experience with circuit and system modeling software such as ADS, HFSS, and Matlab
• Demonstrated participation in industry standards activities (IEEE 802.3, OIF, MSA groups, or equivalent)
• Understanding of circuit fundamentals of key analog building blocks such as bias circuits, opamps, analog filters, CML logic, ADC and DACs using CMOS and/or BiCMOS technologies, and knowledge of more advanced circuits such as VCOs and closed-loop systems such as PLLs and clock and data recovery circuits
• Experience with semiconductor and optical packaging technologies, and manufacturing assembly and fabrication processes for ICs, PCBs, optical transceivers, and/or high-speed copper cables
• Hands-on experience with lab equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, optical power meters, sampling and real-time oscilloscopes, etc.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

This role is expected to include a minimum of once-per-quarter travel, with frequency varying based on business priorities. Travel may include customer visits, industry tradeshows and conferences (DesignCon, OFC, CIOE, ECOC, OCP, and similar), and visits to Semtech sites across the US, Canada, and UK. Candidates should be comfortable with both domestic and international travel.