Senior Staff Application Engineer - GaN, Automotive Application
Renesas Electronics Corporation
Company Description
Renesas is one of the top global semiconductor companies in the world. We strive to develop a safer, healthier, greener, and smarter world, and our goal is to make every endpoint intelligent by offering product solutions in the automotive, industrial, infrastructure and IoT markets. Our robust product portfolio includes world leading MCUs, SoCs, Analog and power products, plus Winning Combination solutions that curate these complementary products. We are a key supplier to the world’s leading manufacturers of electronics you rely on every day; you may not see our products, but they are all around you.
Renesas employs roughly 21,000 people in more than 30 countries worldwide. As a global team, our employees actively embody the Renesas Culture, our guiding principles based on five key elements: Transparent, Agile, Global, Innovative, and Entrepreneurial. Renesas believes in, and has a commitment to, diversity and inclusion, with initiatives and a leadership team dedicated to its resources and values. At Renesas, we want to build a sustainable future where technology helps make our lives easier. Join us and build your future by being part of what’s next in electronics and the world.
Job Description
Job Description:
We are looking for a highly skilled Senior Staff Application Engineer to lead technical innovation and customer enablement for high-voltage GaN (Gallium Nitride) solutions in automotive power electronics. This role focuses on driving product definition, developing advanced reference designs, and enabling next-generation AC-DC and DC-DC systems for electric vehicles (EV), onboard chargers, traction inverters, and energy storage systems. You will act as a technical authority, mentor engineers, and collaborate with OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers to accelerate GaN adoption in automotive platforms.
Key Responsibilities
- Product Definition & Technical Leadership
- Define new high-voltage GaN products for automotive applications, ensuring compliance with industry standards (AEC-Q, ISO 26262).
- Influence roadmap planning and lead cross-functional technical initiatives.
- Reference Design & Evaluation Platforms
- Architect and develop automotive-grade reference designs and evaluation boards for EV powertrain and charging systems.
- Ensure designs meet stringent requirements for efficiency, thermal performance, EMI, and functional safety.
- Customer Enablement & Expert Support
- Provide deep technical support to automotive customers, including design reviews, troubleshooting, and on-site visits.
- Conduct technical workshops and training sessions for OEMs and Tier-1 partners.
- Technical Documentation & Thought Leadership
- Create high-quality application notes, design guides, and white papers tailored to automotive use cases.
- Represent the company at automotive industry conferences and technical forums.
- Feedback Integration & Continuous Improvement
- Gather customer insights and relay feedback to influence product enhancements and future innovations.
- Mentorship & Collaboration
- Mentor junior engineers and contribute to technical excellence across teams.
- Work closely with Product Management, R&D, and Quality teams to ensure compliance and reliability.
Qualifications
- Education:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
- Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or Power Electronics preferred.
- Experience:
- 8+ years in power electronics design and application engineering, with significant exposure to automotive systems.
- Hands-on experience with AC-DC, DC-DC, and DC-AC converters for EV platforms, onboard chargers, and traction inverters.
- Technical Expertise:
- Strong fundamentals in power electronics and WBG (Wide Bandgap) device switching.
- Proficiency in schematic design and PCB layout (Altium preferred).
- Experience with simulation tools (PLECS, LTSpice, Simplis).
- Knowledge of magnetic component design (inductors, transformers).
- Preferred:
- Familiarity with automotive standards (AEC-Q100, ISO 26262) and EMI/EMC compliance.
- Firmware development experience for power electronics.
- Soft Skills:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for customer engagement.
- Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting capabilities.
Core Competencies
- Technical leadership and systems thinking
- Automotive compliance and safety awareness
- Customer-centric problem solving
- Mentorship and knowledge sharing
- Operational excellence and reliability engineering
Additional Information
Renesas is an embedded semiconductor solution provider driven by its Purpose ‘To Make Our Lives Easier.’ As the industry’s leading expert in embedded processing with unmatched quality and system-level know-how, we have evolved to provide scalable and comprehensive semiconductor solutions for automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT industries based on the broadest product portfolio, including High Performance Computing, Embedded Processing, Analog & Connectivity, and Power.
With a diverse team of over 21,000 professionals in more than 30 countries, we continue to expand our boundaries to offer enhanced user experiences through digitalization and usher into a new era of innovation. We design and develop sustainable, power-efficient solutions today that help people and communities thrive tomorrow, ‘To Make Our Lives Easier.’
At Renesas, you can:
- Launch and advance your career in technical and business roles across four Product Groups and various corporate functions. You will have the opportunities to explore our hardware and software capabilities and try new things.
- Make a real impact by developing innovative products and solutions to meet our global customers' evolving needs and help make people’s lives easier, safe and secure.
- Maximize your performance and wellbeing in our flexible and inclusive work environment. Our people-first culture and global support system, including the remote work option and Employee Resource Groups, will help you excel from the first day.
Are you ready to own your success and make your mark?
Join Renesas. Let’s Shape the Future together.
Renesas Electronics is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, committed to supporting diversity and fostering a work environment free of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military status, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. For more information, please read our Diversity & Inclusion Statement.
We have adopted a hybrid model that gives employees the ability to work remotely two days a week while ensuring that we come together as a team in the office the rest of the time. The designated in-office days are Tuesday through Thursday for innovation, collaboration and continuous learning.