Applications Engineering, Principal Engineer
Synopsys Inc · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $160,000 / year
- United States
Tailored resume — keyword-matched to this role.
Hiring manager — we find who's hiring.
Intro email — drafted to reach them directly.
Job highlights
- Lead development of advanced lithography solutions.
- Prototype and deploy ML features with R&D.
- Resolve complex customer semiconductor issues.
- Accelerate GPU computational lithography performance.
- Shape product roadmap with customer insights.
About the role
About Synopsys
Synopsys is the leader in engineering solutions from silicon to systems, enabling customers to rapidly innovate AI-powered products. We deliver industry-leading silicon design, IP, simulation and analysis solutions, and design services. We partner closely with our customers across a wide range of industries to maximize their R&D capability and productivity, powering innovation today that ignites the ingenuity of tomorrow.About You
You have spent years deep in computational lithography, and you know that the real work starts after the algorithm is written. Getting a leading-edge semiconductor manufacturer to trust a new OPC flow or adopt a machine learning feature means understanding their process, their constraints, and the three things they are not telling you in the first meeting. You move easily between customer sites, R&D engineering reviews, and your own prototyping work without losing context. You are the engineer who gets called when a customer issue is too complex for standard support, not because you know everything, but because you ask the right questions and do not stop until the root cause is clear. You have debugged production flows at 2 am and turned those lessons into specifications that R&D can actually build from. Python and C++ are tools you use daily, not skills you list aspirationally. Working across time zones and shifting priorities does not rattle you. You know how to prioritize, when to escalate, and how to explain a technical tradeoff to a customer engineer in terms that land. At Synopsys, you will work on Proteus OPC, MEC, and RET solutions that define how the semiconductor industry manufactures chips at the edge of physics.What You'll Be Doing
- Partner directly with leading-edge semiconductor customers and internal R&D to develop, prototype, and deploy new OPC, MEC, and RET features including machine learning-based solutions.
- Create and review functional specifications for new capabilities, translating customer requirements and manufacturing constraints into buildable features.
- Prototype computational lithography solutions in Python and C++, then collaborate with R&D to move them from proof of concept to production release.
- Resolve complex customer issues that escalate beyond field support, working with FAEs to debug production flows and deliver root cause analysis.
- Develop and accelerate GPU-based computational lithography solutions to meet performance and scalability requirements.
- Build training materials and deliver technical training to applications engineers and customer teams on Proteus toolsets.
- Collaborate with technical publications to ensure product documentation reflects real-world usage and customer workflows.
The Impact You Will Have
- Enable leading-edge semiconductor manufacturers to adopt next-generation lithography techniques that directly affect yield and time to market.
- Accelerate the productization of machine learning-based computational lithography features by bridging the gap between research and deployable solutions.
- Reduce customer escalation cycles by solving the hardest technical problems before they become blockers in production.
- Improve field team effectiveness by creating training and documentation that reflects how customers actually use the tools.
- Drive GPU adoption in computational lithography workflows, unlocking performance gains that change what customers can simulate in acceptable timeframes.
- Shape the Proteus product roadmap by translating real customer pain points into specifications that R&D can prioritize and build.
- Strengthen customer relationships by being the engineer they trust when the stakes are highest.
What You'll Need
- Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or related field.
- 10+ years of hands-on experience in semiconductor manufacturing or computational lithography, working with OPC, RET, or related resolution enhancement techniques.
- Strong proficiency in Python and C++ for prototyping, automation, and performance-critical work.
- Experience with HPC technologies and parallel computing environments used in semiconductor workflows.
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and debug complex production issues in customer environments, not just lab settings.
- Experience working directly with customers or cross-functional teams in a technical capacity is a strong plus.
- Familiarity with GPU computing or machine learning applied to physical design problems is a plus.
Who You Are
- You can walk into a customer meeting with incomplete information, ask the right questions, and leave with a clear action plan that both sides trust.
- You switch contexts quickly without losing quality, moving from a customer debug session to an R&D design review to your own prototyping work in the same day.
- You explain complex technical tradeoffs clearly, whether you are talking to a process engineer at a fab or a software architect in R&D.
- You are self-directed and do not wait for perfect alignment to start solving a problem, but you know when to pull in help or escalate.
- You build things that work in production, not just demos, and you take ownership of the gap between prototype and deployment.
- You present technical content confidently to varied audiences, from hands-on engineers to technical leadership.
The Team You'll Be Part Of
Your recruiter will share more about the team structure and mission during the interview process.Rewards and Benefits
We offer a comprehensive range of health, wellness, and financial benefits to cater to your needs. Our total rewards include both monetary and non-monetary offerings. Your recruiter will provide more details about the salary range and benefits during the hiring process.Key skills/competency
- Principal Applications Engineer
- Computational Lithography
- OPC
- MEC
- RET Solutions
- Machine Learning
- Python
- C++
- Semiconductor Manufacturing
- GPU Computing
Skills & topics
- Applications Engineer
- Principal Engineer
- Computational Lithography
- OPC
- MEC
- RET
- Semiconductor
- Python
- C++
- Machine Learning
- GPU Computing
- HPC
- Customer Support
- R&D
- Synopsys
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your computational lithography, Python, C++, and customer-facing experience.
- Showcase problem-solving: Provide examples of debugging complex production issues and driving solutions.
- Emphasize collaboration: Detail your experience working with R&D, FAEs, and customer teams.
- Quantify impact: Use numbers to demonstrate your contributions to yield, time to market, or performance gains.
- Prepare for technical interviews: Be ready to discuss your experience with OPC, MEC, RET, and ML.
Technical preparation
Master computational lithography principles (OPC, MEC, RET).,Practice Python/C++ for prototyping and performance.,Familiarize with HPC and parallel computing.,Study GPU computing and ML for physical design.
Behavioral questions
Describe a complex customer issue you resolved.,How do you handle shifting priorities and time zones?,Explain a technical tradeoff to a non-technical person.,Give an example of taking ownership of a problem.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the typical career path for a Principal Applications Engineer at Synopsys?
- As a Principal Applications Engineer at Synopsys, your career path could involve deepening your expertise in computational lithography, leading more complex customer engagements, mentoring junior engineers, or potentially transitioning into R&D or technical management roles. Your journey will be shaped by your impact and contributions to our leading-edge solutions and customer success.
- What specific computational lithography challenges will I be solving at Synopsys?
- You will be at the forefront of solving challenges related to advanced Optical Proximity Correction (OPC), Model-Based Mask Data Preparation (MEC), and Resolution Enhancement Techniques (RET). This includes developing and deploying new features, particularly those leveraging machine learning, to improve chip manufacturing yield and accelerate time to market for leading-edge semiconductor manufacturers.
- How does Synopsys utilize machine learning in its applications engineering roles?
- Synopsys is actively integrating machine learning into its computational lithography solutions. As a Principal Applications Engineer, you will be instrumental in developing, prototyping, and deploying these ML-based features, bridging the gap between research and production-ready tools that enhance semiconductor manufacturing processes.
- What is the expected level of customer interaction for this Principal Applications Engineer role?
- This role involves significant direct interaction with leading-edge semiconductor customers. You will partner with them to understand their processes, troubleshoot complex issues, and deploy new features, acting as a trusted technical advisor and a key liaison between customers and Synopsys R&D.
- What kind of technical skills are most critical for success in this Principal Applications Engineer position at Synopsys?
- Critical technical skills include deep expertise in computational lithography (OPC, MEC, RET), strong proficiency in Python and C++ for prototyping and performance optimization, experience with High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments, and the ability to debug complex production issues. Familiarity with GPU computing and machine learning is also highly valuable.
- Does Synopsys support continuous learning and professional development for its engineers?
- Synopsys is committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning. We encourage our engineers to stay at the cutting edge of technology through internal training, access to advanced tools and resources, and opportunities to work on challenging, industry-defining problems. Your growth as a Principal Applications Engineer is a priority.