Job Description
Data Center Market Focus
Location: Bristol, UK (Hybrid - Office: Mon-Thurs, Fridays Flexible)
Travel: 35% or less
Revenue Responsibility: $100M+ Design Win Portfolio across Nvidia and other EMEA optical customers
THE OPPORTUNITY
Semtech is a global leader in high-performance analog ICs for high-speed optical and copper interconnect. As AI workloads drive exponential bandwidth growth toward 1.6T infrastructure, interconnect is becoming the major limiting factor in data center scaling, creating an unprecedented market opportunity at the intersection of technical innovation and commercial impact.
This Principal Field Application Engineer represents a pivotal strategic hire, a technical strategist and commercial catalyst positioned to drive $100M+ in design-win revenue and establish market dominance across hyperscaler data centers.
The dual mandate is clear: secure immediate design wins with Semtech's current portfolio of high-speed analog ICs for optical and copper connectivity in AI networks, while simultaneously leading long-term customer co-development initiatives that will define our competitive position in next-generation 1.6T and 3.2T connectivity.
The role also extends technical scope to support key regional accounts in PON and Mobile Transport. These engagements draw on the same underlying product families and technical skill set, high-speed analog/mixed-signal ICs, signal integrity, and optical/electrical characterisation, making this a natural extension of the core mandate.
Success requires becoming a trusted technical advisor whom Tier 1 hyperscaler customers welcome into their most confidential labs, not as a vendor, but as an extension of their design teams. You'll leverage consultative discovery to uncover the situational factors, business consequences, and decision criteria that drive customer choices.
Your technical credibility will open doors; your strategic approach will close deals. Your voice will directly influence Semtech's product roadmaps, serving as strategic advisor to VPs in sales and product lines, co-creating breakthroughs that establish Semtech as the indispensable partner for the future of data center connectivity.
This role is for someone who thrives where breakthrough technology meets strategic business impact, someone ready to shape the future of an industry being transformed by AI.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Customer Co-Development & Innovation
Drive design wins for Semtech's portfolio of high-speed drivers, TIAs, copper redrivers, and other products, working closely with engineering teams from key data center customers.
Accelerate customer design-in cycles, proactively removing technical barriers to secure immediate revenue opportunities
Lead co-development initiatives for next-generation technologies (1.6T, 3.2T+) with customer engineering teams, defining the future of data center connectivity
Create joint innovation programs and proof-of-concept projects with Tier 1 hyperscaler providers that establish Semtech as their strategic technology partner
Align Semtech product roadmap with customer technology evolution plans, ensuring our solutions arrive precisely when markets mature
PON & Mobile Transport Account Support
Provide technical and pre/post-sales support to key European PON and Mobile Transport accounts
Apply signal integrity, high-speed analog, and characterisation expertise across product lines
Support design-in activities, technical evaluations, and troubleshooting for these accounts as required
Balance and prioritise time across data center and PON/Mobile Transport engagements in line with regional business needs
Technical Excellence & Customer Support
Lead technical evaluations and drive technical differentiation in competitive situations
Provide comprehensive pre-sales and post-sales customer support for strategic design-ins
Troubleshoot and debug complex technical issues with a relentless commitment to solving problems
Guide customers on hardware design, PCB layout, signal integrity optimisation, firmware integration, and system validation
Support customer qualification processes with equipment manufacturers, network operators, and cloud service providers
Create application notes, white papers, and design guides establishing thought leadership
Cross-Functional Strategic Influence
Influence product management and R&D priorities based on customer insights and market intelligence
Serve as strategic technical advisor to VPs in sales and product lines, bridging the gap between customer needs and product strategy
Partner with engineering teams to ensure customer co-development projects receive appropriate resources and priority
Drive internal alignment across product management, engineering, marketing, sales, and operations
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education & Experience
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related technical field (Master's or Ph.D. preferred)
5+ years of proven AE/FAE experience, demonstrating expert-level t
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