Principal Systems Engineer

San Jose, CA 95131

Employment Type: Permanent Job Category: Other Professional Job Number: 54177477 Compensation: $150000-200000 / year

Job Description

Title: Principal Systems Engineer 
Compensation: $180,000–$205,000 base salary + 15% annual bonus 
Reports to: Director of Global Applications Engineering

Overview 
We are seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to join our Power Electronics Division. This is a senior, customer-facing, pre-sales focused role for a highly experienced power electronics technologist. The position serves as a trusted technical advisor to some of the world’s most advanced technology companies, partnering closely with customers and internal engineering teams to shape next-generation power system solutions.

This role is highly conceptual and systems-oriented. There is no lab or hands-on testing component. Success in this position requires deep expertise in DC-DC converters and power systems, strong customer communication skills, and the ability to translate complex technical requirements into innovative, scalable architectures.

Key Responsibilities 
  • Act as a senior technical authority supporting pre-sales and customer engagements across major West Coast accounts 
  • Partner closely with leading customers to understand system-level requirements and propose advanced power solutions 
  • Serve as a technical bridge between customers, applications engineering, product management, and design engineering teams 
  • Lead system-level architecture discussions involving DC-DC converters and custom power solutions 
  • Support strategic accounts, including hyperscale and advanced technology customers 
  • Influence product direction by providing customer-driven technical insights to internal stakeholders 
  • Deliver high-impact technical presentations, solution reviews, and executive-level discussions 
  • Travel regularly to customer sites along the West Coast, primarily in San Jose/Milpitas and Seattle
Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline (Master’s degree preferred) 
  • In-depth knowledge of DC-DC converters and power electronics systems (Subject Matter Expert) 
  • Background in applications engineering, field applications engineering, or systems engineering 
  • Proven experience in customer-facing, pre-sales, or technical advisory roles 
  • Strong system-level thinking with the ability to evaluate tradeoffs and design custom solutions 
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage both deeply technical teams and senior customer stakeholders 
  • Experience supporting large, sophisticated customers in data center, cloud, or advanced computing environments

Meet Your Recruiter

Max Francis
Technical Recruiter

Max Francis is a seasoned Engineering Recruiter specializing in the Automation Division at Sterling. With five years of invaluable experience in recruitment, Max is on a mission to help individuals find their perfect career move—one that aligns with their professional goals and supports their families.

As an Engineering Recruiter, Max excels in the Automation Division, leveraging his deep industry knowledge to connect candidates with opportunities tailor-made for their unique skill sets and aspirations. He understands that finding the right career move is a pivotal moment in people's lives, and he thrives on being a part of that journey.

What Max finds most exciting and rewarding about his work is the opportunity to guide individuals to their ideal career fit. He recognizes that this transition is an exhilarating time for most people, and he derives immense satisfaction from helping them navigate the path toward their next professional adventure.

Max's advice to job seekers is grounded in the value of connections. He believes that having a well-connected recruiter within the industry you aspire to be in can open doors to companies and positions that may not be readily available on job boards. In today's competitive job market, he encourages candidates to connect with a recruiter early in their job search journey. While he advocates for candidates to continue their independent job searches, he emphasizes the benefit of having an additional set of experienced eyes on the market.

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About San Jose, CA

Explore exciting job opportunities around San Jose, California! Known as the heart of Silicon Valley, this vibrant city offers a dynamic career landscape with countless growth prospects in tech, engineering, and beyond. San Jose boasts a thriving arts scene, with landmarks like the Tech Museum of Innovation and the San Jose Museum of Art, as well as fantastic dining options that range from trendy cafes to authentic taquerias. With its proximity to beautiful parks like Alum Rock Park and numerous entertainment options, including performances at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts and cheering for the San Jose Sharks hockey team at the SAP Center, there's no shortage of reasons to kick-start your career in this enchanting city. Discover your next big opportunity in San Jose today!