[Hiring] DSP Specialist Field Applications Engineer @Altera

Role Description

The DSP Specialist Field Applications Engineer (FAE) serves as a critical technical bridge between customers, sales teams, and engineering. This role focuses on driving adoption and successful deployment of DSP-based solutions in Altera FPGAs by providing deep technical expertise, application guidance, and hands-on support throughout the customer design cycle. In addition, the DSP Specialist FAE plays a key role in advancing DirectRF strategic opportunities, ensuring effective qualification, prioritization, and execution of high-value DSP engagements.

Key Responsibilities

• Customer Engagement & Technical Leadership
  • Serve as the technical interface for customers evaluating or implementing DSP solutions in Altera FPGAs.
  • Provide architecture guidance, system-level design recommendations, and performance optimization strategies.
  • Lead technical discussions and solution positioning with engineering teams and decision-makers.
• Pre-Sales & Design-In Support
  • Collaborate with Sales and FSEs to identify, qualify, and drive DSP-related opportunities.
  • Demo, present, and position DSP architectures using IP and tools such as DSP Builder (via MATLAB/Simulink).
  • Support customers through the full design cycle—from concept to production.
• DSP Expertise & Solution Development
  • Provide deep expertise in digital signal processing concepts (e.g., filtering, channelization, beamforming, RF/DSP chains).
  • Debug and resolve complex system and application-level issues.
  • Develop reusable architectures, demonstrations, and design collateral to scale DSP engagement efficiency.
• DirectRF Support
  • Partner with Altera’s Aerospace, Defense and Government (ADG) group to support DirectRF opportunities, while also helping define future products.
  • Partner with Sales and Distribution to identify and support DirectRF-eligible opportunities across assigned accounts and distribution partners.
  • Identify and define appropriate RF+DSP architectures to support customer requirements.
• Collaboration & Enablement
  • Work closely with product marketing, engineering, and internal FAEs to align on strategy and execution.
  • Deliver internal and customer-facing training on DSP solutions, tools, and design methodologies.
  • Contribute to application notes, reference designs, and solution documentation.
  • Provide input to the Altera factory, based on customer engagements, to help guide future product architecture decisions.
• Business Impact & Opportunity Ownership
  • Support high-value opportunities and strategic accounts with measurable revenue impact.
  • Provide technical input into opportunity qualification, prioritization, and resource allocation.
  • Contribute to tracking design wins, pipeline progression, and program success metrics.
• Soft Skills
  • Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to simplify complex technical concepts – including presenting at industry forums.
  • Customer-focused mindset with strong problem-solving ability.
  • Ability to operate cross-functionally in a fast-paced, high-impact environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of FPGA digital design experience (FPGA development tools ex. Quartus, Vivado, etc).
• 10+ years of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) experience (concepts and applications).
• Experience with high-level FPGA algorithm development tools (DSP Builder, System Generator, OneAPI).
• Proficiency with tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or C/C++.
• Familiarity with RF systems, communications, or signal chain design (preferred).
• Willing to travel (this position requires travel).
• Bachelor’s degree in STEM-related field (science, technology, engineering, mathematics).

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related Electrical/Electronic degree (preferred).
• Post Bachelor’s degree (preferred).
• 5+ years of experience with Image Processing / Communications / Radar / EW applications (preferred).
• 5+ years of experience with MATLAB/Simulink or other DSP-centric design flows and tools (preferred).
• 5+ years of experience as FAE or technical sales, applications, technical marketing (preferred).

Benefits

• Salary range: $159.1K - $230.4K USD (Bay Area California only).
• Incentive opportunities based on individual and company performance.