Application Engineer Jobs in Santa Clara, CA
Application Engineer jobs in Santa Clara are concentrated in the Central Expressway corridor, the Lawrence Expressway tech parks, and the area around Santa Clara Square, with demand running deep across semiconductor, networking hardware, and enterprise software. Employers hiring right now include NVIDIA, Applied Materials, and Marvell Technology. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find Application Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 4 of 297+ Application Engineer jobs









Description
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
We are seeking an Application Engineer for our PV Engineering team. This role will be the primary owner of compatibility topics between PV and BOS (Eg, racking, tracker, inverter, MLPE, etc), as well as providing pre-sales and after-sales support to customers. The ideal candidate supports the North American market in all segments, Resi, CCI, & Utility. This position demands a deep understanding of PV technologies and experience in system simulations (Eg. Aurora, Pvsyst, etc).
This role will be based in Santa Clara, CA, requiring up to 20% travel.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Own PV application topics, including racking compatibility, inverter compatibility, module-level power electronics compatibility, code compliance
Be the internal and external contact person for expert advice, compatibility sign-off, and system design assistance on mechanical, structural, and electrical system design topics;
Pre-sales application engineering support to the internal teams and customers, including testing application cases, creating application notes, providing application guidance to customers, and assisting in closing sales deals
Have deep understanding in simulations tools (ex. Aurora, Pvsyst, etc) and work with simulation software companies to validate yield results
Ensure the successful introduction and implementation of PV products, including third-party qualifications, product listings, and product documentation.
Develop and manage customer relationships, providing timely and customer-centric actions for inquiries, complaints, and claims.
Influence design and product development to meet customer requirements, ensuring that product offerings are aligned with market demands.
Represent Qcells North America at trade shows and conferences.
Maintain a strong understanding of industry trends and emerging technologies, participating in technical meetings and industry events.
Contribute as an individual contributor for hands-on engineering tasks when necessary.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
A BS or MS/Ph.D. in Engineering or Physical Sciences (Electrical, Mechanical, Physics, etc.) with 2-3 years (or 1-2 years with MS/Ph.D.) of relevant experience in the PV solar or renewable energy industry.
In-depth knowledge of simulation software (ex. Aurora, PVsyst, etc.)
Strong expertise in PV, inverter, racking, and BOS compatibility for residential, C&I, and utility applications.
In-depth knowledge of reliability testing, certification, listing, codes, and standards for PV systems.
Hands-on experience in developing, applying, testing, and deploying PV products.
Proven success in technical sales engineering or sales support in a fast-paced technology environment.
Demonstrated ability to work with cross-functional teams and communicate effectively with both internal teams and customers.
Excellent business acumen, with the ability to align technical issues with business results.
Self-motivated with a proven track record of reliability, work ethic, and urgency.
Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to influence and build relationships with diverse stakeholdersA BS or MS/Ph.D. in Engineering or Physical Sciences (Electrical, Mechanical, Physics, etc.) with 4-6 years (or 2-3 years with MS/Ph.D.) of relevant experience in the PV solar or renewable energy industry.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Previous experience working in PV manufacturing, R&D, engineering, or applications.
Experience in managing or influencing customer-facing sales engineering processes.
Familiarity with the renewable energy market and technologies.
COMPENSATION:
In accordance with applicable pay transparency laws, the anticipated annual base salary for this position is:
Zone 1 (Bay Area, NYC): $117,600 – $139,000
Zone 2 (CA, NJ, NY): $107,800 – $127,400
Zone 3 (All others): $98,000 – $115,800
The applicable salary range is based on the employee’s primary work location. Individual compensation will be determined based on qualifications, relevant experience, education, skills, internal equity, and other business-related factors.
Hanwha Q CELLS America Inc. (“HQCA”) is a Qcells company, one of the world’s largest manufacturers and providers of solar photovoltaic (PV) products and solutions. Headquartered in Irvine, California, HQCA has been rapidly expanding its business in North America through the expansion of products and solutions, including distributed energy solutions, direct-to-homeowner solar sales and financing, and EPC services. We provide an opportunity to be part of an exciting and growing world-class global business in an interesting and expanding industry of the future.
This position requires the ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. Periodic travel and site visits may be required.
The salary range is required by the California Pay Transparency Act and may differ depending on the location of those candidates hired nationwide. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to, skill set, education, licenses and certifications, essential job duties and requirements, and the necessary experience relative to the job’s minimum qualifications.
- This target salary range is for CA positions only and should not be interpreted as an offer of compensation.
See All 297+ Application Engineer Jobs in Santa Clara
Find roles in Santa Clara that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Application Engineer JobsApplication Engineer Job Market in Santa Clara
Who's Hiring
- NVIDIA46

- Applied Materials28

- Marvell Technology28

- Siemens19

- ServiceNow19

Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware37
- Technology & Software28
- Energy9
- Manufacturing9
- Telecommunications9
Application Engineer Jobs in Santa Clara: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a application engineer job in Santa Clara?
The strongest path in Santa Clara runs through semiconductor and networking hardware employers, which cluster along the Central Expressway corridor and around the Great America Parkway tech parks. Candidates with hands-on experience in silicon validation, FPGA development, or customer-facing technical support stand out most in this market. Tailoring your resume to product-specific toolchains and showing any field application or lab experience gives you a concrete edge over generalist applicants.
Which companies hire application engineers in Santa Clara?
Santa Clara application engineer roles are posted by NVIDIA, Applied Materials, and Marvell Technology and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Santa Clara's employer base skews heavily toward chip makers, networking equipment vendors, and enterprise infrastructure companies, which together account for a large share of local openings.
Are there remote application engineer jobs in Santa Clara?
Yes, though availability depends on the role: desk-based and pre-sales application engineering can be done remotely, while lab validation and on-site customer support roles require physical presence. About 73% of application engineer openings tied to Santa Clara are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with the remote share concentrated in software-defined and cloud infrastructure teams rather than hardware-facing positions.
How can I get a application engineer job in Santa Clara with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Santa Clara is through associate field application engineer or applications support roles at mid-size semiconductor and networking companies, which regularly hire recent engineering graduates for structured onboarding programs. Internships at Santa Clara-based hardware or EDA firms convert to full-time roles frequently. Showing lab coursework, a senior design project, or hands-on experience with industry-standard tools like MATLAB, Cadence, or Vivado makes a meaningful difference in a market where practical skills are evaluated early.
Which industries hire the most application engineers in Santa Clara?
The sectors hiring the most application engineers in Santa Clara are Electronics & Hardware, Technology & Software, and Energy, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Santa Clara's position as a global headquarters hub for chip design, networking equipment, and enterprise software means those industries sustain deep and ongoing demand for application engineers across both pre-sales and post-sales functions.
Related Jobs in California
See All 297+ Application Engineer Jobs in Santa Clara
Find roles in Santa Clara that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Application Engineer Jobs