DSP Specialist FAE (Field Applications Engineer) – West Region

Job Details:

Job 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:

Minimum 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)

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related Electrical/Electronic degree

• Post Bachelor’s degree

• 5+ years of experience with Image Processing / Communications / Radar / EW applications

• 5+ years of experience with MATLAB/Simulink or other DSP-centric design flows and tools

• 5+ years or experience as FAE or technical sales, applications, technical marketing

Job Type:

Regular

Shift:

Shift 1 (United States of America)

Primary Location:

Sacramento, California, United States (Remote)

Additional Locations:

Posting Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance.