About this opportunity
Synopsys lists this Applications Engineering, Staff Engineer opportunity in mountain view, California. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
We Are
Synopsys is the leader in engineering solutions from silicon to systems, enabling customers to rapidly innovate AI-powered products. We deliver industry-leading silicon design, IP, simulation and analysis solutions, and design services. We partner closely with our customers across a wide range of industries to maximize their R&D capability and productivity, powering innovation today that ignites the ingenuity of tomorrow.
This position can be anywere remote in the US
You Are
You have spent years working with density functional theory, molecular dynamics, or quantum transport calculations, and you know the difference between a simulation that looks good in a paper and one that actually answers the question a materials engineer needs answered on a Tuesday morning.
You have debugged convergence issues at 2 a.m., written Python scripts to wrangle output files that were never meant to be parsed, and explained to a colleague why their bandgap calculation failed without making them feel like they should have known better.
You are comfortable moving between the physics of what a model is doing and the practical reality of how someone in aerospace or semiconductors will actually use it. When a customer says their workflow is not working, you do not just point them to documentation. You dig in, reproduce the issue, and either fix it or escalate it with enough context that the product team can act.
You care about making complex tools accessible. Building a reusable example or writing a clear tutorial is not busywork to you, it is how you multiply your impact. You have worked across time zones, you follow through, and you know when to ask for help before a small problem becomes a big one.
What You'll Be Doing
Provide scientific and technical support to customers using QuantumATK for atomistic materials modeling across semiconductors, aerospace, defense, automotive, and energy industries
Troubleshoot customer workflows involving DFT, molecular dynamics, quantum transport, and related methods, reproducing issues and delivering clear, actionable solutions
Develop application examples, best-practice guides, and reusable Python-based workflows that help customers get results faster
Partner with product engineering teams to translate customer feedback, use cases, and technical blockers into roadmap priorities and feature requirements
Deliver technical enablement through webinars, training sessions, and direct customer engagements
Work closely with sales and field teams to support evaluation projects, proof-of-concept work, and technical discussions with prospective customers
Stay current with industry trends and emerging use cases in materials modeling, particularly in aerospace, defense, and semiconductor applications
The Impact You Will Have
Accelerate customer time to results by building workflows and examples that solve real problems in advanced materials research and product development
Shape the QuantumATK product roadmap by bringing customer voice and technical reality into feature discussions and prioritization decisions
Expand adoption of atomistic modeling in industries where simulation-driven materials design is becoming mission-critical
Reduce support escalation cycles by creating documentation and examples that preempt common issues and enable customer self-service
Strengthen customer retention and satisfaction by being the technical partner who understands both the science and the business context
Enable new use cases in extreme environments, coatings, quantum computing, and defense applications by translating cutting-edge research into practical workflows
Build a knowledge base and training ecosystem that scales your expertise across a growing global customer base
What You'll Need
PhD or Master's degree in physics, chemistry, materials science, or a closely related field with a strong foundation in solid-state physics or quantum chemistry
Hands-on experience with atomic-scale materials modeling and simulation methods such as DFT, molecular dynamics, or quantum transport
Proficiency in Python for scripting, data analysis, and workflow automation in scientific computing contexts
Track record of creating reusable examples, tutorials, or scientific software workflows that others have successfully used
Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both expert and non-expert audiences
Experience with training and using machine-learned potentials and AI for materials science is also a strong plus
US citizenship is required for this role
Experience with QuantumATK, VASP, Quantum ESPRESSO, LAMMPS, or similar atomistic simulation platforms is a strong plus
Who You Are
You take ownership of customer issues from first contact to resolution, and you escalate early with context when you hit a wall
You can switch from debugging a convergence failure in a phonon calculation to explaining the business value of that calculation to a program manager without losing the thread
You bring a constructive, problem-solving mindset to ambiguous situations where the right answer is not obvious and the documentation does not cover the edge case
You are comfortable working across time zones with customers and colleagues in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and you manage your time to stay responsive without burning out
You have worked directly with industrial customers, research partners, or cross-functional teams in a technical role, and you understand how to balance scientific rigor with practical delivery timelines
You stay curious about new methods, new applications, and new industries where atomistic modeling is starting to matter, especially in aerospace, defense, and emerging quantum technologies
The Team You'll Be Part Of
You will join a global team of customer-facing materials science experts that drives customer success with atomistic modeling and industry-relevant applications. The QuantumATK team works at the intersection of cutting-edge computational physics and real-world materials challenges across semiconductors, aerospace, defense, automotive, and energy sectors. You will collaborate closely with product engineering, sales, and field teams to ensure customers get value from the platform and that their feedback shapes what we build next.
Rewards and Benefits
We offer a comprehensive range of health, wellness, and financial benefits to cater to your needs. Our total rewards include both monetary and non-monetary offerings. Your recruiter will provide more details about the salary range and benefits during the hiring process.
At Synopsys, we want talented people of every background to feel valued and supported to do their best work. Synopsys considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, military veteran status, or disability.
In addition to the base salary, this role may be eligible for an annual bonus, equity, and other discretionary bonuses. Synopsys offers comprehensive health, wellness, and financial benefits as part of a competitive total rewards package. The actual compensation offered will be based on a number of job-related factors, including location, skills, experience, and education. Your recruiter can share more specific details on the total rewards package upon request. The base salary range for this role is across the U.S.
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Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.