# Principal Development Engineer — Connector & Cable Interconnect at Kandou AI

Principal Development Engineer — Connector & Cable Interconnect at Kandou AI in Taipei City. Full-time. Posted October 12, 2026.

- Company: Kandou AI
- Location: Taipei City
- Job type: Full-time
- Experience: 10+ years
- Posted: 2026-10-12
- Apply: https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/kandou-ai/4599f883-d1b0-4896-a0fe-7744b8a0e7a9/application
- Source: https://jobmagic.ai/jobs/principal-development-engineer-connector-cable-interconnect-kandou-ai-r1wjdy

## Requirements

- 10+ years of experience in high-speed interconnect, connector, or cable assembly development within the semiconductor, networking, or computing industry.
- Proven track record of optimizing connector, cable-to-connector, and cable-to-PCB interfaces for high-speed differential signaling (e.g., PCIe, SerDes, 112G+/224G electrical interfaces).
- Extensive hands-on experience with Ansys HFSS (or equivalent 3D electromagnetic field solvers) for connector, cable, and interconnect modeling.
- Demonstrated experience leading conceptual design and architecture definition of new connector and cable interconnect systems, from early feasibility through detailed design.
- Experience planning and executing Proof-of-Life (PoL) studies to validate first-pass electrical and mechanical performance of new interconnect designs.
- Strong lab measurement background, including VNA, TDR, and oscilloscope-based characterization of connectors, cables, and interconnect channels.
- Experience working cross-functionally with mechanical, signal integrity, package, systems, manufacturing, and customer-facing teams to align interconnect designs with product and manufacturing requirements.
- Experience engaging directly with connector and cable vendors/suppliers on design-in, qualification, and manufacturability trade-offs.

## Description

At **Kandou**, we are redeﬁning the economics of AI infrastructure. Our mission is to **democratise AI by signiﬁcantly reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) **of hardware systems — a critical barrier to scalable adoption.
Our proprietary **MIMO-over-copper technology **powers a **high-performance, chiplet-based AI memory fabric **that is both **scalable and energy-efficient**. Unlike traditional interconnects, our solution **reduces power consumption signiﬁcantly **while preserving **high bandwidth and ultra-low latency **— unlocking unprecedented efficiency for AI training and inference at scale.
Kandou’s architecture is not just an incremental improvement — it’s a **foundational shift **in how AI hardware is built for the future.

**Department: **Product Development and Manufacturing
**Location: **Taiwan
**Role Summary**
The Principal Development Engineer owns the electrical and mechanical optimization of connector interfaces, cable-to-connector assemblies, and cable-to-PCB interfaces for Kandou's high-speed interconnect products. This individual drives interconnect architecture from early concept through electromagnetic simulation (HFSS), Proof-of-Life (PoL) validation, and lab measurement, partnering closely with silicon, systems, mechanical, and customer-facing teams to deliver signal-integrity-optimized, manufacturable interconnect solutions.
**Responsibility and Authority**

- Own the end-to-end optimization of connector, cable-to-connector, and cable-to-PCB interfaces for Kandou's interconnect products.

- Lead conceptual design and architecture definition for new connector and cable interconnect solutions, evaluating electrical, mechanical, and manufacturability trade-offs.

- Build and run HFSS simulation models to characterize and optimize connector and cable interface electrical performance.

- Define and execute Proof-of-Life (PoL) studies to validate design intent prior to full qualification.

- Perform and oversee lab measurement and characterization (VNA, TDR, oscilloscope) to validate simulation predictions and debug performance issues.

- Drive design reviews and provide technical recommendations to engineering leadership, product management, and customers on interconnect design decisions.

- Collaborate cross-functionally with signal integrity, mechanical, systems, manufacturing, and customer teams to align interconnect designs with overall product requirements.

- Interface with connector and cable suppliers on design-in, sampling, qualification, and manufacturability.

- Mentor junior engineers on simulation methodology, measurement techniques, and interconnect design best practices.

- Individual responsibilities for this role are defined by Kandou's executive team on a project-by-project basis and may vary from this job description.

**Required Experience**

- 10+ years of experience in high-speed interconnect, connector, or cable assembly development within the semiconductor, networking, or computing industry.

- Proven track record of optimizing connector, cable-to-connector, and cable-to-PCB interfaces for high-speed differential signaling (e.g., PCIe, SerDes, 112G+/224G electrical interfaces).

- Extensive hands-on experience with Ansys HFSS (or equivalent 3D electromagnetic field solvers) for connector, cable, and interconnect modeling.

- Demonstrated experience leading conceptual design and architecture definition of new connector and cable interconnect systems, from early feasibility through detailed design.

- Experience planning and executing Proof-of-Life (PoL) studies to validate first-pass electrical and mechanical performance of new interconnect designs.

- Strong lab measurement background, including VNA, TDR, and oscilloscope-based characterization of connectors, cables, and interconnect channels.

- Experience working cross-functionally with mechanical, signal integrity, package, systems, manufacturing, and customer-facing teams to align interconnect designs with product and manufacturing requirements.

- Experience engaging directly with connector and cable vendors/suppliers on design-in, qualification, and manufacturability trade-offs.

**Required Skills**

- Deep understanding of high-speed signal integrity fundamentals: S-parameters, transmission line theory, impedance control, crosstalk, and insertion/return loss.

- Expert-level proficiency in HFSS for 3D full-wave electromagnetic simulation of connectors, cables, and PCB launch structures.

- Strong analytical skills to correlate simulation results with lab measurement data and resolve discrepancies.

- Ability to translate system-level electrical requirements into conceptual connector/cable interface designs and specifications.

- Excellent cross-functional collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to influence design trade-offs across engineering disciplines.

- Strong documentation skills for design reviews, test reports, and specification development.

- Ability to manage multiple concurrent development programs and prioritize effectively under schedule pressure.

- Strong presentation skills, with the ability to clearly convey technical findings, trade-offs, and recommendations to engineering leadership, cross-functional teams, and customers.

- Working knowledge of Lean Product Development (Lean PD) principles, applying them to streamline design iteration, reduce waste, and accelerate time-to-market.

- Strong written and verbal English communication skills, required.

- Mandarin language proficiency is a nice-to-have, given engagement with suppliers and customers in Mandarin-speaking regions.

- Ability and willingness to travel internationally to support supplier reviews, lab bring-ups, and customer engagements.

**Required Competencies – Education**

- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or an equivalent field.

- Advanced coursework or demonstrated expertise in electromagnetics, RF/microwave engineering, or high-speed signal integrity is desired.
