In the electronics industry where technology and market converge, engineers in different roles expand their professional value in their own ways. Slkor Semiconductor is gathering a group of practitioners moving from technology to the forefront – they either turn to face customers directly, delivering value in the market, or root themselves in application support, solidifying expertise in solutions. How have they strived in their respective tracks along this journey? How have they overcome difficulties? Today, we uncover this path of growth.
Part 1: From R&D to Sales – Sun Yongqi's Market Cultivation
When Sun Yongqi was engaged in automotive product R&D engineering in 2009, he first encountered and used Kinghelm's Beidou antenna products in a GPS vehicle tracker project, thus forging an inseparable bond with Kinghelm. Fifteen years later in 2025, he joined Slkor Semiconductor, a sister company of Kinghelm, as a Sales Engineer, embarking on a career shift from the technical backend to the market frontline. Today, he has gradually adapted to his new role, achieving a transformation from a "technical mindset" to a "market mindset."
Slkor Sales Engineer Sun Yongqi at the company reception
Q: Sun, what was the opportunity that led you to join Slkor?
Sun Yongqi: In early 2025, I saw a photo posted by Mr. Song on social media of rapeseed flowers in his hometown, Xichong County, Sichuan Province. It struck a chord, and I tentatively asked, "Is your company still hiring?" Actually, I had just ended a period of uncertainty and was searching for a new direction in life. Unexpectedly, Mr. Song quickly replied that Kinghelm (www.kinghelm.net) and Slkor were developing rapidly and hiring extensively. And that's how I came to Slkor.
Q: What was your biggest challenge transitioning from a technical role to sales?
Sun Yongqi: Honestly, the biggest challenge was the shift from "dealing with things" to "dealing with people." Before, I faced circuit boards and code all day; they were complex, but at least had standards and clear solutions. Now, I deal with clients of different personalities and needs every day, which was difficult to adapt to initially. Secondly, what troubled me most was handling various uncertainties – scheduled visits could be canceled last minute, carefully prepared proposals might not be accepted. At the beginning, I often faced closed doors at clients' offices, and that sense of disappointment was very real. I constantly reflected on whether I had done something wrong.
Q: How did you adjust your mindset at that time?
Sun Yongqi: It took about three months. Gradually, I understood that client rejection often meant I hadn't yet brought enough value to them at that moment. This realization made me start adjusting my mindset – sales isn't just about selling products; it's a process of building trust and creating value. I remember when I first switched to sales, the biggest confusion was not knowing where the clients were or who to talk to. But after nearly a year of visiting clients one by one, I feel much more settled now. I'm no longer anxious about client resources; I've accumulated quite a few clients, and I know where to focus my efforts each day. This feeling of progressing step by step is very grounding.
Q: How has your technical background helped in sales?
Sun Yongqi: That's my biggest advantage. Over 20 years of R&D experience in intelligent products has cultivated a rigorous work mindset – I can accurately determine the product models clients truly need through scientific calculation of product parameters. Therefore, when contacting clients, I pay special attention to the specific application of their products, then combine their needs, along with product definition and market positioning, to recommend more suitable models or specifications. This not only helps clients reduce selection risks but also prevents them from taking wrong turns due to product incompatibility.
Q: Can you describe your current daily work routine?
Sun Yongqi: My work rhythm has gradually taken shape now. Basically, every night before sleep, I think in advance about which clients to visit the next day and what follow-up tasks are needed. The next day at the office, I prioritize urgent matters like client quotations and shipping documents, then plan the afternoon's specific itinerary – which area to go to, which clients to meet. Shenzhen is a large city with high time costs, so I usually try to schedule visits to clients in the same area within a single day to improve efficiency and accumulate more clients.
Sun Yongqi's workstation at the Slkor Semiconductor headquarters office
Q: What has been your biggest gain in the past year at Slkor?
Sun Yongqi: First is meeting people from various industries. I've seen the real state of manufacturing through them and understood the difficulties and needs of many small and medium-sized enterprises. Second is learning to view problems from a market perspective. In a technical role, I only cared about achieving the optimal solution. Now, I consider the market potential of a product, why clients need it, and where its competitive advantages lie. This shift in thinking is precious.
Q: How does your family view your career transition?
Sun Yongqi: My wife has always been supportive. My previous job was very busy, leaving little time for my wife and children. After coming to Slkor, the company doesn't require overtime. General Manager Song Shiqiang always advocates the philosophy that "a good life leads to good work." This has brought rhythm to my work and personal life. Now, I often use my spare time to accompany my children, going out together, reading, and exercising, making up for the time I owed my family during my technical career.
Sun Yongqi during the interview
Q: What are your outlooks for 2026?
Sun Yongqi: For 2026, the first and foremost hope is for my family's good health. For me personally, sales is a process of accumulation. I hope to serve every client well, handle every order diligently in the new year, accumulate as much experience as possible, and shine in this role.
Part 2: From Development to Support – Xiong Wenda's FAE Growth
A circuit board, a few components, several test instruments – these are the most familiar "partners" for Xiong Wenda in the lab. Having joined Slkor as an FAE for nearly a year, he has delved deep into semiconductor application technology step by step, from designing boards and conducting tests to developing solutions and handling customer complaints. In this interview, we entered the lab to gain a deeper understanding of Xiong's responsibilities and growth within the company.
Slkor FAE Xiong Wenda
Xiong Wenda is from Tianmen, Hubei Province. He graduated in 2011 with a degree in Applied Electronic Technology and has over ten years of experience in the electronics industry. Consistent with most people's impression of a tech guy, Xiong often wears plaid shirts, has an introverted and steady personality, and is meticulous about technical details. Having previously focused on electronic product development, he has a very solid theoretical foundation in components. However, working as an FAE at Slkor Semiconductor was a new direction for him. Therefore, in the initial stages of his employment, he started from the very basics of board design, building a solid foundation step by step.
Engineer Xiong testing product parameters for Slkor Semiconductor
At Slkor, Xiong Wenda's daily work revolves around four main areas: handling customer complaints, supporting sales, team training, and designing solutions.
Handling Customer Complaints: "This is the most important duty of an FAE." When customers encounter issues using components, he needs to conduct testing and failure analysis promptly, determine if it's a product issue, and propose solutions.
Supporting Sales: He frequently accompanies Slkor sales representatives on client visits to understand market needs while recommending suitable component models based on actual requirements.
Team Training: He provides technical training for distributors and new employees on Slkor's (www.slkoric.com) featured products like Hall sensors, MOSFETs, SiC devices, temperature sensors, linear regulators (LDOs), diodes & transistors, data converters, etc. "Our company has a comprehensive product range, complete series covering high, medium, and low voltage scenarios. This is a significant advantage."
Designing Solutions: Creating demo boards and writing application notes to help customers understand device characteristics and design key points. To date, Engineer Xiong has designed multiple demonstration circuit boards and uploaded detailed solutions to the company website.
"Often, the issue isn't with our components, but rather a deviation in the customer's selection or application design," he cited a recent example: a customer reported anomalies in a device during high/low temperature aging tests. After independently testing the device, he found its parameters normal. The final root cause was traced to temperature drift from other components on the customer's board. "Once the problem is solved, the customer's trust in us increases significantly, and they perceive us as a company that truly understands technology."
Slkor FAE Xiong Wenda during the interview
Having been at Slkor for nearly a year, Xiong Wenda's biggest takeaway is the "importance of accumulation." "The company has over 2400 products, and the product line is very broad. Some devices I hadn't used before, requiring me to look up information, test parameters, and conduct analysis anew." Through continuous testing and comparison, he has gradually built systematic knowledge of the products. "Beyond the products themselves, every customer complaint handled, every client visit is actually a window to understand the industry and the users. Through these accumulations, my work has become more effortless." This is also his biggest gain since joining.
Slkor FAE Xiong Wenda
In Xiong Wenda's view, FAE is a role requiring "all-around capabilities." "You need to know testing, understand parameters, be able to read datasheets, and also comprehend PCB design and schematics." Therefore, his advice for newcomers wanting to enter this field is practical: "First, have a solid theoretical foundation – basic skills like analog and digital electronics are essential. Second, get hands-on experience – actually operate test instruments and circuit design. Most importantly, maintain a learning mindset. Semiconductor technology evolves rapidly; not learning means falling behind."
Slkor FAE Xiong Wenda debugging a product
After the interview, Xiong Wenda returned to the lab to continue testing component parameters, solving one technical problem after another. These seemingly ordinary daily tasks connect technology and market, support the application and innovation of Slkor products, drive his personal growth in the semiconductor industry, and help Slkor Semiconductor and its team earn market and customer reputation. As production share increases, "Slkor" receives positive feedback from clients worldwide.
Slkor's technical team hails from Tsinghua University. It is a national high-tech enterprise that developed SiC power devices relatively early and has grown into a company integrating R&D, design, sales, and application technical services. Its corporate culture is inclusive, open, and innovative. The "SLKOR" brand has gained international recognition and reputation, with market share continuously rising. It has obtained certifications including ISO9001 system, RoHS, REACH, and California Proposition 65. Slkor Semiconductor has R&D institutions in Beijing and Suzhou, with a lab and central warehouse attached to its Shenzhen headquarters. Main product series include diodes & transistors, power devices, and power management ICs. It is gradually developing new products like Hall sensors, ADCs, BMS, high-speed optocouplers, and passive crystals, applied in industries such as smartphones, laptops, robotics, power tools, connected vehicles, 3C digital products, and the Internet of Everything (IoE), advancing hand in hand with over ten thousand global partners!
Shenzhen Kinghelm Electronics Co., Ltd. (Kinghelm) and Shenzhen Slkor Micro Semicon Co., Ltd. (Slkor) drive robust and rapid international development on "twin wheels." The "Kinghelm" and "Slkor" brands are gradually growing into globally renowned brands. Mr. Song Shiqiang is a lecturer for the Chinese Institute of Electronics, a Huaqiangbei research expert, a Huaqiangbei entrepreneurship mentor, and a popular science columnist. He has long focused on and researched, distilling the Huaqiangbei culture of "daring to venture, innovate, and take risks." Articles such as "Huaqiangbei's Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow," "Research on Huaqiangbei Knock-off Phones," "Research on Huaqiangbei (Part 1, 2, 3)," "Challenges and Opportunities for Huaqiangbei," "Why Are There So Many Billionaires in Huaqiangbei?," "The Business Model of Huaqiangbei," and "Timing, Location, and People in Huaqiangbei" have been translated into multiple languages and disseminated worldwide. Slkor Semiconductor's Chinese and English (www.slkormicro.com / www.slkoric.com) websites have been built into platforms for learning and exchange within the semiconductor industry, creating an industrial ecosystem in cyberspace to serve the company's operational development. Under the leadership of Mr. Song Shiqiang, the company's vision is to become a "Semiconductor Leader" after thirty years of effort!
Kinghelm and Slkor at the 2025 Munich Shanghai Electronics Show, General Manager Song Shiqiang (first from right)
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