From Problem Solvers to Value Creators: The Engineer Growth Story at Slkor

In the electronics industry—where technology meets the market—engineers expand their professional value in very different ways. At Slkor Semiconductor, a new generation of practitioners is stepping from pure technology into the spotlight. Some move closer to customers, translating engineering expertise into real market value; others stay deeply rooted in application support, turning knowledge into reliable, high-impact solutions. How do they grow along these distinct paths? What challenges do they face—and how do they overcome them? Today, we explore their journey of transformation.

Part 1: From R&D to Sales – Sun Yongqi’s Journey into Market Cultivation

Back in 2009, while working as an automotive R&D engineer, Sun Yongqi first encountered Kinghelm’s BeiDou antenna products during a GPS vehicle tracking project—an experience that marked the beginning of a lasting connection with the brand. Fifteen years later, in 2025, he joined Slkor Semiconductor, Kinghelm’s sister company, as a Sales Engineer, making a decisive shift from the technical backend to the front lines of the market. Through continuous learning and hands-on practice, Sun has steadily adapted to his new role, completing a meaningful transition from a “technical mindset” to a “market-driven perspective.”

 

Slkor Sales Engineer Sun Yongqi at the company reception

 

Q: Sun, what opportunity led you to join Slkor?

Sun Yongqi: In early 2025, I came across a photo Mr. Song posted on social media—golden rapeseed flowers from his hometown, Xichong County in Sichuan Province. It unexpectedly resonated with me. On impulse, I commented, “Is your company still hiring?” At that time, I had just come out of a period of uncertainty and was actively searching for a new direction in life. To my surprise, Mr. Song replied almost immediately, saying that Kinghelm (www.kinghelm.net) and Slkor were growing rapidly and expanding their teams. That simple interaction became the turning point that brought me to Slkor.

Q: What was the biggest challenge in transitioning from a technical role to sales?

Sun Yongqi: Without question, the hardest part was shifting from “dealing with things” to “dealing with people.” In the past, my daily work revolved around circuit boards and code. They were complex, but they followed logic, standards, and clear solutions. In sales, I suddenly found myself facing clients with very different personalities, expectations, and priorities, which took time to adapt to.

Another major challenge was learning to cope with uncertainty. Customer visits could be canceled at the last minute, and proposals prepared with great care might not be accepted. Early on, I experienced many closed doors at client offices, and the frustration was very real. I often questioned myself, wondering what I could have done better. That period forced me to rethink my mindset and gradually build resilience in the face of rejection and unpredictability.

 

 

 

Q: How did you adjust your mindset during that period?

Sun Yongqi: It took me about three months to truly recalibrate. Gradually, I realized that client rejection usually didn’t mean “no forever”—it simply meant I hadn’t yet delivered enough value at that point in time. That understanding fundamentally changed how I viewed sales. It’s not just about closing a deal; it’s about building trust and creating value over time.

When I first moved into sales, my biggest source of anxiety was not knowing where the clients were or who I should be talking to. But after nearly a year of visiting customers one by one, that uncertainty faded. Today, I feel much more grounded. I’m no longer stressed about client resources—I’ve built up a solid base of customers, and each day I know exactly where to focus my efforts. This sense of steady, step-by-step progress is incredibly reassuring.

Q: How has your technical background helped you in sales?

Sun Yongqi: This is, without doubt, my greatest advantage. More than 20 years of R&D experience in intelligent products has shaped a rigorous, engineering-driven mindset. I’m able to identify the exact product models a customer truly needs through systematic analysis and precise parameter calculations.

When engaging with clients, I pay close attention to their specific application scenarios. By combining those needs with product definitions and market positioning, I can recommend models or specifications that are genuinely fit for purpose. This approach helps customers reduce selection risks and avoids costly detours caused by mismatched or incompatible products—ultimately creating real, long-term value for both sides.

 

 

 

Q: Can you describe your current daily work routine?

Sun Yongqi: My work rhythm has become much more structured and intentional. Each night before going to sleep, I plan ahead—deciding which clients to visit the next day and identifying the key follow-up tasks that need attention.

Once I arrive at the office, I first handle time-sensitive priorities such as client quotations and shipping documentation. After that, I map out the afternoon’s schedule in detail—where to go and which customers to meet. Shenzhen is a large city where time efficiency matters, so I usually cluster client visits within the same area on a single day. This approach not only improves efficiency but also helps me steadily expand and deepen my customer network.

 

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: The first and most valuable gain has been meeting people from a wide range of industries. Through these interactions, I’ve seen the real, on-the-ground realities of manufacturing and gained a deeper understanding of the challenges and needs faced by many small and medium-sized enterprises. The second gain is learning to think from a market-driven perspective. In a purely technical role, my focus was always on achieving the optimal technical solution. Now, I look beyond that—considering a product’s market potential, why customers truly need it, and where its competitive advantages lie. This shift in mindset has been incredibly valuable to my personal growth.

Q: How does your family view your career transition?

Sun Yongqi: My wife has always been very supportive. My previous job was extremely demanding and left me with little time for my wife and children. After joining Slkor, overtime is not encouraged. General Manager Mr. Song Shiqiang consistently promotes the philosophy that “living well leads to working well.” This approach has helped me regain balance between work and life. Now, I can spend more quality time with my children—going out together, reading, and exercising—gradually making up for the time I missed with my family during my years in technical roles.

 

Sun Yongqi during the interview

 

Q: What are your outlooks for 2026?

Sun Yongqi: Looking ahead to 2026, my first and most important wish is good health for my family. On a personal level, I see sales as a long-term journey of steady accumulation. In the coming year, I hope to serve every customer with care, handle every order with diligence, and continue building experience step by step—so that I can truly excel and create value in this role.

Part 2: From Development to Support – Xiong Wenda’s Growth as an FAE

A circuit board, a handful of components, and several testing instruments—these are Xiong Wenda’s most familiar “companions” in the lab. Having joined Slkor as a Field Application Engineer nearly a year ago, he has steadily immersed himself in semiconductor application technologies. From PCB design and performance testing to solution development and customer issue resolution, Xiong has progressed methodically, strengthening both his technical depth and practical problem-solving skills.

In this interview, we step into the lab to take a closer look at Xiong Wenda’s day-to-day responsibilities, professional challenges, and personal growth journey within Slkor.

 

Slkor FAE Xiong Wenda

 

Xiong Wenda hails from Tianmen, Hubei Province. He graduated in 2011 with a major in Applied Electronic Technology and brings more than a decade of hands-on experience in the electronics industry. Fitting the classic image of an engineer, Xiong is often seen in plaid shirts, with a calm, introverted demeanor and an uncompromising attention to technical detail. His years in electronic product development have given him a solid theoretical grounding in electronic components and system design.

Stepping into the role of Field Application Engineer at Slkor Semiconductor marked a new professional chapter for him. Rather than relying solely on past experience, Xiong chose to reset and rebuild—starting from the fundamentals of PCB design and application validation. By laying a strong foundation step by step, he steadily transformed his deep technical knowledge into practical, customer-facing solutions, demonstrating the discipline and perseverance that define his growth at Slkor.

 

Engineer Xiong testing product parameters for Slkor Semiconductor

 

At Slkor, Xiong Wenda’s daily responsibilities focus on four key areas: resolving customer issues, supporting sales, training the team, and designing tailored solutions.

Handling Customer Complaints: “This is the core duty of an FAE,” Xiong explains. When clients face technical issues with components, he conducts rapid testing and failure analysis, identifies whether the problem stems from the product, and provides actionable solutions to ensure smooth operation.

Supporting Sales: Xiong often joins Slkor’s sales team on client visits, gathering insights on market needs and recommending the most suitable components based on real-world applications. His hands-on expertise helps bridge the gap between technical performance and customer requirements, turning complex specifications into practical solutions.

      

 

Team Training: Xiong delivers hands-on technical training for distributors and new employees on Slkor’s (www.slkoric.com) core products, including Hall sensors, MOSFETs, SiC devices, temperature sensors, linear regulators (LDOs), diodes & transistors, and data converters. “Our product portfolio is comprehensive, covering high, medium, and low-voltage applications. This breadth is a major competitive advantage,” he notes.

Designing Solutions: He develops demo boards and writes detailed application notes to help customers grasp device characteristics and critical design considerations. So far, Xiong has created multiple demonstration boards and uploaded in-depth solutions to the company website.

“More often than not, issues aren’t caused by our components but by deviations in customer selection or application design,” he explains. For example, a client reported anomalies during high/low temperature aging tests. After independently testing the device, Xiong confirmed the parameters were normal. The root cause was traced to temperature drift from other components on the customer’s board. “Once the issue is resolved, customer trust grows significantly. They begin to see us as a partner that truly understands technology, not just a supplier.”

 

Slkor FAE Xiong Wenda during the interview

 

Having been at Slkor for nearly a year, Xiong Wenda emphasizes the power of accumulation as his greatest takeaway. “Slkor has over 2,400 products, spanning a very broad range. Many devices were new to me, so I had to research specifications, test parameters, and analyze applications from scratch.” Through persistent testing, comparison, and hands-on experience, he has gradually built a systematic understanding of the products.

“Beyond the devices themselves, every customer complaint I resolve and every client visit provides a unique window into the industry and user needs. Each of these experiences adds to my knowledge base. Over time, these accumulations have made my work more fluid and efficient.”

This steady growth, Xiong reflects, has been his most valuable gain since joining Slkor, shaping both his expertise and perspective on the electronics industry.

Slkor FAE Xiong Wenda

 

In Xiong Wenda's view, an FAE must possess “all-around capabilities.” “You need to master testing, understand electrical parameters, read datasheets effectively, and also grasp PCB design and schematics.”

His advice for newcomers entering the field is both practical and strategic:

1. Build a solid theoretical foundation – fundamentals like analog and digital electronics are essential.

2. Gain hands-on experience – operate test instruments, design circuits, and apply knowledge in real scenarios.

3. Adopt a continuous learning mindset – semiconductor technology evolves at lightning speed; staying stagnant means falling behind.

Xiong emphasizes that combining theory, practice, and curiosity is key to thriving as a successful FAE in today’s fast-paced electronics industry.

Slkor FAE Xiong Wenda debugging a product

 

After the interview, Xiong Wenda returned to the lab, diving back into testing component parameters and tackling technical challenges one by one. These seemingly ordinary daily tasks are anything but—they bridge technology and market needs, support the application and innovation of Slkor products, and drive his personal growth in the semiconductor industry.

Through this diligent work, Slkor Semiconductor and its team continue to earn trust and recognition from clients, while expanding their market presence. As production scales, the “Slkor” brand receives increasing praise and positive feedback from customers around the world.

 

 

Slkor’s technical team, originating from Tsinghua University, powers a national high-tech enterprise that was an early pioneer in SiC power device development. Today, Slkor has grown into a fully integrated company covering R&D, design, sales, and application technical services. Its corporate culture is inclusive, open, and innovation-driven, fostering continuous growth and creativity.

The “SLKOR” brand has earned international recognition, with market share steadily increasing. The company holds certifications including ISO9001, RoHS, REACH, and California Proposition 65, reflecting its commitment to quality and compliance.

Slkor operates R&D centers in Beijing and Suzhou, with a lab and central warehouse attached to its Shenzhen headquarters. Its main product series include diodes & transistors, power devices, and power management ICs, while new products under development—such as Hall sensors, ADCs, BMS, high-speed optocouplers, and passive crystals—are set to expand its technological footprint.

These solutions are applied across smartphones, laptops, robotics, power tools, connected vehicles, 3C digital products, and the Internet of Everything (IoE), driving innovation hand in hand with over ten thousand global partners.

 

Shenzhen Kinghelm Electronics Co., Ltd. (Kinghelm) and Shenzhen Slkor Micro Semicon Co., Ltd. (Slkor) are accelerating global expansion on dual fronts, with both brands steadily evolving into internationally recognized names.

Mr. Song Shiqiang serves as a lecturer at the Chinese Institute of Electronics, a Huaqiangbei research expert, an entrepreneurship mentor in the region, and a widely read popular science columnist. He has long focused on studying and distilling the unique Huaqiangbei culture of daring, innovation, and risk-taking. His influential articles—such as “Huaqiangbei’s Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow”, “Research on Huaqiangbei Knock-off Phones”, “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 shared globally.

Slkor Semiconductor’s Chinese and English websites (www.slkormicro.com / www.slkoric.com) serve as learning and exchange platforms for the semiconductor industry, creating a digital ecosystem that supports innovation, collaboration, and business growth.

Under Mr. Song Shiqiang’s leadership, the company is committed to a long-term vision: to become a global leader in semiconductors within thirty years, driving technological advancement and shaping the future of the industry.

 

Kinghelm and Slkor at the 2025 Munich Shanghai Electronics Show, General Manager Song Shiqiang (first from right)