Principal Firmware Engineer
$134,750–$192,500 year
On-siteSan Jose, California, United States
Job Summary
Own firmware architecture and technical roadmap for embedded platforms supporting optical/laser/telecom systems, leading end-to-end development from requirements through production release. Drive system reliability by defining interfaces across firmware, hardware, and optics, while implementing fault handling, diagnostics, and telemetry for high-volume products. Lead design reviews, code reviews, and root-cause analysis for field issues, collaborating cross-functionally with Systems, Hardware, and Manufacturing teams to meet schedule and product goals. This role requires 10+ years of embedded firmware experience and is based in San Jose, with a salary range of $134,750 to $192,500.
Required Qualifications
- BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field (MS preferred), or equivalent experience
- 10+ years of professional embedded firmware development experience, including ownership of shipped products
- Expert proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems
- Source code control (GIT)
- Segger IDE
- Python
- data analysis tools (i.e. JMP, R)
- Windows & Linux
- Deep experience with RTOS development (e.g., FreeRTOS)
- Bare-metal firmware (interrupts, bootloaders, HAL/LL drivers)
- Strong skills in board bring-up, debugging, and lab tools (JTAG/SWD, logic analyzer, oscilloscope, optical power meter, optical wavemeter)
- Solid understanding of hardware/firmware integration and digital interfaces (I2C/SPI/UART, GPIO, ADC/DAC, timers, DMA)
- Proven ability to lead technical decisions, drive architecture, and deliver across multi-disciplinary teams
- Hands-on experience with optical components/modules calibration and control/PIDs including optical power control/APC loops, bias/current tuning, heater/thermal control, TEC/thermal control, optical signal monitoring, fault management and trend-based telemetry
- Must be available for San-Jose (On-Site)
- Must be able to lift 50 lbs
Desired Qualifications
- Direct experience developing firmware/software for optical transceiver modules and subsystems including bring-up, feature development, and production support
- Strong familiarity with module management and host interfaces, including CMIS (Common Management Interface Specification); experience implementing, debugging, and validating management behaviors (state machines, paging/banked memory, diagnostics, alarms, and telemetry)
- Experience with optical components (i.e. lasers, MZ/IQ modulators, et cetera) control (i.e. PIDs), performance monitoring, and fault management
- Understanding of manufacturing test flows and firmware support/API for calibration, characterization, and end-of-line verification; experience building tooling or scripts (i.e., Python) to support these flows
- Strong technical judgment; able to trade off schedule, risk, and quality with clarity
- Excellent communication: can explain complex topics to non-firmware audiences
- Ownership mindset and calm execution in ambiguous, high-urgency situations
- Mentorship and influence: raises the bar for design quality and engineering culture
Hiring someone like this?
Get your role in front of qualified candidates on Sorce.