Firmware Engineer

Location: San Jose, California, United States

Department: ASIC Engineering

Job Description: 

The mission of this role is to architect and develop firmware and microcontroller subsystems for Astera Labs’ SoC and systems products. Firmware is responsible for implementing the major differentiating features of Astera Labs’ products. As such, firmware is considered equally important to the hardware, and the firmware team is often customer-facing accordingly to ensure the customer's needs are fully comprehended. 

Basic qualifications: 

• Strong academic and technical background in electrical engineering. At a minimum, a Bachelor’s in EE or Computer Science is required. 

• Minimum 5 years' experience supporting or developing complex SoC/silicon products for Server, Storage, and/or Networking applications. 

• Experience developing firmware to execute with on-chip microcontrollers and C-language software development kits (SDKs) to execute on system host CPUs and embedded microprocessors. 

• Experience working with logic designers to implement and test HW-SW interfaces on complex SoCs. 

• Professional attitude with the ability to prioritize a dynamic list of multiple tasks, and to work with minimal guidance and supervision. 

• Entrepreneurial, open-minded behavior and can-do attitude. Think and act fast with the customer in mind! 

• Can start immediately. 

Required experience: 

• High level of proficiency in C (preferred) or C++, including development of C-based SDKs and firmware. 

• Proficient in Python for scripting. 

• Ability to design, implement, and write unit-level tests. 

• Working knowledge of software build environments, gcc/make. 

• Experience with developer workflows, SCM (preferably git), code reviews, CI. 

• Hands-on experience with Server, Storage, and/or Networking equipment. 

• Familiarity with SoC interfaces to various HW blocks, on-chip memory interfaces, and other similar interfaces that are common to chip design. 

Preferred experience: 

• Firmware development experience using RTOS. 

• Experience developing boot-ROM and familiarity working in pre-Silicon environments (Simulation and emulation). 

• Experience with secure boot flows (authentication, attestation & standards like DICE, Caliptra) is an asset.