Director, ASIC Software Engineering

Job Title

Director, ASIC Software Engineering

Role Summary

Lead a multidisciplinary software organization responsible for the full software ecosystem that enables custom ASICs and SoCs across architecture, pre-silicon validation, silicon bring-up, system integration, and deployment. Serve concurrently as Krakow site lead to establish local engineering operations, recruiting, and cross-site collaboration.

Experience Level

Senior — requires extensive senior-level experience. The role requests 15+ years of software engineering experience and 5+ years of people leadership or management of managers.

Responsibilities

Own software strategy, execution, and delivery for Terawave custom ASIC/SoC platforms and lead the Krakow engineering site.

• Lead and scale a ~20-person ASIC software organization covering embedded firmware, platform software, device drivers, validation, and application software.
• Define and execute software architecture and roadmaps for boot software, BSPs, device drivers, firmware, HALs, diagnostics, SDKs, and customer-facing tools.
• Integrate software into the silicon lifecycle: architecture definition, pre-silicon simulation/emulation, FPGA prototyping, first-silicon bring-up, lab validation, and production release.
• Partner with ASIC architecture, digital design, verification, FPGA/prototyping, systems, RF, hardware, and program teams to define HW/SW interfaces and validation plans.
• Establish engineering practices: coding standards, architecture reviews, CI/CD, automated testing, release management, defect tracking, documentation, and configuration control.
• Mentor and develop engineering managers, technical leads, principal engineers, and high-potential individual contributors.
• Serve as Krakow site leader: establish site operating model, hiring strategy, local culture, cross-site communication norms, and partnerships with HR/IT/facilities/legal/finance/security.
• Build recruiting pipelines, university and community relationships, and represent the site in cross-functional leadership forums.
• Ensure site compliance with company policies, security, and export-control requirements; support international travel for program and bring-up activities.

Requirements

Key must-have skills and experience for immediate success, followed by relevant nice-to-have qualifications.

Must-have

• 15+ years of software engineering experience focused on ASIC software, embedded systems, firmware, platform software, silicon enablement, or HW/SW systems.
• 5+ years of software engineering leadership experience (direct people management and/or management of managers).
• Proven experience delivering software for custom ASICs, SoCs, FPGAs, or other hardware-centric products.
• Strong low-level technical knowledge: C/C++, boot flows, Boot ROM/bootloaders, BSPs, device drivers, memory maps, registers, interrupts, buses, and firmware architecture.
• Practical knowledge of the silicon development lifecycle: pre-silicon software, simulation/emulation, FPGA prototyping, silicon/board bring-up, hardware/software integration, lab debug, and diagnostics.
• Ability to recruit, mentor, develop, and retain engineering talent; strong communication and executive presence.
• Experience managing schedules, technical risk, staffing plans, delivery commitments, and cross-functional dependencies.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally to support reviews, bring-up, and site leadership needs.

Nice-to-have

• Deep domain expertise in ASIC/SoC boot software, secure boot, BSPs, HALs, RF/radio control, PHY/modem/DSP firmware, diagnostics, calibration, or SDKs for silicon platforms.
• Experience with pre- and post-silicon environments and emulation/prototyping platforms (e.g., Palladium, Zebu, Veloce, Protium, HAPS) and related tooling.
• Background in wireless/satellite communications, software-defined radio, optical communications, or space networking systems.
• Familiarity with verification workflows, JTAG/trace tools, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and protocol analyzers.
• Experience establishing a new engineering site or international technical organization.
• Fluency in English.

Education Requirements

Minimum: B.S. in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Preferred: M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Communications, or a related field.

About the Company

Company: Blue Origin

Headquarters: Kent, Washington, United States

Blue Origin is an American aerospace company developing technologies for spaceflight, including reusable launch vehicles, orbital and suborbital systems, and space infrastructure for commercial and government customers.