Firmware Design Engineer - High-Speed SERDES PHY

Job Title

Firmware Design Engineer - High-Speed SERDES PHY

Role Summary

Design and implement firmware for high-speed SERDES PHY IP, contributing across architecture, implementation, verification, testing and customer deployment. The role is on an experienced IP development team building physical-layer firmware for industry-standard serial-link protocols.

Experience Level

Mid-level. The posting does not specify required years of experience.

Responsibilities

Primary duties include firmware development, verification support, and post-silicon validation for high-speed serial-link PHY IP.

• Contribute to firmware architecture and implement assigned firmware features for SERDES PHY.
• Work closely with verification teams to debug and fix firmware issues found in simulation.
• Participate in post-silicon testing and validation; identify FW/HW functional or performance issues and implement firmware fixes.
• Develop system-level prototype control software to validate adaptation, equalization, and control algorithms for SERDES.
• Implement firmware-specific tests in collaboration with verification teams.
• Support validation during electrical/system characterization and assist product engineering during customer IP deployment, including delivering hot fixes when required.

Requirements

Core technical skills and competencies required for the role.

• Solid programming skills in C/C++ and Python.
• Knowledge of digital verification methodologies, including UVM and SystemVerilog.
• Understanding of wireline communication principles.
• Familiarity with mixed-signal circuit design and digital signal processing techniques.
• Strong problem-solving ability and effective communication skills.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's (BSc) or Master's (MSc) degree in Electrical Engineering.

About the Company

Company: Cadence Design Systems

Headquarters: San Jose, California, USA

Cadence Design Systems is a global electronic design automation company that provides software, hardware, and intellectual property for designing advanced semiconductor chips. With over 25 years in the industry, Cadence is known for its innovative technology solutions and has been recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. The company is dedicated to solving complex technical challenges in order to enable customers to create revolutionary products and experiences.