Firmware Engineer II

Job Title

Firmware Engineer II

Role Summary

Develop firmware for physical-layer IPs for high-speed SERDES products. Work on firmware architecture, implementation, verification, testing, and customer deployment as part of a multidisciplinary team of digital, mixed-signal, verification, validation, and product engineering engineers.

The role requires hands-on firmware development and system-level validation to ensure robust performance in silicon and customer systems.

Experience Level

Mid-level (Engineer II). Typical experience implied: 2–4 years depending on degree pathway.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include design, implementation, validation, and support of firmware for high-speed serial links.

• Collaborate with PHY digital and mixed-signal architects to define firmware functions, sequences, and architecture; implement assigned firmware features.
• Build system-level prototype control software to develop and validate adaptation, equalization, and control algorithms for SERDES.
• Work with verification (simulation) and validation teams to ensure functionality and robustness of firmware through test plans and execution.
• Develop and support FuSa-compliant firmware development and testing processes.
• Support post-silicon electrical and system characterization; identify firmware/hardware issues and implement firmware fixes.
• Assist product engineering, system validation, and design teams during customer deployments and provide hot fixes as required.
• Create and maintain documentation for firmware design, development, bug fixes, and compliance testing.

Requirements

Must-have skills and core expectations, plus desirable skills.

• Must-have: Proficient programming in C/C++ and Python.
• Must-have: Hands-on firmware development experience covering implementation, verification support, testing, and debugging for embedded systems.
• Must-have: Strong problem-solving and communication skills.
• Nice-to-have: Understanding of wireline communication principles and digital signal processing techniques.
• Nice-to-have: Knowledge of mixed-signal circuit design.
• Nice-to-have: Experience with silicon validation, post-silicon debug, and digital verification environments/tools.
• Nice-to-have: Familiarity with functional-safety (FuSa) compliance and processes.

Education Requirements

B.Tech (4 years) or M.Tech (2 years) in Electrical / Electronics Engineering as stated in the posting.

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.