Firmware Engineer – SerDes PHY
QualcommJob Title
Firmware Engineer – SerDes PHY
Role Summary
Join the Embedded Software / Firmware team to design, implement, and deliver production-quality firmware and SDKs for high-performance SerDes PHY IP used in data center, AI, automotive, and compute applications. The team owns low-level firmware, C SDKs, Python lab tools, and CI infrastructure to enable silicon bring-up, validation, and customer delivery.
Experience Level
Senior. Typical candidate has 7+ years of embedded firmware experience; actual minimum experience varies by academic degree (see Education Requirements).
Responsibilities
Deliver and lead firmware development across the SerDes IP lifecycle from pre-silicon through post-silicon validation and customer delivery.
- Technical or project lead for SerDes firmware on major IP programs (coordination across 2–8 engineers).
- Own firmware lifecycle: architecture, implementation, integration, bring-up, and optimization.
- Implement embedded C/C++ firmware for calibration, training algorithms, DSP adaptations, and link-state management.
- Develop and maintain Python and C SDKs, lab tools, GUIs, and automation for bring-up, tuning, and diagnostics.
- Define bring-up and validation requirements with ASIC/digital design, DV, systems, and application teams.
- Debug complex silicon, board, and firmware issues using lab instrumentation and tooling; drive root-cause to closure.
- Create regression suites, CI/build infrastructure, and tests to ensure release quality and reliability.
- Mentor junior engineers and document firmware and hardware design decisions and specifications.
Requirements
Core technical and interpersonal requirements. Education and degree-related experience thresholds are summarized under Education Requirements below.
Must-have:
- Strong proficiency in embedded C/C++ and Python; experience with bare-metal, RTOS, or kernel-level development.
- Hands-on experience with embedded architectures (RISC-V, ARM, MIPS) and low-level concepts (memory-mapped registers, ISRs, boot flows).
- Proven lab-debug and bring-up experience with scopes, JTAG, I2C/SPI tools, protocol analyzers, and high-speed signal diagnostics.
- Experience with SerDes, Ethernet, PCIe, CXL, UCIe, or other high-speed IO and link training/diagnostics.
- Familiarity with EDA tools/methodologies, HDLs (Verilog/SystemVerilog), and pre-silicon validation flows (simulation, emulation).
- Technical leadership experience delivering firmware from specification to production; strong communication and cross-team coordination skills.
- Familiarity with git and modern software development practices (CI, regression testing, Agile).
Nice-to-have:
- Experience with embedded Linux, Buildroot/Yocto, Zephyr, or FreeRTOS and driver development at the PCB/system level.
- Background in calibration algorithms, fixed-point DSP implementations, signal integrity, and FPGA-based validation.
- Familiarity with lab automation scripting (Bash, Python), FPGA platforms, or hardware debugging (power, SI, EMC).
- Experience building customer-facing SDKs, GUIs, and diagnostics frameworks.
Education Requirements
Degree and experience thresholds listed in the posting: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field with 6+ years of software/firmware experience; OR Master's degree in those fields with 5+ years; OR PhD in those fields with 4+ years. The posting also references BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields as relevant backgrounds.
About the Company
Company: Qualcomm
Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States
Qualcomm is a global leader in semiconductor and telecommunications equipment, specializing in mobile technologies and innovations. Known for its Adreno GPUs, the company provides solutions enabling advancements in mobile gaming, AI, VR/AR, and autonomous driving. Qualcomm's cutting-edge technology and commitment to high-performance, power-efficient designs drive the evolution of mobile graphics and connectivity worldwide.
