Firmware Engineering Intern

Job Title

Firmware Engineering Intern

Role Summary

Contribute to pre-silicon verification of embedded firmware for high-performance power management ICs used in data center, AI accelerator, networking, and compute platforms. Collaborate with firmware, RTL, architecture, and validation engineers to develop simulation tests, execute regressions, and debug firmware–hardware interactions.

Experience Level

Entry-level internship; suitable for current students. No prior professional experience required beyond relevant coursework or projects.

Responsibilities

Internship responsibilities include designing, running, and documenting firmware verification tasks and supporting debug and automation efforts.

• Develop and maintain simulation tests that exercise ARM Cortex-M firmware with hardware models.
• Execute firmware regression tests and analyze logs, waveforms, memory contents, and register traces.
• Create directed tests for reset, boot, initialization, configuration, sequencing, telemetry, protection, fault handling, and recovery scenarios.
• Write scripts (Python, Perl, or similar) to automate test execution, result checking, and failure classification.
• Help reproduce issues and isolate whether failures originate in firmware, RTL, hardware models, testbench components, or tools.
• Apply verification practices such as requirements traceability, functional and code coverage, negative and boundary testing, and regression quality tracking.
• Document test procedures, results, debug findings, known issues, and recommended follow-up actions.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and practical abilities for this internship; preferred items noted.

• Working knowledge of C or C++ and ARM assembly; basic understanding of memory, registers, interrupts, and peripherals.
• Basic scripting experience with Python, Perl, or a similar language.
• Ability to analyze problems methodically, communicate findings clearly, and collaborate in a team environment.
• Comfort using version control (e.g., Git) and working in a Linux development environment.
• Preferred: familiarity with SystemVerilog/Verilog, digital simulation, structured testbenches, CI/CD, QEMU, FPGA prototyping, or virtual platforms.
• Preferred: basic understanding of power electronics, voltage regulation, telemetry, sequencing, or protection features.

Education Requirements

Currently pursuing a BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field. Relevant coursework or project experience in embedded systems, computer architecture, microcontrollers, digital logic, or software testing.

About the Company

Company: Renesas

Headquarters: Hitachinaka, Japan

Renesas is a global leader in embedded semiconductor solutions, providing high-quality products across automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT sectors. With over 22,000 employees in more than 30 countries, the company focuses on scalable solutions that enhance user experience and drive innovation while committed to sustainability and energy efficiency.