Principal Engineer - Software Development

Job Title

Principal Engineer - Software Development

Role Summary

Senior DevOps engineer supporting firmware and embedded-software development for high-performance System-on-Chip (SoC) platforms. The role focuses on designing, operating, and improving CI/CD, build, and release infrastructure for Linux and RTOS targets across pre-silicon and post-silicon environments.

Experience Level

Senior-level. The posting expects approximately 5+ years of relevant DevOps/build/CI experience in Linux-based environments.

Responsibilities

Support and improve build, test, and release workflows for embedded software. Key responsibilities include:

• Design, implement, and maintain CI/CD pipelines for build, test, package, and release workflows.
• Manage software releases on GitHub: tagging, versioning, artifact management, and coordinating release readiness.
• Administer and architect Jenkins pipelines, shared libraries, and resolve Jenkins-related reliability issues.
• Build and maintain Docker-based build environments for CI and local development.
• Troubleshoot build and CI issues on AlmaLinux/Red Hat/Ubuntu systems, including OS, package, toolchain, and compiler layers.
• Support pre-silicon (FPGA prototyping) and post-silicon (lab evaluation boards) verification workflows.
• Improve pipeline reliability, performance, and observability; optimize build times and CI throughput.
• Document CI/CD processes and contribute to long-term DevOps strategy.
• Provide senior-level technical escalation, mentor engineers, and lead technical decisions.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience:

• 5+ years as a DevOps/Build/CI engineer in Linux-based environments (senior expectations).
• Proven experience administering Jenkins in an enterprise or multi-team environment.
• Experience managing software releases with GitHub, including tagging, versioning, and release artifacts.
• Strong Linux system administration experience on AlmaLinux 9, Red Hat 9, and Ubuntu 24.
• Proven ability to debug complex build failures across OS, toolchains, compilers, and CI layers.
• Experience building and maintaining Docker containers for CI and developer workflows.
• Proficiency in shell scripting (Bash) and Python for automation.
• Familiarity with build systems such as Make, CMake, Ninja, or similar.
• Experience supporting hardware-adjacent software, firmware, or embedded toolchains.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work with engineering teams to improve reliability and throughput.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with FPGA-based prototyping and lab-based post-silicon validation workflows.
• Experience integrating AI-assisted tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Claude) into developer workflows.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent practical experience.

About the Company

Company: Microchip

Headquarters: Chandler, Arizona, USA

Microchip is a leading semiconductor company focused on developing innovative solutions to enhance the human experience. With a commitment to empowering innovation, Microchip prioritizes the value of its employees by fostering a culture that supports their growth and contributions.