Principal Firmware Engineer
SynopsysJob Title
Principal Firmware Engineer
Role Summary
Develop and optimize low-level firmware for DDR, LPDDR, and HBM memory-interface PHY training as part of the Synopsys IP Group firmware team based in Ottawa. The role focuses on improving training runtime and robustness by working at the hardware-software boundary, validating algorithms on real silicon, and mentoring other engineers.
Experience Level
Senior. Experience expectations are degree-dependent: Bachelor's +12 years, Master's +10 years, PhD +8 years of commercial or production software/firmware development experience.
Responsibilities
You will implement, profile, debug, and refine PHY training firmware and collaborate across firmware, RTL, and lab validation teams.
- Develop and optimize firmware for DDR, LPDDR, and HBM PHY training sequences.
- Profile compiled firmware at the instruction level and implement micro-optimizations to reduce runtime.
- Analyze RTL waveforms and testchip lab data to refine training algorithms and improve eye margins.
- Debug hardware-software interaction issues using RTL simulation and lab equipment.
- Collaborate on firmware architecture and translate JEDEC protocol requirements into robust training workflows.
- Prototype modeling techniques to enhance memory training processes.
- Mentor and grow engineers on low-level firmware development, debugging, and profiling techniques.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and experience for immediate contribution.
- Deep proficiency in C for embedded firmware and experience optimizing for resource-constrained processors.
- Hands-on experience with RTL waveform analysis and debugging tools such as Verdi or DVE.
- Demonstrated ability to work at the hardware-software boundary and correlate firmware behavior with digital logic and physical interfaces.
- Experience profiling and optimizing compiled code for performance-critical applications.
- Strong debugging skills across firmware, RTL simulation, and hardware lab environments.
Nice-to-have:
- Experience with Python for test automation and Verilog for RTL co-development.
- Familiarity with JEDEC memory-training specifications and testchip lab workflows.
Education Requirements
Required: a Bachelors degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field with 12+ years of commercial/production experience; or a Masters degree with 10+ years; or a PhD with 8+ years. The posting specifies degrees in technical fields and experience levels tied to the degree; equivalent commercial/production experience is implied by the experience requirements.
About the Company
Company: Synopsys
Headquarters: Mountain View, California, USA
Synopsys is a leading company in electronic design automation (EDA) and semiconductor IP solutions. It provides tools and services for designing and verifying complex semiconductor devices and systems. The company plays a pivotal role in the semiconductor industry, helping engineers innovate and deliver higher-quality products faster. Synopsys is committed to advancing technology standards and offers a range of software and hardware solutions to its clients globally.
