Senior System Software Engineer

Job Title

Senior System Software Engineer

Role Summary

This role develops low-level and system software for SiFive processors across firmware, bootloader, and operating system layers, with emphasis on Linux kernel, device drivers, OpenSBI, u-boot, and Yocto/OpenEmbedded.

The engineer will work with architecture, hardware, and software teams to design, evaluate, and integrate hardware features into software and contribute upstream to open-source projects.

Experience Level

Senior — posting indicates >1 year of relevant experience developing architecture-level code or device drivers with upstream involvement.

Responsibilities

Primary duties include design, development, upstreaming of system software, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

• Design, implement, and upstream Linux kernel components and device drivers.
• Develop and maintain OpenSBI, u-boot, Yocto/OpenEmbedded integrations and SiFive-specific firmware.
• Collaborate with system architects and hardware engineers to specify and validate hardware/software interfaces.
• Debug and diagnose complex multicore systems and platform issues.
• Ensure software integrates cleanly with operating systems and public open-source projects.
• Participate in code reviews, release processes, and upstream submission workflows.

Requirements

Must-have skills and experience:

• 1+ years developing architecture-level code or device drivers in C for multiprocessor, multithreaded open-source kernels with upstream involvement.
• Proven upstream development experience on Linux or similar operating systems.
• Experience working with hardware architecture and engineering teams.
• Experience debugging complex multicore systems using tools such as GDB, JTAG, and OpenOCD.
• Proficiency with git, Makefiles, GNU toolchain, and shell scripting.
• Experience with device drivers, virtualization, IOMMUs, power management, or SoC platform security.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with PCIe, ACPI, UEFI/edk2, and RISC-V server SoC platforms.

Education Requirements

B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Computer Science or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

About the Company

Company: SiFive

Headquarters: San Mateo, California, United States

SiFive is a pioneering company in the RISC-V ecosystem, focused on transforming the future of computing by delivering high-performance, data-intensive RISC-V solutions. Their compute platforms empower leading technology firms to innovate across various markets, including AI, machine learning, and automotive sectors. SiFive is recognized for its commitment to ongoing innovation and fostering collaboration among talented teams, impacting lives by enabling advanced chip design.