Software Engineer - FPGA-Accelerated RTL Simulation

Job Title

Software Engineer - FPGA-Accelerated RTL Simulation

Role Summary

Responsible for the C++ application component of SiFive's FPGA-hosted hardware emulation framework. You will join a small cross-functional team working with FPGA RTL designers, compiler engineers, and RISC-V software/hardware developers.

The position focuses on high-performance, multithreaded C++ development to deliver fast, debuggable, and cost-effective emulation for RISC-V core development.

Experience Level

Senior — requires 7+ years of relevant professional experience.

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and maintain the C++ software that drives FPGA-accelerated RTL emulation and supporting tooling:

• Develop and maintain the emulation host application and libraries in modern C++ (C++20+).
• Collaborate with FPGA RTL designers to integrate FPGA-hosted modules and ensure deterministic behavior.
• Work with compiler teams to integrate ASIC-to-emulation RTL flows and toolchains.
• Design and implement concurrent, multithreaded architectures for performance and scalability.
• Build debugging, tracing, and test tools to support hardware/software co-design.
• Optimize runtime performance and resource usage for Xilinx FPGA targets.
• Write unit and integration tests, maintain CI pipelines, and produce technical documentation.

Requirements

Core qualifications and desirable skills:

• 7+ years building complete C++ applications using modern C++ features and best practices (C++20+).
• Proven experience designing and implementing multithreaded and concurrent systems.
• Proven ability to work independently in a small engineering team.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Experience with performance profiling, debugging, and testing large systems.
• Nice-to-have: familiarity with compiler toolchains (LLVM, MLIR, CIRCT), FPGA RTL design (Chisel), Xilinx toolchains, hardware emulation frameworks, or distributed CI systems.

Education Requirements

BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related technical field.

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.