Staff Firmware Engineer

Job Title

Staff Firmware Engineer

Role Summary

Join the Performance Computing Power (PCP) team in Austin to architect, design, and maintain firmware for digital power ICs used in advanced computing platforms. Work spans low-level firmware, silicon bring-up, validation, and supporting products through high-volume manufacturing.

Experience Level

Senior — 8+ years of firmware development on custom SoCs in pre- and post-silicon environments.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include firmware architecture, implementation, verification, and validation for digital power controllers.

• Design, develop, and verify embedded firmware for digital PWM voltage regulators.
• Implement firmware patches for new features and hardware workarounds.
• Define firmware-to-hardware interfaces with the hardware design team based on user requirements.
• Write specifications documenting firmware architecture and implementation.
• Collaborate with validation and bring-up teams to debug issues on new silicon.
• Develop automated lab tests to validate firmware using test equipment.
• Support production transition and high-volume manufacturing as needed.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience for immediate contribution; preferred items listed separately.

• Expert in embedded firmware development in C and assembly.
• Strong knowledge of interrupt handling, memory management, and performance optimization for real-time applications.
• Deep understanding of state-machine-driven task management and RTOS concepts.
• Experience working with hardware RTL design in Verilog.
• Proficient with Linux command line and a scripting language such as Python or Perl.
• Strong analytical and debugging methodology with attention to detail.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

Education Requirements

BS or MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering or a related field.

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of ARM Cortex-M series processors and ARM compiler toolchain.
• Experience with Cadence or Synopsys debug tools (e.g., SimVision, Verdi).
• Familiarity with serial bus protocols such as I2C and SPI.
• Experience with Test Driven Development and standalone firmware unit test benches.
• Familiarity with DC-DC buck converter concepts and applications.

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.