Staff Firmware/Middleware Engineer

Job Title

Staff Firmware/Middleware Engineer

Role Summary

As a Staff Firmware Engineer on the Performance Computing Power (PCP) team in Austin, TX, you will architect, design, and maintain embedded firmware for digital power integrated circuits used in advanced computing platforms. The role covers low-level firmware, silicon bring-up, validation, and production support.

Experience Level

Senior; requires 8+ years of firmware development experience, particularly on custom SoCs in pre- and post-silicon environments.

Responsibilities

Lead firmware development and verification across the product lifecycle.

• Design, develop, and verify embedded firmware for digital PWM voltage regulators.
• Implement new features and firmware patches; apply hardware workarounds.
• Define firmware–hardware interfaces with hardware design teams based on user requirements.
• Write specifications to document firmware architecture and implementation.
• Collaborate with validation teams to bring up new silicon and debug issues.
• Develop automated lab tests to validate firmware using test equipment.

Requirements

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

• 8+ years firmware development on custom SoCs in pre- and post-silicon environments.
• Expert in embedded C and assembly; strong real-time performance, interrupt, and memory optimization skills.
• 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.
• Familiar with version control and software development lifecycle practices.
• Strong analytical skills, structured debug methodology, and clear written/verbal communication.

Nice-to-have

• Knowledge of ARM Cortex-M processors and ARM compiler toolchains.
• Experience with Cadence or Synopsys debug tools (SimVision, Verdi).
• Understanding of serial bus protocols such as I2C and SPI.
• Familiarity with DC-DC buck converter concepts and Test Driven Development (TDD) for firmware.

Education Requirements

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

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.