Staff Firmware/Software Engineer - Embedded SoC / Microcontroller / DSP / PHY (AI Connectivity)
Marvell TechnologyJob Title
Staff Firmware/Software Engineer - Embedded SoC / Microcontroller / DSP / PHY (AI Connectivity)
Role Summary
Develop embedded firmware and software for optical DSP PHY products used in pluggable optical modules. The Staff engineer provides technical leadership for firmware architecture, implementation, testing, and product delivery across pre-silicon through field deployment.
The role requires cross-functional coordination with hardware, test, validation, QA, applications/AE, marketing, and customers to ensure successful product bring-up and ongoing field support.
Experience Level
Senior (Staff level). Title indicates a senior engineering role; typically 7+ years of relevant experience is expected.
Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities include firmware architecture, development, debugging, and project coordination:
- Design, implement, and test embedded C firmware for RISC-V-based multi-core MCUs controlling DSP hardware.
- Lead firmware architecture and API design; conduct and act on technical reviews.
- Develop firmware for DSP control blocks (RX/TX signal processing, FEC, PLL/FLL, reference generation, thermal monitoring).
- Translate standards (MSA/OIF/CMIS) and customer specifications into clear requirements and sequence diagrams.
- Debug system issues, drive root-cause analysis with hardware and systems teams, and follow up with validation and field fixes.
- Plan software milestones, manage Agile sprints, and report status on scope, dependencies, and blockers.
- Coordinate deliverables and schedules with Marketing, AE, Test, Validation, SW_QA, and Hardware teams.
- Engage with tier-1 customers on feature requirements, API specifications, and customer bring-up/support.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and experience:
- Experience in memory-constrained embedded C/C++ firmware development.
- Proven experience in firmware architecture, code reviews, testing, and delivering product to customer volume production.
- Understanding of embedded SoC and microcontroller architecture; RISC-V experience is a plus.
- Experience with memory-mapped hardware interfaces, GPIOs, and interrupt service routines (ISRs).
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in English; ability to collaborate across large cross-functional organizations.
Nice-to-have:
- Experience with SERDES, IM-DD/Coherent DSP, Ethernet/PCIe PHYs, or optical module software.
- Experience designing software state machines, context saving, error handling, and mixed-signal control (PID/feedback loops).
- Bare-metal, RTOS, device driver, or Linux kernel experience; familiarity with compilers (gcc/clang).
- Proficient in Python; familiarity with git, Linux, makefiles, gdb, IDEs, and shell scripting.
- Experience with FPGA emulation, Verilog, lab equipment (oscilloscopes, PNAs), and PHY traffic schemes (PRBS, FEC, BER analysis).
Education Requirements
BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
About the Company
Company: Marvell Technology
Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, United States
Marvell’s semiconductor solutions serve as essential building blocks of the data infrastructure connecting our world, driving innovation across enterprise, cloud, AI, and carrier architectures. The company focuses on creating transformative technology that shapes the future.
