Staff System Software Engineer

Job Title

Staff System Software Engineer

Role Summary

Join SiFive's System Software group to design, implement, and upstream system-level software for RISC-V processors. The role works across firmware, boot components, device drivers, and OS integration to enable hardware features and deliver production-quality software.

Experience Level

Senior level. The posting requests 5+ years of experience developing architecture-level code or device drivers in C for multiprocessor systems with upstream involvement.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities focus on developing and integrating low-level software for SoC features and collaborating with architecture and hardware teams.

• Design, develop, upstream and release system software: Linux kernel, device drivers, OpenSBI, U-Boot, Yocto/OpenEmbedded.
• Implement software that leverages hardware features (CPUs, interconnects, IOMMUs, firewalls) and integrates cleanly with operating systems.
• Work closely with system architecture and hardware engineering teams to review and refine features and system designs.
• Debug complex multicore systems and support bring-up and validation activities.
• Contribute to public open-source projects and manage upstream submissions.

Requirements

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

• Expert knowledge of interfaces such as PCIe, Ethernet, and CXL.
• 5+ years developing architecture-level code or device drivers in C for multiprocessor, multithreaded kernels (Linux/BSD) with upstream experience.
• Experience with Linux kernel internals, device drivers, virtualization, and IOMMUs.
• Experience with OpenSBI, U-Boot, Yocto/OpenEmbedded and related firmware/boot workflows.
• Proven upstream development experience on Linux or similar high-level OS projects.
• Debugging experience on complex multicore systems using tools such as GDB, JTAG and OpenOCD.
• Familiarity with git, Makefiles, the GNU toolchain and shell scripting.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills; experience working with hardware architecture teams.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with ACPI, UEFI/EDK2, OpenBMC and data center platform software.

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.