Principal Engineer, Firmware Engineering- low-level firmware, PCIe

We're looking for a highly accomplished and visionary Principal Engineer to lead the development of our NPU firmware runtime for the Next Gen Computational Flash Controller project. You'll be the technical owner of the device-side software stack that orchestrates all NPU operations. This is a rare opportunity to define the architecture of a high-performance compute platform, from kernel scheduling to data orchestration, at the deepest levels of the system.

Key Responsibilities ️

• Architectural Leadership: Serve as the technical lead for the entire NPU firmware runtime. You'll define the architecture for the communication and control plane that interacts with the host-side software stack via the PCIe driver.
• Kernel Orchestration: Design and implement the firmware for loading, scheduling, and executing kernels on the NPU. You will optimize the entire workflow from host command receipt to kernel launch, ensuring minimal latency and maximum throughput.
• Data Flow and DMA Engine: Architect the firmware responsible for managing high-bandwidth data flow. This includes interfacing with the SRAM to stage data and orchestrating the DMA engine to move data efficiently between the host, DRAM, and High-Bandwidth Flash (HBF) .
• Performance Tuning: Profile, analyze, and optimize the end-to-end performance of the NPU runtime. You'll identify bottlenecks at the firmware, hardware, and driver layers, and propose innovative solutions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with the host-side software teams (PyTorch), hardware design teams, and silicon engineers to define APIs, debug complex issues, and ensure a seamless, high-performance solution.

Mentorship: Act as a mentor and technical guide to other firmware and software engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and innovation

• Experience: 7+ years of hands-on experience in low-level firmware or system software development.
• Architectural Acumen: Proven experience in defining the architecture of complex embedded or device-side systems.
• Technical Expertise:
  • Mastery of C/C++ with a focus on writing high-performance, concurrent, and real-time code.
  • Deep understanding of system architecture, including PCIe , memory management, and DMA engines.
  • Experience with hardware bring-up, embedded processors, and on-chip peripherals.
  • Knowledge of deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch) and the underlying computation graphs.
• Leadership Skills: Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical projects and influence a diverse group of stakeholders without direct authority.
• Problem-Solving: Exceptional debugging and analytical skills, with a track record of solving the most challenging system-level problems.
• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

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