CPU Firmware Architect

Job Title: CPU Firmware Architect

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled Core CPU Architect with 12–15 years of experience in ARM-based CPU architecture, embedded firmware, and low-level system software. This role requires a hands-on technical leader with deep expertise in CPU microarchitecture, cache/memory subsystems, power-performance optimization, and Linux kernel integration.

The ideal candidate will work at the intersection of CPU design and system software, driving innovations in core CPU, firmware/OS enablement, and performance tuning for next-generation SoCs used in automotive and edge computing platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and architect core CPU software interfaces (firmware, BSP, drivers) aligned with ARM CPU microarchitecture features.
• Design and implement low-level firmware and kernel components for CPU initialization, exception handling, MMU setup, coherency, and memory management.
• Collaborate with CPU design and silicon teams on pipeline features, caches, coherency protocols, branch prediction, and power states.
• Lead Linux kernel and RTOS integration for CPU subsystems, focusing on scheduling, memory, and power-aware optimizations.
• Drive CPU power management strategies: clock gating, DVFS, retention states, idle states, and adaptive scaling.
• Perform CPU and memory subsystem performance profiling using simulators, emulators, JTAG, and hardware trace/debug tools.
• Define system-level performance/power KPIs and lead tuning across CPU, firmware, kernel, and device drivers.
• Mentor engineers and guide architecture reviews, patents, and long-term CPU strategy.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to deliver high-performance CPU platforms.

Required Skills & Experience

• CPU Architecture: Deep expertise in ARMv8/v9 architecture, exception levels, MMU, caches, coherency protocols, ISA extensions, and PMU.
• Firmware & Kernel: Strong hands-on experience in firmware, Linux kernel internals, RTOS, and device drivers.
• Performance & Power: Proven ability in CPU pipeline analysis, memory subsystem tuning, DVFS, cpuidle/cpufreq frameworks, and power-performance tradeoff analysis.
• Debug & Bring-up: Experience in CPU bring-up, silicon validation, trace analyzers, emulators, JTAG, and kernel tracing tools.
• Programming: Proficiency in C/C++ and assembly (ARM), with Python/Shell for automation.
• I/O & Interconnects: Familiarity with PCIe, Ethernet, I²C, SPI, CAN, USB, and memory buses (DDR, LPDDR).
• Problem Solving: Strong ability to root-cause complex issues across CPU architecture, firmware, and OS layers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Contributions to open-source CPU enablement (Linux kernel, toolchains, firmware frameworks).
• Background in automotive, mobile SoCs, or Edge computing platforms with strict latency and performance KPIs.
• Technical leadership in CPU/SoC co-design projects involving hardware, firmware, and OS integration.

Education

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, or related field.