Firmware Engineering Manager

Synopsys Inc; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Synopsys Ottawa seeks an experienced Engineering Manager to lead embedded firmware teams developing DDR, LPDDR, and HBM PHY technology. You will guide architectural discussions, mentor engineers, and ensure robust firmware across hardware interfaces.

In this role, you will partner with RTL teams, drive quality standards, and engage with customers to translate requirements into reliable solutions. The position is on-site in Ottawa with a focus on technical leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's or PhD in CS, Electronics Engineering or related field is required.
• Proven experience as Tech Lead or Engineering Manager leading embedded firmware or silicon IP teams.
• Strong proficiency in C for embedded firmware in resource-constrained environments.
• Hands-on RTL waveform analysis and debugging across firmware and hardware boundaries.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and grow technical talent.
• Excellent communication skills to discuss tradeoffs with engineers and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of firmware engineers building training algorithms and control logic for next-generation memory interface PHYs.
• Manage the full project lifecycle for complex PHY firmware deliverables, from architecture to customer deployment.
• Spend up to 20% of time collaborating with global customers to clarify requirements and resolve issues.
• Coach and develop engineers across experience levels with guidance on embedded C, RTL integration, and debugging.
• Set and enforce engineering standards for code quality, documentation, and testing.
• Troubleshoot issues spanning firmware, RTL, and hardware interfaces via waveform analysis and cross-domain approaches.
• Represent the team in technical reviews and stakeholder meetings with clear recommendations.

Skills

Embedded firmware

C programming

RTL debugging

Team leadership

Mentoring

Communication with stakeholders

Hardware interfaces

Education

BSc/MS/PhD in CS or Electronics

Tools

RTL waveform analysis

Debugging tools

Job description

We Are

Synopsys is the leader in engineering solutions from silicon to systems, enabling customers to rapidly innovate AI-powered products. We deliver industry-leading silicon design, IP, simulation and analysis solutions, and design services. We partner closely with our customers across a wide range of industries to maximize their R&D capability and productivity, powering innovation today that ignites the ingenuity of tomorrow.

We Are

Synopsys is the leader in engineering solutions from silicon to systems, enabling customers to rapidly innovate AI-powered products. We deliver industry-leading silicon design, IP, simulation and analysis solutions, and design services. We partner closely with our customers across a wide range of industries to maximize their R&D capability and productivity, powering innovation today that ignites the ingenuity of tomorrow. You Are Leading firmware teams has given you a strong sense of what separates consistent delivery from last-minute firefighting. Beyond technical expertise, success comes from building an environment where engineers can take ownership, tackle unfamiliar challenges, and grow through them. The impact of good leadership is often felt long before project milestones arrive, in the decisions, coaching, and direction provided months earlier. The role sits at the intersection of deep technical work and team leadership. One day might involve reviewing waveforms alongside RTL engineers, the next discussing training algorithm performance with customers. Ambiguity does not slow you down. You're comfortable bringing people together, asking the right questions, and helping teams make progress while keeping long-term technical quality in mind. What motivates you is seeing engineers succeed. Whether it's helping somebody work through a difficult firmware problem, providing perspective on a complex project, or challenging requirements that don't stand up to scrutiny, you're actively engaged in the day-to-day realities of engineering leadership. At Synopsys, you'll lead a highly experienced team developing DDR, LPDDR, and HBM PHY technology for next-generation semiconductor designs. The challenges are technically demanding, the work has real impact, and the technology ships in products used across the industry.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead a team of 5 to 8 firmware engineers building training algorithms and control logic for next-generation DDR, LPDDR, and HBM memory interface PHYs
• Manage the full project lifecycle for complex PHY firmware deliverables, from architecture discussions through customer deployment and support
• Spend up to 20% of your time working directly with global customers to clarify requirements, resolve technical issues
• Coach and develop engineers across experience levels, providing technical guidance on embedded C development, RTL integration, and debugging strategies
• Drive engineering standards for code quality, documentation, and testing practices across the team
• Debug and resolve issues that span firmware, RTL, and hardware interfaces using waveform analysis and cross-domain troubleshooting
• Represent the team in technical reviews and stakeholder meetings, translating complex engineering tradeoffs into clear recommendations

The Impact You Will Have

• Enable your team to deliver memory interface solutions that meet aggressive performance and quality targets for customers designing cutting-edge chips
• Accelerate customer development cycles by ensuring robust, well-documented firmware that integrates cleanly with their verification and bring-up workflows
• Raise the technical capability of the group by mentoring junior engineers and establishing clear pathways for skill development
• Shorten project timelines by catching integration issues early and maintaining strong alignment between firmware, RTL, and customer requirements
• Strengthen Synopsys' reputation for technical excellence in silicon IP by delivering solutions that work the first time and scale across product generations
• Build a team culture where engineers feel supported, challenged, and equipped to do their best work on hard problems
• Influence the technical direction of future memory interface products by providing grounded feedback from the firmware development perspective

What You'll Need

• BSc, MS or PhD in Computer Science, Electronics Engineering, or a related field
• Proven experience as a Tech Lead or Engineering Manager leading embedded firmware or silicon IP development teams
• Strong proficiency in C for embedded firmware applications, you have written and debugged production-level code in resource-constrained environments
• Hands-on experience with RTL waveform analysis and debugging, you can trace issues across the firmware and hardware boundary
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and grow engineers, with specific examples of helping team members level up technically
• Strong communication skills, you can discuss technical tradeoffs with engineers, explain project status to stakeholders, and work through requirements with customers
• Experience working in both hardware and software development contexts, understanding how firmware interacts with RTL and physical interfaces

The Team You'll Be Part Of

You will be part of the Synopsys IP Group in Ottawa, a team focused on developing interface IP solutions for DDR, LPDDR, and HBM memory interfaces. The team works on the challenging problem of PHY-to-memory interface training for next-generation protocols and bus speeds, balancing runtime performance with quality of results. The group values fresh perspectives and is committed to mentoring and integrating new leaders into the technical and cultural fabric of the team.

Rewards And Benefits

We offer a comprehensive range of health, wellness, and financial benefits to cater to your needs. Our total rewards include both monetary and non-monetary offerings. Your recruiter will provide more details about the salary range and benefits during the hiring process.