Principal DSP Firmware Engineer

Microchip Technology Inc.; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 149,000 - 219,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits from day one

Restricted stock units (RSUs)

Quarterly bonus payments

Retirement savings plans

IESPP program

Job summary

Microchip Technology Inc. in Ottawa is seeking a Principal Engineer – Firmware to join our Timing Firmware team. You will collaborate with Marketing, Systems Architecture, Hardware, and Validation to develop state‑of‑the‑art SoC timing solutions and related tools.

You will lead firmware design and implementation, write tests, and contribute to system integration and documentation, leveraging your expertise in DSP, embedded software, and C/C++ in a fast-paced, global environment.

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in DSP algorithm development, embedded software development, or a combination of both.
• Extensive experience and deep expertise in C/C++ programming.
• Experience developing unit tests for code quality validation.
• Hands‑on experience with scripting languages such as Python and TCL.
• Knowledge of embedded general‑purpose processors and/or embedded DSP architectures and programming.
• Knowledge of embedded software or firmware, RTOS, and hardware/software interactions.
• Strong problem‑solving and debugging skills, with the ability to work comfortably with laboratory equipment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with architecture, validation, manufacturing, and other cross‑functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Marketing: Define firmware requirements and provide feedback on feasibility and limitations of proposed features.
• Design Collaboration: Work closely with hardware designers and test engineers to contribute to firmware architecture design and write detailed design specifications.
• Implementation: Implement algorithms, functions, and hardware drivers according to design specifications.
• Testing: Write integration test plans and develop automated regression test scripts to verify design features.
• Problem Solving: Tackle complex technical challenges, perform root‑cause analysis, and drive resolution of critical issues.
• Tool Development: Develop tools to support firmware development, debugging, and testing.
• System Integration: Assist with system‑level integration and debugging.
• Documentation: Ensure thorough documentation of designs, code, and development processes.

Skills

DSP algorithms

Embedded software

C/C++

Unit tests

Python

TCL

RTOS

Debugging

Cross-functional communication

Education

MSc or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field

Tools

Jira

Git

Confluence

Job description

Are you looking for a unique opportunity to be a part of something great? Want to join a 17,000-member team that works on the technology that powers the world around us? Looking for an atmosphere of trust, empowerment, respect, diversity, and communication? How about an opportunity to own a piece of a multi-billion dollar (with a B!) global organization? We offer all that and more at Microchip Technology Inc.

People come to work at Microchip because we help design the technology that runs the world. They stay because our culture supports their growth and stability. They are challenged and driven by an incredible array of products and solutions with unlimited career potential. Microchip’s nationally-recognized Leadership Passage Programs support career growth where we proudly enroll over a thousand people annually. We take pride in our commitment to employee development, values-based decision making, and strong sense of community, driven by our Vision, Mission, and 11 Guiding Values; we affectionately refer to it as the Aggregate System and it’s won us countless awards for diversity and workplace excellence.

Our company is built by dedicated team players who love to challenge the status quo; we did not achieve record revenue and over 30 years of quarterly profitability without a great team dedicated to empowering innovation. People like you.

Visit our careers page to see what exciting opportunities and company perks await!

Job Description

The Microchip Timing and Synchronization Team is dedicated to developing world‑class network synchronization products. We are at the forefront of creating new timing technologies, including ultra-low‑jitter PLLs, IEEE 1588, and Synchronous Ethernet PLLs, that address synchronization challenges in optical, electrical, and packet networks. Our timing solutions are used in diverse applications such as 5G, autonomous vehicles, stock markets, wireless communications, the cable industry, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

We have an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled Principal Enginer – Firmware to join our Ottawa-based Timing Firmware team in Canada. In this role, you will collaborate closely with the Marketing, Systems Architecture, Hardware, and Validation teams to develop innovative, state‑of‑the‑art SoC-based timing solutions and related tools.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Marketing: Define firmware requirements and provide feedback on the feasibility and limitations of proposed product features.
• Design Collaboration: Work closely with hardware designers and test engineers to contribute to firmware architecture design and write detailed design specifications.
• Implementation: Implement algorithms, functions, and hardware drivers according to design specifications.
• Testing: Write integration test plans and develop automated regression test scripts to verify design features.
• Problem Solving: Tackle complex technical challenges, perform root‑cause analysis, and drive the resolution of critical issues.
• Tool Development: Develop tools to support firmware development, debugging, and testing.
• System Integration: Assist with system‑level integration and debugging.
• Documentation: Ensure thorough documentation of designs, code, and development processes.

Requirements/Qualifications

Required

• MSc or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in DSP algorithm development, embedded software development, or a combination of both.
• Extensive experience and deep expertise in C/C++ programming.
• Experience developing unit tests for code quality validation.
• Hands‑on experience with scripting languages such as Python and TCL.
• Knowledge of embedded general‑purpose processors and/or embedded DSP architectures and programming.
• Knowledge of embedded software or firmware, real‑time operating systems (RTOS), and hardware/software interactions.
• Strong problem‑solving and debugging skills, with the ability to work comfortably with laboratory equipment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with architecture, validation, manufacturing, and other cross‑functional teams.

Nice To Have

• Strong theoretical background in digital signal processing algorithms and analysis.
• Experience with low‑level embedded software development and verification.
• Experience with SoC development and integration.
• Knowledge of timing standards.
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and related tools such as Jira, Git, and Confluence.

Travel Time

0% - 25%

Pay Range

We offer a total compensation package that ranks among the best in the industry. It consists of competitive base pay, restricted stock units, and quarterly bonus payments. In addition to these components, our package includes health benefits that begin day one, retirement savings plans, and an industry leading IESPP program with a 6‑month look back feature. Find more information about all our benefits at the link below.

Benefits of working at Microchip

The annual base salary range for this position is $107,000 - $157,000.*

• Range is dependent on numerous factors including job location, skills and experience.

Ontario Accommodation

Your accessibility is important to us. If you would like to contact us about our website or need help completing the application process, please email us at [e-mail].

In accordance with applicable laws (including human rights and accessibility legislation in Ontario), accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process. Let us know what type of accommodations you require to help remove barriers so that you can participate throughout the interview process.

This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.