SerDes PHY FW/SW Engineer - Staff/Senior Staff/Principal Levels

Alphawave Semi; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Alphawave Semi is seeking an experienced SerDes PHY FW/SW Engineer at various seniority levels. This role involves developing critical embedded firmware for high-performance multi-standard Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) PHY IP, contributing to next-generation data technologies. You'll lead firmware projects that influence silicon bring-up and collaborate across teams to deliver robust solutions in the semiconductor industry.

Benefits

Comprehensive health plan

Health Spending Account

Wellness Spending Account

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible time off options

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in embedded firmware.
• Deep understanding of microcontroller architecture.
• Experience leading embedded software projects.

Responsibilities

• Architecting and implementing embedded firmware.
• Debugging complex issues with hardware.
• Mentoring junior engineers in firmware calibration.

Skills

Embedded C/C++ Development

Hardware Debugging

Technical Leadership

RISC-V Architecture

Education

BS/MS in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Git

Python

Job description

SerDes PHY FW/SW Engineer - Staff/Senior Staff/Principal Levels

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SerDes PHY FW/SW Engineer - Staff/Senior Staff/Principal Levels

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The Opportunity

We're looking for the Wavemakers of tomorrow.

The Opportunity

We're looking for the Wavemakers of tomorrow.

Alphawave Semi enables tomorrow’s future by accelerating the critical data communication at the heart of our digital world – from seamless video streaming to AI to the metaverse and much more. Our technology powers product innovation in the most data-demanding industries today, including data centers, networking, storage, artificial intelligence, 5G wireless infrastructure, and autonomous vehicles. Customers partner with us for mission-critical data communication, our innovative technologies, and our proven track record. Together, we enable the next generation of digital technology.

The Embedded Software / Firmware Team at Alphawave Semi develops critical embedded software that powers high-performance multi-standard Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) PHY IP used in next-generation data center, AI/ML, automotive, and compute applications. Our SerDes IPs support standards such as PCIe, Ethernet, CXL, and are integrated into SoCs and ASICs built by leading semiconductor companies around the world.

The firmware team owns the full embedded software stack that controls the SerDes hardware, including low-level embedded firmware, customer-facing C SDKs, demo & automation scripts, and interactive tools. As a key enabler of silicon bring-up, validation, and production deployment, we work closely with hardware, systems, DV, validation, and application teams across the product lifecycle—from early development to high-volume manufacturing.

What You Can Expect

• Core responsibilities for the firmware team include:
• Embedded firmware running on RISC-V-based controllers that manage Alphawave’s advanced SerDes datapaths
• C SDKs provided to customers for SerDes bring-up, calibration, tuning, and diagnostics
• Python-based lab tools and GUIs for interactive debug, register access, and validation
• Build, regression, and CI infrastructure to ensure code quality and full coverage
• You’ll play a key leadership role in delivering robust, production-quality firmware for SerDes PHY IP. You’ll help define architecture, drive features end-to-end, coordinate across cross-functional teams, and directly influence the design and usability of Alphawave’s IP.
  
  
  

What You'll Do

• Technical lead for SerDes firmware on a major IP program, working with a team (2–8 engineers) through planning, development, validation, and customer delivery
• Architecting and implementing embedded C/C++ firmware for hardware calibration, training algorithms, DSP adaptations, and link state management
• Debugging complex lab and field issues in conjunction with hardware, applications, and validation teams
• Collaborating across functions to define FW milestones, plan sprints, close tickets, and ensure delivery of reliable and high-quality features
• Translating protocol specifications (e.g. PCIe, Ethernet, CXL) or custom system-level requirements into internal firmware architecture and documentation
• Supporting development and silicon bring-up across Alphawave Semi teams and other sites
  
  
  

Example Problems You’ll Solve

• Mentoring a junior engineer through a hard-to-reproduce PHY calibration bug seen in customer silicon
• Developing architecture and state machines to handle multi-lane synchronization or adaptive equalization across dynamic conditions
• Porting a high-level MATLAB or Python SerDes calibration algorithm to optimized fixed-point firmware
• Creating a SerDes diagnostics framework accessible via both SDK and GUI
• Using simulation environments and FPGA emulation to validate FW behavior before tapeout
• Working with IP hardware architects to influence future revisions based on field debug learnings
  
  
  

What You'll Need

• BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of experience in embedded C/C++ firmware development for hardware IP or SoCs
• Technical or team leadership experience in embedded software projects from spec to production
• Deep understanding of microcontroller architecture (RISC-V a plus), memory-mapped registers, ISRs, and boot flows
• Strong lab debug skills, working directly on silicon with scopes, analyzers, and custom tools
• Familiarity with git and modern software development methodologies
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across functions and geographies
  
  
  

Preferred Experience:

• Knowledge of SerDes, high-speed IO standards (PCIe, Ethernet, UCIe, CXL, etc)
• Experience with calibration algorithms, signal conditioning, and adaptive feedback control in hardware
• Experience in silicon bring-up and post-silicon debug
• Experience in pre-silicon firmware development (DV, emulation, etc)
• Knowledge of RTOS or bare-metal FW architectures
• Scripting in Python, Bash, etc. for lab automation and testing
• Familiarity with digital design concepts (Verilog/SystemVerilog), simulation, and DV flows
• Exposure to the OSI model, especially physical and data link layers
• Understanding of signal processing concepts such as eye diagrams, jitter, BER, SNR, CTLE/DFE/FFE, etc.
  
  
  

We have a flexible work environment to support and help employees thrive in personal and professional capacities.

You’ll also be eligible for competitive benefits described as per below:

Health & Wellness

Our programs emphasize knowledge and prevention, helping you stay proactive and prepared to manage your health at every stage.

• Comprehensive health plan
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Wellness Spending Account (WSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  
  
  

Time Off

We value the importance of rest and recharge, which is why we offer flexible time off options to support your well-being.

• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Parental Leave Top-Up Program
  
  
  

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Alphawave Semi is an equal opportunity employer, welcoming all applicants regardless of age, gender, race, disability, or other protected characteristics. We value diversity and provide accommodations during the recruitment process.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Engineering and Information Technology

• Industries

  Semiconductor Manufacturing

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