Low-Level Software Engineer (OS-based), CPU Validation group

Arm Limited; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Arm Limited is seeking engineers for OS verification to ensure ARM CPUs boot operating systems and run real software. You will work on bringing up OS environments, configuring test payloads, and executing regression suites to validate hardware/software interactions.

The role offers exposure to low-level software development and deepening understanding of CPU internals in a collaborative, hybrid team at Arm. Relish the chance to contribute to mobile, HPC and IoT products.

Qualifications

• Experience writing OS-level validation tests in C.
• Understanding CPU architecture, caches, MMU, SMP, and pipelines.
• Knowledge of operating system kernels and hardware interaction.
• Nice to have: Python scripting and CPU verification/EDA tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop OS-based validation test scenarios aligned with the test plan and feature coverage.
• Bring up and configure OS environments and test payloads on target platforms and run regression suites.
• Debug and root-cause validation failures across HW, firmware, and software boundaries.
• Document defects with clear failure analysis, steps, logs and evidence, collaborating with teams.
• Track validation status and communicate results and risks to stakeholders.

Skills

C programming

Assembler basics

CPU architecture

OS kernel knowledge

Education

Computer Science or Electronic Engineering degree

Job description

Job Overview:

Are you passionate about the interaction between software and hardware and interested in applying your knowledge in a world-beating commercial processor group? Then this role may be just what you are looking for!

Arm's OS verification team is responsible for ensuring that ARM CPUs can boot operating systems and will be able to run real software. This includes early software bring-up on ARM CPUs with the goals of validating the hardware and of finding and investigating hardware and software bugs, which we can then investigate and share with hardware engineers to ensure their resolution.

We collaborate across our distributed team, as well as with colleagues in related software, hardware and architecture groups, allowing us to share optimum tools and ways of working.

If you enjoy low-level software development and are fascinated by the internal functioning of CPUs and operating systems, we would like to hear from you. This is an excellent opportunity to improve your software skills, while deepening your understanding of the internals of modern CPUs in an accomplished and diverse team!

Job Responsibilities:

• Develop comprehensive OS-based validation test scenarios aligned with the test plan, architecture specifications, and targeted feature coverage.
• Bring up and configure OS environments and test payloads on target platforms, execute regression suites, and analyze test results to identify functional and stability issues.
• Debug and root-cause validation failures, including software/OS issues and hardware-related failures, and triage issues across HW, firmware, and software boundaries.
• Document defects with clear failure analysis, reproduction steps, logs, and supporting evidence, and collaborate with development teams through resolution.
• Track validation status, identify coverage or quality gaps, and communicate results, risks, and key findings to stakeholders.

Education & Qualifications:

University degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Electronic Engineering.

Required Skills and Experience:

• You have software development experience in ‘C’ and some knowledge of low level assembler programming languages
• You understand CPU architecture and micro-architecture features (such as caches, MMU, SMP, coherency, CPU pipelines)
• You have knowledge of operating system kernels and how they exploit the hardware.

“Nice To Have” Skills and Experience:

• Understanding and use of the Arm instruction set architecture
• Experience with scripting languages such as Python
• Exposure to CPU verification or EDA tools

In Return:

You will join a hard-working group of engineers who are driven by technical excellence and the opportunity to continue to learn throughout their careers - but who are also very friendly and approachable. Your work will directly lead to real products in the mobile, HPC and IoT spaces, giving you a real sense of accomplishment as well as meaningful rewards.

Additional Information:

Please note that no relocation package is available for this role. If skilled worker sponsorship is required, Arm will meet costs associated with sponsorship for the employer only. All fees associated with the individual’s application e.g. visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, will be the responsibility of the successful candidate.

Accommodations at Arm

At Arm, we want to build extraordinary teams. If you need an adjustment or an accommodation during the recruitment process, please email [e-mail]. To note, by sending us the requested information, you consent to its use by Arm to arrange for appropriate accommodations. All accommodation or adjustment requests will be treated with confidentiality, and information concerning these requests will only be disclosed as necessary to provide the accommodation. Although this is not an exhaustive list, examples of support include breaks between interviews, having documents read aloud, or office accessibility. Please email us about anything we can do to accommodate you during the recruitment process.

Hybrid Working at Arm

Arm’s approach to hybrid working is designed to create a working environment that supports both high performance and personal wellbeing. We believe in bringing people together face to face to enable us to work at pace, whilst recognizing the value of flexibility. Within that framework, we empower groups/teams to determine their own hybrid working patterns, depending on the work and the team’s needs. Details of what this means for each role will be shared upon application. In some cases, the flexibility we can offer is limited by local legal, regulatory, tax, or other considerations, and where this is the case, we will collaborate with you to find the best solution. Please talk to us to find out more about what this could look like for you.

Equal Opportunities at Arm

Arm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and colleagues. We are a diverse organization of dedicated and innovative individuals, and don’t discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.