Software Engineers (all levels - Graduates to principal Engineer)

lowRISC CIC; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative non-profit organization seeks experienced software engineers to contribute to groundbreaking open-source projects. Join a collaborative team focused on developing high-quality hardware Roots of Trust and secure embedded applications. You'll work with cutting-edge technologies and programming languages, tackling challenging projects that push the boundaries of what's possible. With a strong emphasis on open-source principles, this role offers the chance to make a significant impact in the tech community while enjoying a supportive work environment that values your contributions and growth.

Benefits

Generous employer pension contribution (up to 12.5%)

Holiday allowance (33 days including public holidays)

Private Medical Insurance

4 week paid sabbatical after every 4 years of service

Assistance with relocation

Tier 2 Visa sponsorship

Qualifications

• Experience in developing firmware and drivers for RISC-V.
• Strong programming skills in C, C++, Rust, and Python.

Responsibilities

• Developing code for OpenTitan and Sonata projects.
• Working on software hardening and security tools.

Skills

C

C++

Rust

Python

Go

SystemVerilog

RISC-V firmware

Software hardening

Embedded operating systems

Compilers and code generators

Education

Degree in Computer Science

Higher degree levels

Academic research experience

Tools

Electronic design automation (EDA) tools

Cloud-based infrastructure

Device and whole-system simulators

Job description

The Role

We are looking for experienced software engineers to join us in Cambridge to work on groundbreaking projects such as OpenTitan and Sonata.

The goal of OpenTitan is to make it possible to create high-quality hardware Roots of Trust (RoT) using open source designs. Sonata is our demonstration platform for CHERIoT Ibex, an extension of the Ibex CPU core that integrates CHERI memory safety features and promises a new era of highly secure embedded applications.

As an open source software engineer at lowRISC you will work closely with our partners to develop the code that makes such visions a reality.

The software team at lowRISC works on a wide range of tasks:

• RISC-V firmware and drivers
• Software hardening and security tools
• Embedded operating systems (e.g. Tock, an OS written in Rust, and CHERIoT-RTOS)
• Compilers, code generators, and linters
• Device and whole-system simulators, as well as related tools (e.g. fault injection)
• Electronic design automation (EDA) tools
• Performance and code size analysis
• Cloud-based infrastructure (such as continuous integration pipelines)

We write code in a variety of different programming languages. Our core languages are C, C++, Rust, and Python but the role may also include other languages such as Go or even SystemVerilog development.

Open source is fundamental to everything we do at lowRISC and our team believes passionately in an open and collaborative approach to engineering. If that appeals to you and you have a track record of tackling challenging projects then we strongly encourage you to apply!

Applications for this position are considered on a rolling basis.

Requirements

Our work is highly technical and a degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience is required. Relevant industrial experience, higher degree levels and academic research experience are also highly valued. A high standard of written and spoken English is essential.

Salary, Benefits, and Sponsorship

We are hiring across a range of grades including Engineer II (£48k+), Senior Engineer (£66k+) and Principal Engineer (£84k+). We also welcome applications from recent graduates.

We offer assistance with both domestic and international relocation in line with HMRC's guidance. For suitable candidates lowRISC offers Tier 2 Visa sponsorship subject to UK Visas & Immigration conditions being met.

Benefits include a generous employer pension contribution (up to 12.5%), holiday allowance (33 days including public holidays), Private Medical Insurance, a 4 week paid sabbatical after every 4 years of service and hybrid working.

About LowRISC

lowRISC is a non-profit Community Interest Company that uses a collaborative engineering approach to develop and maintain open source silicon designs and supporting software. Our expertise includes processor and SoC design with a particular focus on hardware security, design verification, RISC-V tools and the LLVM compiler. Our mission is to unlock the potential of open source silicon and enable its widespread adoption, with more credible, accessible and efficient silicon solutions than exist today.

Through projects like OpenTitan we partner with organisations such as ETH Zürich, G+D Mobile Security, Google, Nuvoton, Seagate, and Western Digital. We also maintain close links to researchers in Computer Architecture at the University of Cambridge amongst other research communities.

The team is based in Cambridge, UK, amongst the Silicon Fen’s ecosystem of high tech startups. Our office is in the heart of the city and a short walk from the train station.

We do not discriminate against any employee or candidate because of race, colour, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

Please let us know if you need any adjustments made to the application or selection process so you can do your best. We will be happy to help.