Firmware Architecture Leader

Ascendion; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 6,000,000 - 10,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascendion seeks a Firmware Architecture Leader to define the firmware vision for next-generation SoCs and platforms, spanning pre- to post-silicon deployment.

You will drive architecture governance, collaborate with silicon, hardware, and software teams, and lead globally distributed engineers to deliver secure, power-efficient, high-performance platforms.

Qualifications

• Proven experience architecting firmware for complex SoCs or platforms.
• Strong skills in embedded C/C++ and low-level software.
• Experience leading global firmware teams and governance.
• Deep understanding of boot, drivers, security, and validation.

Responsibilities

• Define long-term firmware architecture roadmap across product lines.
• Lead platform firmware, boot, security, and power-management work streams.
• Partner with silicon, hardware, and software teams for co-design.
• Drive architecture governance and risk mitigation across programs.
• Mentor engineers and establish scalable governance processes.

Skills

Embedded C/C++

Firmware architecture

RTOS & low-level software

SoC power management

Device drivers

Boot architectures

Hardware-software interfaces

Debug & validation

Leadership in global teams

Post-silicon platform enablement

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Computer/Electronics Engineering or related

Job description

Position Summary

We are seeking an accomplished Firmware Architecture Leader to define and drive the firmware technology vision for next-generation SoC, platform, and system products. This leader will own firmware architecture strategy across multiple product lines, enabling scalable, secure, power-efficient, and high-performance platforms from pre-silicon architecture through post-silicon deployment. The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in firmware, embedded systems, SoC architecture, power/performance optimization, platform software, and silicon enablement with the ability to lead globally distributed engineering organizations. This role will influence executive technology decisions, drive architecture governance, and partner closely with silicon, hardware, software, validation, product management, and customer engineering teams.

Key Responsibilities

Firmware Technology Leadership

• Define and execute the long-term firmware architecture roadmap aligned with business and product strategies.
• Establish technology direction for platform firmware, power management firmware, device initialization, boot architecture, system management, security, and hardware abstraction layers.
• Drive architectural innovation for next-generation SoCs and platform solutions.
• Lead technical strategy reviews and architecture councils across multiple engineering organizations.

Architecture & Product Development

• Own firmware architecture across silicon generations and product families.
• Guide architecture decisions for:
• UEFI/BIOS
• Boot firmware
• SoC management firmware
• Power and thermal management
• Security firmware
• Embedded controllers
• RTOS-based platforms
• Firmware update frameworks
• Ensure scalability, portability, maintainability, reliability, and security by design.
• Drive system-level tradeoffs considering performance, power, area, cost, and schedule.

Silicon & Platform Enablement

• Partner with silicon architects to define hardware-software co-design strategies.
• Lead firmware requirements from architecture definition through silicon bring-up and production readiness.
• Drive first-silicon success through early risk identification and mitigation.
• Support post-silicon validation, platform tuning, root-cause analysis, and customer deployment.

Power & Performance Leadership

• Define framework and methodologies for power management firmware architecture.
• Champion advanced power-saving features, platform optimization techniques, and performance efficiency initiatives.
• Collaborate with architecture, silicon, and OS teams to maximize system-level KPIs.

Security & Reliability

• Establish secure firmware architecture standards.
• Drive implementation of:
• Secure boot
• Root of trust
• Firmware attestation
• Secure update mechanisms
• Functional safety requirements
• Ensure compliance with industry security and quality standards.

Engineering Leadership

• Build, mentor, and lead high-performing firmware architects, technical leads, and engineering managers.
• Develop organizational capabilities and succession plans.
• Create architecture review frameworks and technical governance processes.
• Foster a culture of innovation, engineering excellence, and accountability.

Cross-functional Executive Collaboration

• Partner with Product Management, Silicon Engineering, Software, Validation, Customer Engineering, and Executive Leadership.
• Represent firmware architecture strategy in executive reviews and customer discussions.
• Influence roadmap investments and technology prioritization.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 18 - 20+ years of experience in embedded systems, firmware, platform software, or semiconductor product development.
• Proven experience architecting firmware solutions for complex SoCs, processors, or platform products.
• Deep understanding of:
• Embedded C/C++
• Firmware architecture
• RTOS and low-level software
• Hardware-software interfaces
• SoC power management
• Device drivers
• Boot architectures
• Debug and validation methodologies
• Experience leading firmware development from concept through production.
• Strong knowledge of system architecture, silicon bring-up, and platform enablement.
• Demonstrated success leading global engineering organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in power management firmware and low-power architecture.
• Experience with UEFI, BIOS, BMC, EC firmware, platform security, and firmware update ecosystems.
• Familiarity with AI accelerators, data center platforms, edge computing, client computing, automotive, or networking systems.
• Track record of delivering multiple silicon generations.
• Experience presenting to executive leadership and external customers.

Leadership Competencies

• Visionary technology leadership
• Strategic thinking and roadmap planning
• Executive stakeholder management
• Organizational scaling and transformation
• Talent development and mentoring
• Cross-functional influence without authority
• Technical decision-making under ambiguity
• Customer-focused product mindset

Success Metrics

• Delivery of firmware architecture strategy across multiple product generations.
• Improvement in platform power, performance, security, and reliability KPIs.
• Reduction in silicon bring-up risk and time-to-market.
• Growth and retention of firmware architecture talent.
• Successful deployment of scalable firmware platforms across business units.
• Increased reuse and standardization across product portfolios.