Lead Engineer - USB Linux Enablement and Validation

Globalfoundries Engineering Private Limited; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

GlobalFoundries is seeking a senior USB Lead Engineer in India to own USB enablement on a Linux-based RISC‑V MPU platform. You will drive bring-up, kernel/driver integration, and automated validation across FPGA emulation to first silicon.

You will partner with architects and hardware teams to de-risk USB, define requirements, and deliver a production-ready SDK with extensive validation. Proficiency with U-Boot, Device Tree, Yocto, and debugging tools is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer or Electrical Engineering.
• 8–15 years of embedded Linux platform/BSP and device-driver development experience.
• Expert-level C programming with deep kernel/driver/FW knowledge.
• Strong Linux internals knowledge: boot flow, memory, interrupts, concurrency.
• Hands-on SoC/platform bring-up with high-speed I/O.
• Experience with U-Boot, Device Tree, and Yocto/OpenEmbedded in BSP/SDK releases.
• Strong debugging skills with GDB and at least one OpenOCD/JTAG tool.
• Experience with FPGA, emulation, or early-silicon bring-up for validation.
• Good to have USB knowledge (USB2/USB3) and Linux USB architecture familiarity.
• Experience with USB compliance/interoperability testing and post-silicon triage.
• Exposure to USB Type-C/PD is a plus.
• CI/CD and automated validation exposure is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• USB Linux enablement and integration across 64-bit RISC-V MPU Linux platform.
• Bring up USB controllers, PHYs, clocks/resets, and interrupts.
• Drive kernel/BSP enablement: Device Tree bindings, power management, suspend/resume, performance tuning.
• Develop and debug USB drivers and related subsystems.
• Enable and validate user-space workflows: enumeration, throughput, latency, storage and networking classes.
• Deliver USB SDK releases: integration, regression validation, and developer docs.
• AVV and silicon validation on FPGA/emulation and first silicon.
• Cross-functional ownership with architects, RTL/PHY, board, and platform teams.

Skills

Embedded Linux

C programming

Linux internals

SoC bring-up

U-Boot

Device Tree

Yocto/OpenEmbedded

FPGA/Emulation

GDB/OpenOCD/JTAG

QEMU/Virtual platforms

USB knowledge (2/3)

Education

B.E./B.Tech or M.E./M.Tech in Computer/Electrical Engineering

Tools

GDB

OpenOCD/JTAG

Lauterbach

QEMU

U-Boot

Yocto/OpenEmbedded

Job description

USB Lead Engineer

Location: Pune / Bangalore, India

Own USB enablement on Linux - driver bring-up, compliance, and AVV from FPGA to first silicon.

About GlobalFoundries

GlobalFoundries is a leading full-service semiconductor foundry providing a unique combination of design, development, and fabrication services to some of the world’s most inspired technology companies.

With a global manufacturing footprint spanning three continents, GlobalFoundries make possible the technologies and systems that transform industries and give customers the power to shape their markets.

For more information, visit www.gf.com .

About the Role

We’re building a next-generation, application-class RISC‑V MPU SoC platform for Linux systems - bringing together multimedia, industrial connectivity, security, and high‑speed I/O.

In the Platform Software team, you will be the technical owner for USB across the stack: boot‑to-user-space enablement, kernel/driver integration, and automated validation (AVV) on virtual platforms/FPGA and first silicon.

You’ll partner closely with architects and hardware teams to de‑risk the USB subsystem, drive bring‑up readiness and deliver a production‑quality SDK experience.

Key Responsibilities

• USB Linux enablement & integration: enable and maintain USB host/device/dual-role functionality on a 64‑bit RISC‑V MPU Linux platform.
• Bring up USB controllers (e.g., xHCI/EHCI for host, UDC for device/gadget), PHY integration, clocks/resets, and interrupts.
• Drive kernel/BSP enablement: Device Tree bindings, power management (runtime/PM QoS), suspend/resume, and performance tuning.
• Develop/debug USB drivers and related subsystems: USB core interactions, hub behavior, gadget framework, and class drivers as needed.
• Enable and validate user‑space workflows: enumeration, throughput/latency, storage/networking classes, and reliability over hot-plug scenarios.
• Deliver USB‑ready SDK releases: integration, regression validation, and developer‑facing documentation/debug guides.
• AVV & silicon validation (pre/post‑silicon): create test plans and automation to validate USB functionality, performance, and compliance on FPGA/emulation and first silicon.
• Contribute to shift‑left validation using virtual platforms/emulation/FPGA; build reusable USB validation apps/tests to exercise data paths and corner cases.
• Debug and root‑cause USB issues across HW/FW/kernel using logs, traces, and lab equipment (e.g., JTAG, logic/protocol analyzers); drive fixes to closure.
• Cross‑functional ownership: partner with architects, RTL/PHY, board, and platform teams to define requirements, de‑risk schedules, and land USB features.
• Own USB feature planning: role/port matrix, power & charging considerations, compliance goals, and bring‑up milestones.
• Provide bring‑up and validation feedback that influences USB architecture decisions (controller/PHY selection, debug hooks, observability, testability).
• Align with internal and external stakeholders on deliverables, bug triage, and release readiness for USB enablement.
• Customer & ecosystem engagement: support early adopters and upstream fixes when appropriate (kernel, Device Tree, test collateral).
• Work with OEMs/Tier‑1s during bring‑up and USB interoperability; contribute patches upstream when it improves maintainability.

Required Qualifications

• B.E./B.Tech or M.E./M.Tech in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong experience with minimum 8-15 years in Embedded Linux platform/BSP and device-driver development.
• Expert-level C programming; comfortable reading and modifying kernel, driver, and low-level firmware code.
• Strong Linux internals knowledge: boot flow, memory/interrupt subsystems, concurrency, and performance debugging.
• Hands‑on SoC/platform bring‑up experience, including high-speed I/O enablement and ownership mindset for subsystem quality.
• Hands‑on with U‑Boot, Linux kernel, Device Tree, and Yocto/OpenEmbedded; experience integrating and validating USB in BSP/SDK releases.
• Strong debugging skills with GDB and at least one OpenOCD/JTAG, Lauterbach, or similar tools; able to debug complex HW/SW interactions.
• Experience working on FPGA, emulation, or early-silicon platforms for bring‑up/validation.
• Good to Have: Deep USB knowledge (USB2/USB3) and familiarity with Linux USB architecture (usbcore, HCD, gadget framework).
• Experience with USB compliance/interoperability testing and post‑silicon triage (throughput, link stability, suspend/resume, hot-plug).
• Exposure to USB Type‑C/PD, retimers, and/or Alt Modes (e.g., DisplayPort) is a plus.
• Familiarity with platform security boundaries relevant to USB (secure boot, firmware/OS boundaries, attack surface considerations).
• Experience with QEMU, virtual platforms, or emulation workflows used for early driver/test development.
• Exposure to CI/CD and automated validation (Python/shell test frameworks, dashboards, regressions) for continuous USB quality.

What We Offer

Build a RISC‑V MPU platform from the ground up and see it shipped in real products. End‑to‑end ownership across pre‑silicon → FPGA → first silicon → production SDK releases. Work closely with CPU architects and SoC teams, your data drives decisions. Deep technical work, strong peer group, and long‑term growth on a strategic platform.

GlobalFoundries is an equal opportunity employer, cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce. We believe having a multicultural workplace enhances productivity, efficiency and innovation whilst our employees feel truly respected, valued and heard. As an affirmative employer, all qualified applicants are considered for employment regardless of age, ethnicity, marital status, citizenship, race, religion, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation and medical and/or physical abilities.

All offers of employment with GlobalFoundries are conditioned upon the successful completion of background checks, medical screenings as applicable and subject to the respective local laws and regulations.

Information about our benefits you can find here: https://gf.com/about-us/careers/opportunities-asia

Experience Level Senior Level