Firmware & Diagnostics Architect

Cadence; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 186,000 - 345,000; Full time

Job summary

Cadence is seeking an experienced Firmware & Diagnostics Architect to lead the architecture, design, and evolution of firmware and diagnostics for high-performance computing and hardware acceleration systems.

The role defines long-term strategy for platform firmware, system diagnostics, telemetry, observability, validation, and automated recovery, collaborating across hardware, software, validation, manufacturing, and support teams to improve reliability and customer experience.

Qualifications

• BS with 12+ years, MS with 10+ years, or PhD with 8+ years in firmware, embedded systems, or hardware diagnostics.
• Strong experience architecting complex firmware or diagnostics solutions.
• Deep understanding of system architecture and low-level debugging.
• Experience with platform bring-up, system validation, and hardware debugging.
• Excellent communication and technical leadership abilities.

Responsibilities

• Define Platform Architecture for firmware, diagnostics, telemetry, and health-monitoring frameworks.
• Drive reliability through proactive health monitoring and predictive fault detection; reduce downtime.
• Enable next-generation platforms with board bring-up, system validation, and field diagnostics.
• Lead investigations of critical customer/system issues and perform root-cause analysis.
• Represent firmware and diagnostics architecture in executive and customer discussions; mentor engineers.

Skills

Firmware architecture

Embedded systems

C/C++ development

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's/advanced degree with relevant experience

Tools

Python

Tcl

Bash

Job description

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.

We are looking for an experienced Firmware & Diagnostics Architect to lead the architecture, design, and evolution of firmware and diagnostic technologies for next-generation high-performance computing, prototyping, and hardware acceleration systems.

This highly visible technical leadership role will define the long-term strategy for platform firmware, system diagnostics, telemetry, observability, validation, and automated recovery. You will work across hardware, software, validation, manufacturing, and customer support teams to improve product reliability, accelerate root‑cause analysis, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

The ideal candidate is passionate about solving complex system‑level challenges and has a proven track record of architecting firmware and diagnostic solutions for large‑scale hardware platforms.

What You'll Do

Define Platform Architecture

• Lead the architecture of firmware, diagnostics, telemetry, and health‑monitoring frameworks.
• Develop scalable solutions for platform management, observability, fault detection, and automated recovery.
• Establish common diagnostic frameworks that can be leveraged across multiple product generations.
• Partner with hardware architects to improve platform serviceability and debuggability.

Drive Reliability and Quality

• Define strategies for proactive health monitoring and predictive fault detection.
• Improve system resiliency through intelligent diagnostics and recovery mechanisms.
• Drive architectural improvements that reduce customer downtime and simplify issue resolution.
• Establish platform‑wide reliability and serviceability requirements.

Enable Next‑Generation Platforms

• Lead technical strategy for board bring‑up, system validation, manufacturing test, and field diagnostics.
• Define validation methodologies covering firmware, connectivity, memory, power, thermal, and performance subsystems.
• Drive design reviews and technical readiness assessments for new products and technologies.

Solve Complex System Challenges

• Lead investigations of critical customer and internal system issues.
• Guide root‑cause analysis involving hardware, firmware, operating systems, and infrastructure components.
• Establish best practices for failure analysis and issue triage.

Provide Technical Leadership

• Influence technical direction across multiple engineering organizations.
• Mentor senior engineers and technical leaders.
• Drive engineering standards, architectural reviews, and long‑term technology roadmaps.
• Represent firmware and diagnostics architecture in executive and customer‑facing discussions.

Required Qualifications

• BS with a minimum of 12 years of experience OR MS with a minimum of 10 years of experience OR PhD with a minimum of 8 years of experience
• 12+ years of experience in firmware, embedded systems, platform software, or hardware diagnostics.
• Strong expertise in C/C++ development for embedded systems.
• Proven experience architecting complex firmware or diagnostics solutions.
• Deep understanding of system architecture, hardware/software interactions, and low‑level debugging.
• Experience with platform bring‑up, system validation, and hardware debugging.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication and technical leadership abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in several of the following areas:

• Platform firmware architecture and Board Management Controllers (BMC)
• Embedded Linux environments
• PCIe, Ethernet, DDR, and high‑speed interfaces
• FPGA‑based systems
• Diagnostics and health‑monitoring frameworks
• Telemetry and observability infrastructure
• Hardware emulation or prototyping systems
• Automated validation and regression testing
• Manufacturing and field diagnostics
• Performance analysis and failure triage
• JTAG, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and hardware debug tools
• Python, Tcl, Bash, or similar automation technologies

What Sets You Apart

• Ability to navigate both architectural strategy and deep technical debugging.
• Strong customer focus and passion for solving real‑world reliability challenges.
• Experience leading cross‑functional technical initiatives.
• Track record of delivering technology that scales across multiple product generations.
• Ability to influence without authority and drive alignment across diverse engineering teams.

The annual salary range for California is $185,500 to $344,500. You may also be eligible to receive incentive compensation: bonus, equity, and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the salary range is a guideline and compensation may vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location. Our benefits programs include: paid vacation and paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, employee stock purchase plan, a variety of medical, dental and vision plan options, and more.

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