Firmware Engineer - Server BMC

Apple, Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple Inc. seeks a curious BMC Firmware Engineer to advance server platform firmware, focusing on manageability and security for Apple data center systems. You will bring up BMCs on new hardware, work with ODM/OEM partners, and ensure robust firmware across platforms.

You will design, implement, and test firmware features, contribute to security improvements, and write unit tests and documentation. Strong C/C++ and embedded Linux skills required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 7+ years in embedded Linux development with C/C++.
• Experience with OpenBMC, IPMI, Redfish, and D-Bus.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, test, and maintain BMC firmware features.
• Bring up BMC software on new hardware with ODM/OEM partners.
• Develop scalable BMC software for multiple platforms.
• Implement and debug low-level drivers and hardware interfaces.
• Perform system-level validation and fix defects.
• Contribute to firmware security features (secure boot, signing).
• Write unit tests and technical documentation.
• Stay current on vulnerabilities and security standards.
• Collaborate with vendor teams and hardware engineers.

Skills

C/C++ programming

Embedded Linux

Bash scripting

Python scripting

System-level debugging

Security awareness

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, CS, or related field

Tools

OpenBMC

IPMI

Redfish

D-Bus

JTAG

Kernel/Driver development

Job description

We are seeking a curious and self-motivated BMC Firmware Engineer to join our team and contribute to the development of next-generation industry-standard server platforms. Our work focuses on improving the manageability and security of Apple data center systems. You will work alongside highly skilled engineers who are committed to engineering excellence, and your work will have a direct impact on the platforms we deliver.

Description

As a BMC Firmware Engineer, you will design, implement, test, and maintain BMC firmware features for server platforms. You will bring up BMC software on new hardware, work with ODM, OEM, and silicon vendor partners, and help ensure the firmware is robust against security threats. Your work will support strong infrastructure manageability, serviceability, and security.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain BMC firmware features, including services, APIs, and management interfaces (Redfish, IPMI).
• Design scalable, maintainable BMC software that supports new hardware through configuration. Upstream changes to the OpenBMC community where appropriate and maintain downstream patches across releases.
• Bring up BMC firmware on new hardware: kernel, drivers, device trees, and board support. Strong embedded firmware knowledge and hands on experience in embedded firmware to support BMCs on devices other than DCSCM module.
• Implement and debug low-level drivers and hardware interfaces in collaboration with hardware engineers.
• Debug issues across hardware, firmware, and software boundaries using serial console, JTAG, and bus analyzers.
• Support EVT, DVT, and PVT builds, and work with global ODM, OEM, and contract manufacturing partners to resolve issues.
• Contribute to firmware security: secure boot, firmware signing, vulnerability triage, and patching.
• Write unit tests for new features, and support system-level validation by reproducing and fixing defects.
• Write clear technical documentation and contribute to design discussions.
• Stay current on new vulnerabilities, attack methods, and security standards (NIST, FIPS).

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 7+ years of experience in embedded Linux development with strong C/C++ programming skills, plus scripting in Bash and Python.
• Hands-on experience with OpenBMC including IPMI, systemd and D-Bus services, Redfish, sensors and telemetry, and firmware update frameworks.
• Experience porting OpenBMC to new platforms, including build configuration, kernel and device tree changes, and platform-specific services.
• Experience integrating and scaling sensors in OpenBMC, with attention to service count, memory, and boot-time cost.
• Working knowledge of server platform interfaces such as I2C/I3C, SPI, PMBus, UART, GPIO, and Ethernet controllers.
• Experience taking firmware through product development stages, ideally EVT/DVT/PVT with ODM or OEM partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with PLDM and MCTP, and with PECI/APML.
• Experience with BMC security features such as secure or verified boot, firmware signing, root of trust, SPDM, and vulnerability management.
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills across hardware, firmware, and software, with effective collaboration with vendor and hardware teams.
• Experience supporting BMC software on new hardware, including low-level debugging (JTAG, serial, oscilloscope, I2C analyzer).
• Exposure to EDKII/BIOS and platform enablement.
• Familiarity with RAS concepts (fault management, telemetry, recovery).
• Familiarity with cloud-scale operations and fleet management of BMC firmware.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic, and sometimes ambiguous environment, and to identify and raise technical and schedule risks early.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant

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