Firmware Tech Lead

MediaTek; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 211,000 - 356,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health insurance

Paid time off (PTO)

401K

Parental leave

Job summary

MediaTek in San Jose seeks an experienced firmware leader in embedded systems for optical modules. As a principal or distinguished engineer, you will architect and develop firmware for optical engines while collaborating cross-functionally with DSP, ASIC, and manufacturing teams. The role requires strong knowledge in QSFP-DD and OSFP firmware, as well as embedded architectures. This position offers a competitive salary ranging from $211,000 to $356,000 annually, benefits including comprehensive health coverage, 401K, and Performance bonuses.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant experience for Senior Principal; 10+ years for Distinguished.
• Strong background in QSFP–DD, OSFP, and/or optical engine firmware.
• Experience implementing CMIS for optical modules.

Responsibilities

• Architect, develop, debug, and release embedded firmware for optical platforms.
• Partner with teams to drive architecture definition and implementation.
• Drive root-cause analysis across lab qualification and field-return scenarios.

Skills

Optical module firmware development

Embedded C/C++

Firmware architecture

Cross-functional collaboration

Low-level hardware/firmware debug

Education

BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science

Tools

I2C

SPI

GPIO

DAC/ADC devices

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced firmware leader to architect, develop, and bring up embedded firmware for advanced optical modules and optical engines. This role spans module management, CMIS implementation, PIC control algorithms, calibration, manufacturing and test firmware, and close collaboration with optical systems, DSP, ASIC, manufacturing, test, calibration, and reliability teams. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in QSFP‑DD, OSFP, and/or optical engine firmware, defines ARM‑ and RISC‑V‑based control architectures, generates digital requirements for custom optical control ASICs, drives robust firmware development flow and CI, and mentors engineers across programs.

• Architect, develop, debug, and release embedded firmware for QSFP‑DD, OSFP, and optical engine platforms.
• Define MCU/processor, memory, boot, and peripheral requirements for optical module and optical engine control subsystems.
• Generate and own digital requirements and specifications for custom optical control ASICs, including control, telemetry, monitoring, interfaces, boot, memory, diagnostics, and testability.
• Partner with ASIC, RTL, verification, optical systems, and DSP teams to drive architecture definition, implementation alignment, bring‑up, and debug.
• Develop firmware for PIC control algorithms and integrated photonic IC control functions; specify and integrate DAC/ADC requirements for control, monitoring, and calibration loops.
• Implement and maintain CMIS‑compliant firmware for module control, telemetry, diagnostics, state management, and host interfaces.
• Lead firmware and digital bring‑up for new optical module, optical engine, and control ASIC platforms.
• Develop firmware for manufacturing, test, screening, calibration, and production enablement, including calibration tables and calibration engines.
• Define and improve the firmware development flow, including build and release processes, automated testing, regression coverage, and continuous integration (CI).
• Drive root‑cause analysis across lab bring‑up, qualification, manufacturing, and field‑return scenarios.
• Mentor engineers through technical leadership, design reviews, code reviews, and debug support.

Main Requirements and Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 7+ years of relevant experience for Senior Principal; 10+ years for Distinguished.
• Strong background in optical module firmware development, including QSFP‑DD, OSFP, and/or optical engines.
• Proven experience defining embedded firmware architecture, including MCU/processor selection, memory sizing, boot, and peripheral requirements.
• Experience with ARM and RISC‑V embedded architectures.
• Experience generating digital requirements for custom optical control ASICs.
• Hands‑on experience with firmware and digital bring‑up of complex hardware systems.
• Experience implementing CMIS for optical modules.
• Experience developing firmware for manufacturing, test, and calibration environments, including calibration tables and calibration engines.
• Strong knowledge of embedded interfaces, including I2C, I3C, SPI, MDIO, GPIO, etc.
• Experience specifying or using DAC/ADC devices for integrated photonic IC control.
• Strong proficiency in embedded C/C++ and low‑level hardware/firmware debug.
• Experience establishing firmware development workflows and CI for embedded systems.
• Demonstrated success working cross‑functionally with optical systems, DSP, ASIC, manufacturing, test, calibration, and reliability teams.
• Proven ability to mentor and develop engineers.
• Preferred qualifications:
  • Experience with root of trust, secure boot, and secure firmware upgrade mechanisms.
  • Experience leading architecture across multiple optical module, optical engine, or control ASIC programs.
  • Experience supporting product qualification, reliability investigations, and failure analysis.

Salary range: $211,000 - $356,000 annually. Employee may be eligible for performance bonus, short and long term incentive programs. Actual total compensation will be dependent upon the individual's skills, experience and qualifications. In addition, MediaTek provides a variety of benefits including comprehensive health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, company paid holidays, paid time off (PTO), parental leave, 401K and more.

MediaTek is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.