Formal Verification Engineer - Firmware

NVIDIA; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 108,000 - 184,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in Austin is seeking a Formal Verification Engineer to ensure the correctness and reliability of low-level software. The ideal candidate will apply formal methods to verify firmware and work closely with architects and developers. Required qualifications include a degree in Computer Science or Engineering, proficiency in C/C++, and 3+ years of experience in formal verification. This role offers a salary range of $108,000 to $212,750 based on level and experience, plus equity and benefits.

Benefits

Equity

Comprehensive benefits

Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant experience in formal verification of hardware, software, or embedded systems.
• Good understanding of Model Checking and Theorem Proving principles.
• Experience verifying critical firmware components such as Boot ROM/BIOS.

Responsibilities

• Develop high-level, mathematically precise models for complex firmware behaviors.
• Apply formal verification techniques to verify firmware correctness.
• Focus on verifying interface between hardware and firmware.

Skills

C/C++ proficiency

Scripting languages (Python, Perl)

Model Checking

Theorem Proving

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering

Job description

We are now seeking a Formal Verification Engineer, focusing on the firmware verification! In this role, you will be instrumental in ensuring the correctness, security, and reliability of our low-level software that drives the next generation of computing performance. This position is ideal for an individual passionate about applying advanced formal methods to solve complex firmware verification and hardware-firmware co-verification challenges at scale.

As a Formal Verification Engineer, your primary responsibility will be to use formal methods to prove the correctness and safety properties of critical firmware components. You will work closely with firmware architects, software developers, and hardware design teams to define specifications and ensure the firmware adheres to them across various operational states.

What you'll be doing:

• Develop high-level, mathematically precise models and specifications for complex firmware behaviors (e.g., security protocols, memory management, boot sequencing) using formal specification

• Apply various formal verification techniques, including Model Checking, Theorem Proving, and Equivalence Checking, to verify firmware correctness.

• Focus on the interface between hardware and firmware, formally verifying critical handshakes, register accesses, and control flows.

• Develop abstract models of hardware components (e.g., MMIO registers, state machines) required for firmware verification.

• Analyze counterexamples generated by formal tools to identify root causes of design/firmware flaws.

• Research, evaluate, and integrate new formal verification methodologies, tools, and algorithms to improve efficiency and coverage.

What we need to see:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field or equivalent experience (Ph.D. is a plus).

• 3+ years of relevant experience in formal verification of hardware, software, or embedded systems.

• Good understanding of the principles of Model Checking and/or Theorem Proving.

• Strong proficiency in C/C++ (for firmware analysis) and scripting languages (e.g., Python, Perl).

• Direct experience verifying critical firmware components such as Boot ROM/BIOS, Security Enclaves, Power Management, or Interrupt Controllers.

• Experience with specialized techniques like Abstract Interpretation, SAT/SMT Solvers, or employing formal approaches in security-critical code.

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 108,000 USD - 184,000 USD for Level 2, and 136,000 USD - 212,750 USD for Level 3.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until December 26, 2025. NVIDIA is committed to fostering a diverse work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.