Principal Embedded Firmware Architect - AI/HPC Networking

Cornelis Networks, Inc.; Boston (MA); Remote; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Health benefits

401(k) with match

Open time off

Bonus incentives

Job summary

Cornelis Networks is seeking a principal-level embedded engineer to architect firmware for our next-generation networking silicon. You’ll own infrastructure for booting, securing, and controlling on-chip engines that accelerate AI/HPC workloads, with a focus on trustworthy production-ready firmware.

This role blends architecture, hands-on firmware development, technical leadership, and mentorship, with AI-assisted design and testing across the stack. Remote work is supported for US residents.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in embedded/firmware, with proven software-architecture leadership.
• Expert C (C/C++) with working Python.
• Deep bare-metal firmware experience on constrained cores and low-level bring-up.
• Experience with secure boot and hardware root-of-trust integration.
• Experience programming CSRs and register interfaces with silicon teams.
• Hands-on AI-assisted engineering, with judgment to validate AI outputs.

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement bare-metal firmware on a RISC-V management core.
• Own the secure firmware-loading pipeline and root-of-trust integration.
• Bring-up, reset sequencing, and health validation across engines.
• Scale firmware distribution across many engines and dies; support in-field updates.
• Define hardware/software contracts with ASIC/RTL teams (SystemRDL, Kaitai, YAML).
• Validate firmware against simulators (QEMU) with automated tests.
• Set architecture standards, review designs and mentor engineers.

Skills

Embedded firmware

C/C++ expert

Python

AI-assisted engineering

Tools

SystemRDL

Kaitai

CMake

Job description

Cornelis Networks is seeking a principal-level embedded engineer to architect firmware for our next-generation networking silicon. You’ll own infrastructure for booting, securing, and controlling on-chip engines that accelerate AI/HPC workloads, with a focus on trustworthy production-ready firmware.

This role blends architecture, hands-on firmware development, technical leadership, and mentorship, with AI-assisted design and testing across the stack. Remote work is supported for US residents.