Senior Software Engineer

Ambarella; Ohio; On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Ambarella in Dayton, Ohio, is seeking a senior firmware/codec engineer to develop and optimize real-time video codecs for AI-enabled cameras and edge devices. You will lead design and verification efforts, work with architecture teams, and drive innovations in compression technology for next-generation products.

The role requires strong C/C++ skills, embedded software experience, and the ability to mentor engineers while collaborating across hardware and software teams.

Qualifications

• Expert C/C++ programming and strong embedded software experience.
• In-depth knowledge of video compression standards (H.264/HEVC/AV1).
• Proven ability to lead technical projects and mentor engineers.
• Experience with codec optimization and real-time debugging.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and optimization of video codecs for edge devices.
• Design reference codec models and enhance performance.
• Drive hardware/software co-design and silicon architecture modeling.
• Develop diagnostics and verification tools for silicon validation.
• Architect and optimize real-time embedded firmware.
• Lead rate-control design and optimization.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define future codec capabilities.

Skills

C/C++ programming

Embedded software

Video codecs standards

Codec optimization

Technical leadership

AI tools for development

Job description

AI Vision Processors For Edge Applications

Our solutions make cameras smarter by extracting valuable data from high-resolution video streams.

Job Description

Develop advanced software and modeling solutions for AI-enabled camera silicon. This role is responsible for leading the design, development, optimization, and verification of standards-based real-time hardware video codecs. The successful candidate will work closely with architecture, hardware, and software teams to drive innovation in video compression technologies and support next-generation AI camera products.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and optimization of video codec algorithms with a focus on video quality, latency reduction, and hardware efficiency.


• Design and implement reference codec models and performance enhancements.


• Drive hardware/software co-design efforts and silicon architecture modeling.


• Develop advanced diagnostics and verification tools for silicon validation.


• Architect and optimize real-time embedded firmware solutions.


• Lead software rate control design and optimization activities.


• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership on codec development projects.


• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define future video codec capabilities and requirements.

Required Skills

• Expert-level programming skills in C and C++


• Strong embedded software development experience


• Familiarity with video compression standards (H.264, H.265/HEVC, AV1, or similar)


• Experience with codec optimization, performance analysis, and system-level debugging


• Ability to lead technical projects and mentor team members


• Experience using AI-powered software development tools (e.g., Cursor, Claude, or similar) to improve engineering productivity and code quality.

Location Dayton (Beavercreek), Ohio

Experience 5 to 10+ years of relevant experience in video codec, embedded software, or related engineering fields