Senior System Software Engineer – CPU SoC Boot Firmware

Jobtailor; California (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking an experienced embedded software engineer to architect and develop boot firmware for flagship CPUs used in automotive and datacenter applications. You will design, implement, and verify boot sequences, participate in requirement decomposition, and contribute to pre-silicon validation and tapeout readiness.

Responsibilities include failure analysis, post-silicon support, and collaboration with internal/external teams.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in EE/CS/CE or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of relevant proven experience
• Experience in embedded software development, especially ARM technologies and programming
• Experience with bare-metal programming is an additional plus
• Strong proficiency in C and Python programming and debugging
• Strong understanding of operating systems and kernel programming
• Good understanding of hardware architecture
• Detailed and extensive experience with Linux kernel software
• Experience with embedded software development and verification processesBootloader experience is a plus
• Understanding of automotive functional safety and security standards and their application in semiconductor projects
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and planning skills
• Experience with AI tools such as Codex and creating agentic AI tools is a differentiator
• Proficiency creating skills with continuous refinement
• Out-of-the-box thinking
• Ability to articulate thoughts succinctly
• BS or MS Degree in EE/CS/CE

Responsibilities

• Architect and develop boot firmware for flagship CPUs used in automotive, datacenter, and other critical applications
• Build robust features for core boot firmware following protective and security guidelines
• Define, decompose, and verify functional and safety requirements and architecture
• Perform failure analysis (FMEA/DFA) on bootloader functionality and architecture
• Collaborate with internal and external team members
• Validate and verify features on pre-silicon simulation platforms before tapeout
• Perform silicon verification and feature development
• Provide post-silicon support and productization

Skills

Embedded software

ARM programming

C programming

Python programming

Linux kernel

OS concepts

FMEA/DFA

Communication skills

Safety standards

Education

BS or MS EE/CS/CE

Tools

Bare-metal programming

Job description

Job Responsibilities

• Architect and develop boot firmware for flagship CPUs used in automotive, datacenter, and other critical applications
• Build robust features for core boot firmware following protective and security guidelines
• Define, decompose, and verify functional and safety requirements and architecture
• Perform failure analysis (FMEA/DFA) on bootloader functionality and architecture
• Collaborate with internal and external team members
• Validate and verify features on pre-silicon simulation platforms before tapeout
• Perform silicon verification and feature development
• Provide post-silicon support and productization

Requirements

• BS or MS degree in EE/CS/CE or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of relevant proven experience
• Experience in embedded software development, especially ARM technologies and programming
• Experience with bare-metal programming is an additional plus
• Strong proficiency in C and Python programming and debugging
• Strong understanding of operating systems and kernel programming
• Good understanding of hardware architecture
• Detailed and extensive experience with Linux kernel software
• Experience with embedded software development and verification processesBootloader experience is a plus
• Understanding of automotive functional safety and security standards and their application in semiconductor projects
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and planning skills
• Experience with AI tools such as Codex and creating agentic AI tools is a differentiator
• Proficiency creating skills with continuous refinement
• Out-of-the-box thinking
• Ability to articulate thoughts succinctly

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in architecting and developing boot firmware for CPUs, with a strong focus on embedded software development, particularly in ARM technologies and Linux kernel software. Proficient in failure analysis, functional safety, and security standards relevant to automotive and semiconductor projects.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Embedded Software Development
• C Programming
• Python Programming
• Linux Kernel Software
• Automotive Functional Safety

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Boot Firmware Development
• Bare-Metal Programming
• Failure Analysis (FMEA/DFA)
• Pre-Silicon Simulation Validation
• Silicon Verification
• Feature Development
• Operating Systems Understanding
• Hardware Architecture Knowledge
• AI Tools Experience
• Continuous Refinement Skills

Soft Skills

• Interpersonal Skills
• Communication Skills
• Planning Skills
• Out-of-the-Box Thinking
• Succinct Articulation

Certifications & Qualifications

• BS or MS Degree in EE/CS/CE

Industry Keywords

• Automotive
• Datacenter
• Critical Applications
• Security Guidelines
• Functional Safety Standards
• Semiconductor Projects