Sr. Engineer, Ethernet IP

Tenstorrent; Santa Clara (CA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

Equal opportunity employer

Job summary

Tenstorrent is seeking a Firmware Engineer to develop low-level firmware for Ethernet components and drive silicon bring-up in Santa Clara, California. Candidates will work at the intersection of silicon development and networking, focusing on performance optimization.

The role involves debugging hardware-software interactions and collaborating with silicon architects. Compensation ranges from $100k to $500k based on experience and skills. Join a diverse team passionate about AI!

Qualifications

• Passionate about low-level firmware and Ethernet hardware.
• Experience in debugging hardware bring-up.
• Ability to understand both hardware and software requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain low-level firmware for Ethernet components.
• Drive silicon bring-up and validation of networking subsystems.
• Implement link-training algorithms and auto-negotiation protocols.
• Collaborate with silicon architects on next-generation hardware.

Skills

Low-level firmware development

Ethernet MAC/PHY/PCS understanding

Debugging hardware interactions

Signal integrity issues resolution

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Job description

Tenstorrent is leading the industry on cutting‑edge AI technology, revolutionizing performance expectations, ease of use, and cost efficiency. With AI redefining the computing paradigm, solutions must evolve to unify innovations in software models, compilers, platforms, networking, and semiconductors. Our diverse team of technologists have developed a high performance RISC‑V CPU from scratch, and share a passion for AI and a deep desire to build the best AI platform possible. We value collaboration, curiosity, and a commitment to solving hard problems. We are growing our team and looking for contributors of all seniorities.

This role sits at the deep‑tech intersection of silicon development, low‑level firmware, and high‑speed networking. You won't just be writing drivers; you’ll be the bridge between our AI silicon and the network. You will work with best‑in‑class Ethernet IP and in‑house designs to architect, enable, and optimize the firmware that powers next‑generation AI infrastructure. The role is focused on the hardware‑software boundary, spanning silicon bring‑up, SerDes/PHY configuration, and performance tuning to ensure seamless, high‑performance connectivity across complex, large‑scale platforms.

This role is hybrid, based out of Toronto, Canada or Vancouver Canada.

We welcome candidates at various experience levels for this role. During the interview process, candidates will be assessed for the appropriate level, and offers will align with that level, which may differ from the one in this posting.

Who You Are

• You are passionate about the "first few layers" of the stack. You’d rather debug a link‑training state machine than a high‑level application.
• You thrive on understanding the inner workings of Ethernet hardware (MAC/PHY/PCS) and how to control it efficiently via bare‑metal firmware.
• You enjoy the "detective work" of hardware bring‑up, using oscilloscopes or logic analyzers when the software behavior doesn't match the silicon's intent.
• You speak the languages of both the RTL team and the Network Software team, translating hardware constraints into software requirements.

What We Need

• Develop and maintain low‑level firmware to manage Ethernet MAC, PHY, and SerDes components.
• Drive silicon bring‑up and validation of networking subsystems in the lab.
• Implement and optimize link‑training algorithms and auto‑negotiation protocols.
• Work closely with silicon architects to influence the design of next‑generation networking hardware from a firmware perspective.
• Debug complex hardware‑software interactions, including signal integrity issues and protocol‑level timing bugs.

What You Will Learn

• What it means to shape AI acceleration hardware and networking infrastructure from the ground up.
• How cutting‑edge Ethernet technologies are integrated and optimized for large‑scale AI systems and high‑performance compute platforms.
• The mastery of collaborating with world‑class silicon, systems, and software teams to solve frontier engineering challenges.
• How to help define the networking architecture that will power the next era of AI platforms.

Compensation for all engineers at Tenstorrent ranges from $100k - $500k including base and variable compensation targets. Experience, skills, education, background and location all impact the actual offer made.

Tenstorrent offers a highly competitive compensation package and benefits, and we are an equal opportunity employer.

This offer of employment is contingent upon the applicant being eligible to access U.S. export‑controlled technology. Due to U.S. export laws, including those codified in the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the Company is required to ensure compliance with these laws when transferring technology to nationals of certain countries (such as EAR Country Groups D:1, E1, and E2). These requirements apply to persons located in the U.S. and all countries outside the U.S. As the position offered will have direct and/or indirect access to information, systems, or technologies subject to these laws, the offer may be contingent upon your citizenship/permanent residency status or ability to obtain prior license approval from the U.S. Commerce Department or applicable federal agency. If employment is not possible due to U.S. export laws, any offer of employment will be rescinded.