Sr Optical Transceiver Firmware Engineer (30165)

Supermicro; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Supermicro is seeking a Sr Optical Transceiver Firmware Engineer to design and maintain embedded software for high-speed transceiver modules in a data center setting. You will work across hardware, optics, and system teams to implement module control, diagnostics, and host communication for 400G/800G platforms.

You will collaborate on firmware architecture, calibration, and validation, with a focus on performance, power, and reliability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of experience in embedded firmware or software development, preferably in networking, data center, or hardware-control.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ programming for embedded systems.
• Experience developing firmware for hardware control and real-time embedded platforms.
• Hands-on experience with optical transceiver technologies (QSFP28/DD/OSFP) and related interfaces.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and debug embedded firmware for optical transceiver platforms.
• Implement and maintain firmware features for CMIS, I2C, MDIO, SPI, and PMBus.
• Develop firmware for module initialization, diagnostics, telemetry, and power management.
• Create and maintain automation tools, scripts, and test frameworks for validation.
• Collaborate with hardware, optics, and system teams to meet performance and reliability goals.

Skills

C/C++

Embedded systems

Networking hardware

Debugging tools

CMIS protocol

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Tools

CMIS

I2C

MDIO

SPI

PMBus

Oscilloscopes

Job description

Job Title: Sr Optical Transceiver Firmware Engineer

About Supermicro:

Supermicro® is a Top Tier provider of advanced server, storage, and networking solutions for Data Center, Cloud Computing, Enterprise IT, Hadoop/ Big Data, Hyperscale, HPC and IoT/Embedded customers worldwide. We are the #5 fastest growing company among the Silicon Valley Top 50 technology firms. Our unprecedented global expansion has provided us with the opportunity to offer a large number of new positions to the technology community. We seek talented, passionate, and committed engineers, technologists, and business leaders to join us.

Job Summary:

Supermicro is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Sr Optical Transceiver Firmware Engineer to develop embedded software and firmware for cutting-edge 800G, 1.6T, and future-generation optical transceiver modules. In this role, you will be responsible for designing and implementing the firmware infrastructure that enables module control, diagnostics, monitoring, configuration, and host communication for high-speed optical networking products used in AI, cloud, hyperscale, and data center environments.

You will collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams across hardware, optics, systems, and manufacturing to develop next-generation optical transceiver solutions. This includes partnering with optical architects, electrical and signal integrity engineers, ASIC/FPGA teams, manufacturing engineers, validation engineers, and system software developers to define and implement module functionality that meets aggressive performance, power, reliability, and interoperability requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, test, and debug embedded firmware for advanced optical transceiver platforms, including QSFP-DD, OSFP, OSFP-XD, and future high-speed module form factors.
• Implement and maintain firmware features supporting industry-standard management interfaces and protocols, including: CMIS, I²C, MDIO, SPI, and PMBus
• Develop firmware for:
• Module initialization and control
• Optical diagnostics and telemetry
• Alarm and warning management
• Thermal and power management
• Fault detection and recovery
• Define firmware architecture, requirements, and design specifications in collaboration with optical, electrical, mechanical, and system engineering teams.
• Develop manufacturing and validation firmware features to support calibration, characterization, testing, and production qualification.
• Create and maintain automation tools, scripts, and test frameworks to improve validation efficiency and ensure standards compliance.
• Support interoperability testing with networking equipment from major switch, NIC, and system vendors.
• Work closely with manufacturing and operations teams to enable efficient production testing, firmware programming, field upgrades, and yield improvement initiatives.
• Analyze and optimize firmware performance, reliability, security, and power efficiency.
• Drive root-cause analysis and resolution of complex firmware, hardware, and system-level issues.
• Participate in design reviews, code reviews, technical discussions, and architecture planning activities.
• Stay current with industry standards and emerging technologies, including: CMIS, MSA specifications, IEEE Ethernet standards, Coherent and DSP-based optical technologies, and AI and hyperscale networking requirements
• Manufacturing Burn-In and Firmware QA

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of experience in embedded firmware or software development, preferably in networking, telecommunications, data center, or hardware-control applications.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ programming for embedded systems.
• Experience developing firmware for hardware control and real-time embedded platforms.
• Hands-on experience with optical transceiver technologies, such as: QSFP28, QSFP-DD, OSFP, CFP/CFP2, and related pluggable optical modules
• Strong understanding of communication interfaces and protocols, including: I²C/I3C, MDIO, SPI, UART, PMBus
• Experience implementing or troubleshooting CMIS-compliant firmware.
• Knowledge of optical module diagnostics, telemetry, calibration, alarm handling, and health monitoring mechanisms.
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills using laboratory equipment such as: Oscilloscopes, Logic analyzers, Protocol analyzers, and Optical test equipment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with 400G, 800G, and 1.6T optical transceiver architectures.
• Knowledge of Ethernet PHYs, DSPs, retimers, gearbox devices, and SerDes technologies.
• Understanding of optical communication fundamentals, including: PAM4 signaling, FEC, CWDM/DWDM, Coherent optics
• Experience with RTOS-based embedded systems.
• Proficiency in Python or scripting languages used for automation and validation.
• Familiarity with manufacturing test development and automated test systems.
• Experience supporting high-volume production and field deployments.
• Knowledge of reliability qualification, failure analysis, and product lifecycle management processes.

Salary Range

$160,000 - $185,000

The salary offered will depend on several factors, including your location, level, education, training, specific skills, years of experience, and comparison to other employees already in this role. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, candidates may be eligible for other forms of compensation, such as participation in bonus and equity award programs.

EEO Statement

Supermicro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity in our employee population. It is the policy of Supermicro to provide equal opportunity to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or special disabled veteran, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.