Sr. Software Engineer, Trusted Firmware-A (TF-A)

Ampere Computing; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 147,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401K plan

Unlimited Flextime

Paid holidays

Job summary

Ampere Computing LLC in Durham, NC is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design, develop, and support low-level platform firmware focused on Trusted Firmware-A (TF-A) for Armv9-based systems. You will bridge hardware and software from pre-silicon models through post-silicon bring-up to ensure secure, high-performance compute platforms.

You will collaborate with hardware, validation, and software teams, tackle complex system-level challenges, document architecture, and contribute to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, IT, or related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• 5+ years with a bachelor’s or 3+ years with a master’s in relevant roles.
• Strong C/C++ and Arm assembly language skills.
• Experience with 32/64-bit Arm architectures (Armv8/v9).
• Background in low-level software including TF-A/ATF, BIOS/UEFI, bootloaders, Linux or Windows platform software.
• Solid debugging, validation, and test methodology skills.
• Knowledge of microcontroller interfaces (SPI, I2C, DDR3/DDR4/DDR5, PCIe).
• Experience with source control, CI, and issue-tracking tools (Git, Jenkins, Bugzilla, Jira).
• Hardware/software debugging tools (JTAG, TRACE32, GDB, OpenOCD).
• Strong SDLC and Agile development experience.
• Ability to own complex problems across subsystems and drive to resolution.
• Customer-facing experience diagnosing and resolving issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain TF-A for Armv9 platforms.
• Define firmware architecture, specifications, and technical collateral.
• Enable pre-silicon software support across models, emulation, and FPGA.
• Lead post-silicon bring-up; diagnose and drive root-cause resolution.
• Debug firmware, boot flows, OS interactions, and platform subsystems.
• Deliver end-to-end features from requirements through validation and release.
• Collaborate with hardware and software teams to ensure robust integration.
• Support multiple platforms and projects for internal and external stakeholders.
• Work with customers to diagnose and resolve technical issues.
• Produce technical whitepapers and materials for marketing and open-source outreach.
• Write high-quality production code and participate in code reviews.

Skills

C/C++ programming

Arm assembly

Analytical debugging

Cross-functional communication

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field

Tools

TF-A

Armv9

Git

Jenkins

Bugzilla

Jira

JTAG

GDB

OpenOCD

Lauterbach TRACE32

BIOS/UEFI

Linux

Windows

CI

Job description

Sr. Software Engineer, Trusted Firmware-A (TF-A)

Ampere is a semiconductor design company for a new era, leading the future of computing with an innovative approach to CPU design focused on high-performance, energy efficient AI compute.

As a pioneer in the new frontier of energy efficient high-performance computing, Ampere is part of the Softbank Group of companies driving sustainable computing for AI, Cloud, and edge applications.

About the Role:

Ampere is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design, develop, and support low-level platform firmware for Armv9-based systems. In this role, you will focus on Trusted Firmware-A (TF-A) and related platform software, working at the intersection of hardware and software to enable secure, reliable, high-performance compute platforms.

You will collaborate closely with hardware design, validation, and software engineering teams throughout the product lifecycle—from pre-silicon development on models, emulation, and FPGA platforms through post-silicon bring-up, validation, release, and customer support. This is an opportunity to solve complex system-level problems, influence firmware architecture, and contribute to technology used by internal teams, customers, and the broader open-source community.

What You’ll Achieve:

• Design, develop, integrate, and maintain Trusted Firmware-A (TF-A) for Armv9-based platforms.
• Define and maintain firmware specifications, architecture and design documentation, and technical collateral.
• Enable and validate pre-silicon software support across hardware models, emulation environments, and FPGA platforms.
• Lead post-silicon platform bring-up; diagnose complex issues and drive them through root cause, resolution, and validation.
• Debug challenging problems spanning firmware, boot flows, operating systems, and platform subsystems.
• Deliver features end-to-end, from requirements and implementation through validation, release, and lifecycle support.
• Partner with hardware design, validation, and software teams to ensure robust platform integration and product readiness.
• Support multiple platforms and projects for internal stakeholders and external customers.
• Work directly with customers to diagnose, communicate, and resolve technical issues in a timely manner.
• Produce technical whitepapers and other materials that support product marketing, customer engagement, and open-source outreach.
• Write high-quality, maintainable production code; participate in code reviews and help continuously improve engineering practices and development processes.

About You:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical field—or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of relevant experience with a bachelor’s degree, or 3+ years of relevant experience with a master’s degree.
• Strong C/C++ and Arm assembly-language programming skills.
• Hands‑on experience with 32-bit and 64-bit Arm architectures, including Armv8; Armv9 experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience developing low-level software, including firmware, TF-A/ATF, BIOS/UEFI, bootloaders, Linux, or Windows platform software.
• Strong analytical, debugging, validation, and test‑methodology skills.
• Knowledge of microcontroller hardware interfaces and protocols, including SPI, I2C, DDR3/DDR4/DDR5, and PCIe.
• Experience using source control, CI, and issue‑tracking tools such as Git, Jenkins, Bugzilla, and Jira.
• Experience with hardware/software debug tools such as JTAG, Lauterbach TRACE32, GDB, and/or OpenOCD.
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycle processes and Agile development methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to independently own complex technical problems, work across multiple subsystems, and drive issues to resolution.
• Experience delivering maintainable, production‑quality software and supporting products throughout their lifecycle.
• At least two years of customer-facing experience diagnosing and resolving technical issues.
• Strong written, verbal, and cross‑functional communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Trusted Firmware-A, secure monitor software, Arm boot flows, and Arm exception levels.
• Knowledge of system power management.
• Knowledge of platform security, cryptography, secure boot, trusted execution, and firmware‑security best practices.
• Familiarity with ISO 26262 functional‑safety concepts, processes, or safety‑critical software development.
• Experience with AUTOSAR, including AUTOSAR Classic or Adaptive Platform architectures and integration concepts.
• Experience contributing to or actively engaging with open‑source software communities.

What We’ll Offer:

At Ampere we believe in taking care of our employees and providing a competitive total rewards package that includes base pay, cash long‑term incentive, and comprehensive benefits. The full base pay range for this role is between $147,000 and $220,000, except in the San Francisco Bay Area where the range is between $159,000 and $239,000.

Our benefits include health, wellness, and financial programs that support employees through every stage of life.

Benefit highlights include:

• Premium medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, as well as income protection and a 401K retirement plan, so that you can feel secure in your health and financial future.
• Unlimited Flextime and 10+ paid holidays so that you can embrace a healthy work‑life balance.
• A variety of healthy snacks, energizing espresso, and refreshing drinks to keep you fueled and focused throughout the day.

And there is much more than compensation and benefits. At Ampere, we foster an inclusive culture that empowers our employees to do more and grow more.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Ampere is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, religion, age, veteran and/or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.