Staff Software Engineer

Renesaselectronics; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

Renesas AMS is seeking an experienced embedded firmware/software engineer to own hardware/software bring-up of AMS and sensor ICs on customer compute platforms. You will write driver-level firmware in C/C++, develop application-layer demonstrations, and lead technical integration for joint programs with strategic partners.

The role requires strong C/C++ skills, experience with I2C/SPI/UART and Ethernet, and the ability to operate in bare-metal and RTOS environments. Travel up to 20% is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering or related field (or equivalent hands-on experience).
• Strong C/C++ skills at driver and application level.
• Experience with bring-up of analog/mixed-signal ICs on third-party platforms.

Responsibilities

• Own hardware/software bring-up of AMS and sensor ICs on customer compute platforms.
• Write driver-level firmware in C/C++ from datasheets and schematics.
• Build application-layer demos for end-use cases like sensing and actuation.
• Lead technical integration for joint development programs with partners.
• Debug signal-chain issues across analog, digital, and host software stacks.
• Meet milestones with internal teams and customer engineering counterparts.

Skills

C/C++

Firmware development

Embedded systems

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in EE/CS

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

I2C

SPI

UART

Ethernet

Job description

Why This Role Matters

Renesas AMS is in the middle of a strategic push to become the sensor and signal-chain vendor of choice inside the fastest-growing platforms in robotics, AI infrastructure, and automotive. That strategy lives or dies on whether we can walk into a customer's lab, integrate our silicon onto their compute platform, and prove it works, fast, credibly, and in code the customer's own engineers trust.

What You'll Actually Do

• Own hardware/software bring-up of AMS and sensor ICs on customer-selected compute platforms, with no assumption of a friendly Renesas reference design.
• Write driver-level firmware in C/C++ (I2C, SPI, UART, GPIO, interrupt handling, register-level configuration) directly from datasheets and schematics, often for silicon and platforms outside Renesas's own ecosystem.
• Build application-layer demonstration code proving out specific end-use cases: optical encoder replacement via inductive position sensing, through-barrier impedance sensing, power sequencing, force/torque sensing for robotic end effectors.
• Lead technical integration for flagship joint development programs (e.g., dexterous robotic hands, industrial robotic arms) alongside strategic partners, working against hard trade-show and customer deadlines.
• Debug full signal-chain issues spanning analog front end, digital bus, and host software stack, often live, in a customer's lab.
• Partner directly with FAEs, product marketing, business development, and customer engineering counterparts to scope PoC requirements, define technical success criteria, and hit milestones that feed directly into account strategy.
• Build reusable driver frameworks and reference architectures that scale across engagements rather than one-off, throwaway integrations.
• Represent Renesas technically in front of customer engineering leadership during lab visits and demos.
• Produce clear technical documentation (architecture, register maps, bring-up guides) usable by both internal teams and customer engineers.
• At the Staff level: provide technical mentorship to other engineers on the team and act as the escalation point for the most technically ambiguous or highest‑stakes customer integrations.

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field, or equivalent hands‑on experience.

Senior: 7+ years, Staff: 10+ years, of embedded firmware/software development spanning multiple silicon vendors and MCU/SoC ecosystems.

Strong, demonstrable C/C++ skill at both the driver and application level, not just familiarity.

Direct experience bringing up analog/mixed-signal ICs and sensors on third‑party platforms you didn't design, from datasheet and schematic alone.

Deep protocol‑level command of I2C, SPI, UART, and Ethernet‑based interfaces.

Experience developing in both bare‑metal and RTOS environments.

Comfort operating under ambiguity: incomplete documentation, shifting customer requirements, and hard external deadlines tied to trade shows or executive commitments.

Strong communication skills; you'll be explaining technical tradeoffs to both engineers and non‑technical stakeholders, sometimes in the same meeting.

Willingness to travel up to 20% for customer lab visits and trade shows.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related engineering field.
• Robotics or industrial sensing background: position sensing, force/torque sensing, proximity/impedance sensing.
• Experience with edge AI compute platforms and their SDK/driver ecosystems.
• Exposure to configurable mixed-signal/state‑machine‑based analog design.
• Prior customer‑facing technical role: FAE, solutions architect, or applications engineering.
• Python for test automation, data logging, or tooling alongside embedded C/C++.
• Experience mentoring junior or mid‑level engineers.
• Experience working inside a matrixed organization with cross‑functional stakeholders across sales, marketing, and engineering.

The expected annual pay range for this position is $180,000 - $245,000.

This position is also eligible for bonus opportunities.

Please note that final offer amount will be dependent on geographic location, applicable experience, and skillset of the candidate.

Renesas is an embedded semiconductor solution provider driven by its Purpose, To Make Our Lives Easier . With a global team of over 21,000 engineers and problem solvers in more than 30 countries, we offer the opportunity to work on world‑leading technology for Automotive, Industrial, Infrastructure, and IoT, shaping a safer, healthier, greener, and smarter future.

At Renesas, TAGIE is our culture, grounded in being Tran