Senior / Lead Embedded Firmware Engineer (Optical Transceiver)

We are seeking a high-caliber Senior / Lead Embedded Firmware Engineer to drive the architecture, development, and validation of next-generation embedded firmware for mid-board optical transceivers. Supporting advanced high-speed optical communications (up to 200 Gbps per lane), this pivotal role ensures exceptional hardware configuration, seamless multi-team integration, and industry-standard compliance. You will play a crucial role in enabling robust manufacturing testing and guaranteeing flawless interoperability for tier-1 hyperscalers, high-performance computing (HPC) ecosystems, AI data centers, and advanced PCIe/CXL platforms.

Core Responsibilities

• Architecture & Design: Lead the architectural definition and implementation of embedded firmware for optical module control systems, primarily focusing on microcontroller-based designs within bare-metal and RTOS environments.

• Driver Development: Design and optimize low-level peripheral drivers for essential hardware interfaces, including I²C, MDIO, SPI, UART, GPIO, PMICs, and ADC/DAC components.

• Standards Compliance: Develop and maintain state machines and memory mapping architectures strictly compliant with SFF and CMIS protocols.

• Algorithm Engineering: Program robust control algorithms for module startup sequences, fault management, multi-chipset communications, and closed-loop optical power and thermal controls.

• System Safeguards: Ensure secure, predictable, and deterministic firmware operations across all operational cycles (Initialization, Low/High Power, Diagnostics, and In-Field FW Updates).

• Cross-Functional DFM/DFT: Partner closely with hardware, optical, electrical, mechanical, and process engineering teams to implement Design for Manufacture (DFM) and Design for Test (DFT) practices.

• Advanced Debugging: Take full ownership of resolving complex, system-level bottlenecks, including laser bias tuning, thermal runaway prevention, and signal integrity anomalies.

• NPI & Lifecycle Support: Drive the initial hardware bring-up phase of integrated modules and provide continuous technical support across the entire product lifecycle.

• Root-Cause Analysis (RCA): Spearhead technical investigations and deliver root-cause analysis for sophisticated customer issues or field returns.

• Internal Tooling: Utilize Python and C# to design, build, and maintain automation scripts and internal engineering utilities for manufacturing and sales support.

What We Are Looking For

• Experience: 5+ years of dedicated hands-on experience in embedded firmware development, with a strong preference for individuals from the optical transceiver or high-speed communication product sectors.

• Programming Mastery: Highly proficient in C for embedded systems; foundational knowledge or experience with C# and RTOS environments is highly valued.

• Architecture Skills: Proven ability to engineer clean, maintainable hardware-firmware abstraction layers (HAL), drivers, and complex state machines.

• Lab Expertise: Expert-level debugging skills utilizing hardware development tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG debuggers, and I²C/MDIO protocol sniffers.

• Domain Expertise: Deep technical knowledge in:

  1. Optical transceiver layout and schematic interpretation.

  2. Industry standards including CMIS, SFF-8636, MDIO, and I²C.

  3. Laser manipulation (VCSEL, DFB, EML), TEC/thermal control loops, and power sequencing.

  4. High-speed link behavior and signal integrity fundamentals.

• Language Proficiency: Excellent professional English communication skills (written and spoken) are mandatory. The role requires direct technical collaboration with global customers and international teams.

• Mindset: A strong systems-thinking approach, superior problem-solving capabilities, an ownership mindset, and the agility to thrive in fast-paced NPI environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ASIC, SoC, FPGA, Switch IC, or DSP integration and control loop design is a significant plus.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.