SerDes PHY FW​/SW Engineer​/Senior​/Principal Levels

Position: SerDes PHY FW/SW Engineer - Staff/Senior Staff/Principal Levels

Alphawave Semi enables tomorrow’s future by accelerating the critical data communication at the heart of our digital world – from seamless video streaming to AI to the metaverse and much more. Our technology powers product innovation in the most data-demanding industries today, including data centers, networking, storage, artificial intelligence, 5G wireless infrastructure, and autonomous vehicles. Customers partner with us for mission-critical data communication, our innovative technologies, and our proven track record.

Together, we enable the next generation of digital technology.

What You Can Expect What You’ll Do Example Problems You’ll Solve

• Mentoring a junior engineer through a hard-to-reproduce PHY calibration bug seen in customer silicon
• Developing architecture and state machines to handle multi-lane synchronization or adaptive equalization across dynamic conditions
• Porting a high-level MATLAB or Python Ser Des calibration algorithm to optimized fixed-point firmware
• Creating a Ser Des diagnostics framework accessible via both SDK and GUI
• Using simulation environments and FPGA emulation to validate FW behavior before tapeout
• Working with IP hardware architects to influence future revisions based on field debug learnings

What You’ll Need

Preferred Experience

• Knowledge of Ser Des, high-speed IO standards (PCIe, Ethernet, UCIe, CXL, etc)
• Experience with calibration algorithms, signal conditioning, and adaptive feedback control in hardware
• Experience in silicon bring-up and post-silicon debug
• Experience in pre-silicon firmware development (DV, emulation, etc)
• Knowledge of RTOS or bare-metal FW architectures
• Scripting in Python, Bash, etc. for lab automation and testing
• Familiarity with digital design concepts (Verilog / System Verilog), simulation, and DV flows
• Exposure to the OSI model, especially physical and data link layers
• Understanding of signal processing concepts such as eye diagrams, jitter, BER, SNR, CTLE / DFE / FFE, etc.

We have a flexible work environment to support and help employees thrive in personal and professional capacities. You’ll also be eligible for competitive benefits described as per below:

Health & Wellness

• Comprehensive health plan
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Wellness Spending Account (WSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Time Off

• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Parental Leave Top-Up Program

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Alphawave Semi is an equal opportunity employer, welcoming all applicants regardless of age, gender, race, disability, or other protected characteristics. We value diversity and provide accommodations during the recruitment process.

The Opportunity

We're looking for the Wavemakers of tomorrow.

Core responsibilities for the firmware team include:

• Embedded firmware running on RISC-V-based controllers that manage Alphawave’s advanced Ser Des datapaths
• C SDKs provided to customers for Ser Des bring-up, calibration, tuning, and diagnostics
• Python-based lab tools and GUIs for interactive debug, register access, and validation
• Build, regression, and CI infrastructure to ensure code quality and full coverage

You’ll play a key leadership role in delivering robust, production-quality firmware for Ser Des PHY IP. You’ll help define architecture, drive features end-to-end, coordinate across cross-functional teams, and directly influence the design and usability of Alphawave’s IP. Technical lead for Ser Des firmware on a major IP program, working with a team (2–8 engineers) through planning, development, validation, and customer delivery

• Architecting and implementing embedded C / C++ firmware for hardware calibration, training algorithms, DSP adaptations, and link state management
• Debugging complex lab and field issues in conjunction with hardware, applications, and validation teams
• Collaborating across functions to define FW milestones, plan sprints, close tickets, and ensure delivery of reliable and high-quality features
• Translating protocol specifications (e.g. PCIe, Ethernet, CXL) or custom system-level requirements into internal firmware architecture and documentation
• Supporting development and silicon bring-up across Alphawave Semi teams and other sites

Qualifications

• BS / MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of experience in embedded C / C++ firmware development for hardware IP or So Cs
• Technical or team leadership experience in embedded software projects from spec to production
• Deep understanding of microcontroller architecture (RISC-V a plus), memory‑mapped registers, ISRs, and boot flows
• Strong lab debug skills, working directly on silicon with scopes, analyzers, and custom tools
• Familiarity with git and modern software development methodologies
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across functions and geographies

J-18808-Ljbffr

#J-18808-Ljbffr