Principal Firmware Engineer – Digital ASIC

BLUE ORIGIN

. Lead the architecture, design, implementation, integration, and validation of embedded firmware for custom digital ASICs, including Digital Beamforming ASICs .

Posted 10/30/2026full-timeUnited StatesLead💰 $269,175 - $376,844 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive expertise in embedded firmware development for digital ASICs, including proficiency in C programming, firmware verification strategies, and collaboration with cross-functional engineering teams. Capable of leading complex firmware projects from architecture through to production, ensuring high-quality deliverables and adherence to technical standards.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Embedded Firmware DevelopmentC ProgrammingFirmware Verification StrategiesDigital ASIC ArchitectureTechnical Leadership

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Embedded Firmware DevelopmentC ProgrammingFirmware VerificationDigital ASIC DesignFPGA PrototypingRTOS ExperienceSecure Boot ImplementationAutomated Testing FrameworksHardware/Software IntegrationMemory Systems Understanding

Soft Skills

Analytical SkillsProblem-SolvingCommunication SkillsCollaborationMentoring

Tools & Technologies

FreeRTOSZephyrQEMUPalladiumZeBuFPGA Prototyping PlatformsCI WorkflowsSerDes InterfacesDSP AcceleratorsEmbedded Security Architectures

Industry Keywords

Digital BeamformingRF Communications Systems3GPP SpecificationsProduction Test FirmwareSilicon ValidationHardware Register ProgrammingInterrupt HandlingDMAPhased Antenna ArraysFirmware Release Management

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Rust

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead the architecture, design, implementation, integration, and validation of embedded firmware for custom digital ASICs, including Digital Beamforming ASICs
Develop ROM code and runtime firmware for beam pointing, analog calibration, FEIC management, SerDes link management, secure boot, telemetry, and sideband control
Define hardware/software interfaces, control protocols, initialization sequences, interrupt handling, and hardware/software partitioning
Develop firmware verification and validation strategies, test plans, functional, integration, regression, and performance testing
Drive pre-silicon firmware development, integration, debugging, and verification using simulation, emulation, and FPGA prototyping
Lead post-silicon firmware bring-up, debugging, characterization, and validation
Deliver firmware to silicon validation, system test, and manufacturing teams, including production test firmware, diagnostics, release packages, and documentation
Define firmware requirements and production test and diagnostic capabilities with test and manufacturing engineering teams
Develop automated firmware testing frameworks, continuous integration workflows, and hardware-in-the-loop validation environments
Establish firmware development methodologies, coding standards, release management practices, and quality requirements
Identify and mitigate risks related to firmware architecture, silicon functionality, real-time performance, and hardware/software integration
Collaborate with ASIC design, verification, RF, communications systems, platform software, and manufacturing teams
Provide technical leadership through architecture and design reviews, hands-on problem solving, and mentoring while remaining directly involved in firmware execution

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
10+ years of experience in embedded firmware development, low-level software, or hardware/software systems development
Extensive hands-on experience developing embedded firmware in C, including bare-metal and resource-constrained environments
Experience architecting, developing, and delivering firmware for complex digital ASICs, SoCs, microcontrollers, or hardware accelerators
Strong understanding of embedded processor architectures, memory systems, interrupts, DMA, peripheral interfaces, and hardware register programming
Experience defining hardware/software interfaces and working closely with ASIC or FPGA design and verification teams
Experience developing firmware verification strategies, detailed test plans, and automated validation frameworks
Experience with pre-silicon firmware integration, hardware/software debugging, and post-silicon bring-up
Experience delivering firmware to silicon validation, system test, or manufacturing teams, including supporting production testing and debugging
Ability to independently own complex firmware development efforts, drive technical decisions, and deliver against program milestones
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across multiple engineering disciplines
Experience with RF and communications systems, including OFDM, digital beamforming, phased antenna arrays, and 3GPP specifications
Experience developing firmware for custom communications ASICs, RFICs, beamforming processors, or DSP-based systems
Experience with RTOSes and hard real-time constraints, including FreeRTOS or Zephyr
Experience with Arm Cortex-M architecture and instruction set
Experience integrating and controlling DSP accelerators and hardware processing engines
Experience with Rust, particularly no-std Rust for embedded systems
Experience with secure boot, firmware authentication, and embedded security architectures
Experience with high-speed interfaces, including SerDes initialization, configuration, monitoring, and diagnostics
Experience with CI workflows, automated firmware regression testing, and hardware-in-the-loop validation
Understanding of board-level hardware design, schematics, ASIC specifications, and component data sheets
Experience with pre-silicon firmware development and testing using QEMU, Palladium, ZeBu, or FPGA prototyping platforms
Experience with production test firmware, manufacturing diagnostics, silicon characterization, and firmware release management
Experience mentoring engineers and providing technical leadership across complex silicon development programs
Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum
Must complete the required background check

Benefits

Comp & perks

Relocation provided
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Basic and supplemental life insurance
Paid parental leave
Short- and long-term disability
401(k) with a company match of up to 5%
Education Support Program
Stock options for all regular employees working at least 20 hours/week
Up to four weeks of paid time off per year based on weekly scheduled hours
Up to 14 company-paid holidays
Potential benefits and bonuses based on role type, job level, individual contributions, company results, or other factors