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

Overview

SerDes PHY FW/SW Engineer - Staff/Senior Staff/Principal Levels at Alphawave Semi. The Embedded Software / Firmware Team develops critical embedded software powering high-performance multi-standard SerDes PHY IP used in data center, AI/ML, automotive, and compute applications. Our SerDes IPs support PCIe, Ethernet, CXL and are integrated into SoCs/ASICs for leading semiconductor companies. What You'll Do

Technical lead for SerDes firmware on a major IP program, guiding 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 with hardware, applications, and validation teams Collaborating across functions to define FW milestones, plan sprints, close tickets, and deliver reliable, high-quality features Translating protocol specifications (e.g. PCIe, Ethernet, CXL) into internal firmware architecture and documentation Supporting development and silicon bring-up across Alphawave Semi teams and other sites Responsibilities

Embedded firmware running on RISC-V-based controllers that manage Alphawave’s advanced SerDes datapaths C SDKs provided to customers for SerDes 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 Example Problems You’ll Solve

Mentoring a junior engineer through hard-to-reproduce PHY calibration bugs seen in customer silicon Developing architecture and state machines for multi-lane synchronization or adaptive equalization Porting MATLAB or Python SerDes calibration algorithms to optimized fixed-point firmware Creating a SerDes diagnostics framework accessible via SDK and GUI Using simulation environments and FPGA emulation to validate FW behavior before tapeout What You'll Need

BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field 7+ years of embedded C/C++ firmware development for hardware IP or SoCs 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 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 Preferred Experience

Knowledge of SerDes, high-speed IO standards (PCIe, Ethernet, UCIe, CXL, etc) Calibration algorithms, signal conditioning, and adaptive feedback control in hardware Silicon bring-up and post-silicon debug Pre-silicon firmware development (DV, emulation, etc) RTOS or bare-metal FW architectures Scripting in Python, Bash, etc. for lab automation and testing Digital design concepts (Verilog/SystemVerilog), simulation, and DV flows OSi model exposure, especially physical and data link layers Understanding of signal processing concepts (eye diagrams, jitter, BER, SNR, CTLE/DFE/FFE) Benefits & Work Environment

Flexible work environment to support personal and professional growth Comprehensive health plan, Health Spending Account (HSA), Wellness Spending Account (WSA), Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Paid vacation, paid holidays, parental leave top-up Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

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