Senior SSD Firmware Architect

Description

The company is hiring firmware and embedded software engineers for next-generation solid state drive (SSD) products in its Non-volatile Memory Solutions Group.

The team works in a fast pace and uses Agile methods, so strong communication and close collaboration with colleagues here and across the organization are required.

You will build new firmware for the company's SSDs, working with embedded architecture, external interfaces and product constraints to create features that add value to the platform.

You will work with storage interface standards including SATA, SAS, PCIe and NVMe, and take part in algorithm modeling, benchmarking and firmware implementation.

The company is a multibillion-dollar memory business headquartered in Rancho Cordova, California, with facilities in the U.S. and operations across Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across the whole product and system, spanning multiple firmware areas.
• Define architecture requirements for new customer feature requests.
• Scope high-level architecture initiatives and assess features.
• Lead the development of C/C++ product code, including reviewing and documenting it.
• Analyze, design and build firmware against internal and customer specifications.
• Run unit and system tests, and investigate failures and debug product issues during development and validation.
• Develop low-level firmware, system and device architectures, and operating systems with hardware and ASIC design teams.
• Learn and grow across the full SSD architecture by working in several firmware disciplines.
• Turn product requirements into development and validation plans with project stakeholders.
• Model and lead an Agile/Kanban culture that values product quality, team accountability and continuous improvement.
• Align priorities and work with other engineering stakeholders to hit committed milestones.

Requirements

• Hold a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science or a related field.
• Have 10+ years of experience in embedded software or firmware development, programming in C/C++.
• Have 8+ years of experience in SSD firmware architecture or NAND flash storage systems.
• Have shown technical leadership in firmware architecture across teams including ASIC, hardware, firmware, validation, product engineering and manufacturing.
• Have deep knowledge of SSD firmware topics such as FTL, QoS, wear leveling, garbage collection, bad block management, ECC and error recovery, power-loss protection and NAND flash management.
• Have led technical work across development, validation and manufacturing teams.
• Plus: experience making architecture trade-offs across performance, reliability, power, cost and scalability.
• Plus: expertise in enterprise storage interfaces and protocols such as PCIe, NVMe and NVMe-MI.
• Plus: experience with SSD security, such as TCG Opal, IEEE 1667, ESSC, AES, Secure Boot and firmware authentication.
• Plus: experience influencing next-generation product features alongside controller ASIC and hardware architecture teams.
• Plus: experience building firmware technology roadmaps and assessing emerging storage technologies such as QLC/PLC NAND, Zoned Namespaces, Computational Storage, CXL and NVMe over Fabrics.
• Plus: experience setting firmware architecture, coding standards, development processes and technical direction across several engineering teams.
• Plus: strong grasp of the software lifecycle, CI/CD, automated validation and release management for embedded firmware.
• Plus: experience working directly with strategic customers to turn their requirements into architecture.
• Plus: experience mentoring senior engineers and acting as a technical authority across the organization.
• Strong written and presentation skills, and the ability to listen, respond professionally and build trust with partners.
• A record of working independently, juggling several tasks, and influencing and leading others.

Conditions

This is a hybrid role based in Rancho Cordova, CA or Longmont, CO.

The annual compensation range is $170,640 - $273,100, depending on factors such as skills, experience, qualifications and location.

The company is an equal opportunity employer.

Benefits

• Eligibility for restricted stock units (RSUs), restricted cash units (RCUs) and a cash bonus program.
• Medical, dental and vision coverage, supplemental life and AD&D insurance, and short- and long-term disability cover.
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• A company match on eligible 401(k) contributions.