At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop embedded firmware for cutting-edge optical test platforms.
- Company: Join VIAVI, a global leader in network test and monitoring solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, health benefits, paid time off, and a bonus program.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for career growth and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make an impact in tech while working with innovative technologies and talented teams.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in embedded firmware development; strong C/C++ skills required.
The predicted salary is between 86929 - 161439 $ per year.
VIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) is a global provider of network test, monitoring and assurance solutions for telecommunications, cloud, enterprises, first responders, military, aerospace, and railway. VIAVI is also a leader in light management technologies for 3D sensing, anti-counterfeiting, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, government and aerospace applications.
As a Senior Firmware Developer at VIAVI Solutions, you will design, develop, debug, and maintain embedded firmware for the MAP modular optical test platform and its cassette ecosystem. The MAP platform is a rack‑mounted chassis hosting hot‑swappable optical test modules (cassettes) covering a broad range of fiber optic test and measurement applications.
You will work across multiple cassette architectures as well as chassis‑level infrastructure including FPGA bridges, microcontrollers, and Linux kernel/driver integration.
Key Responsibilities
- Cassette Firmware Development
- Develop and maintain firmware for ARM‑based cassettes (embedded Linux, C/C++) and DSP‑based cassettes (uClinux, C/C++)
- Implement SCPI command protocol handlers for instrument control and measurement data acquisition
- Develop multi‑threaded real‑time signal processing pipelines using FFT, DSP, and SIMD optimizations
- Interface with optical hardware components via I2C, SPI, UART, and USB
- FPGA Interfacing & Development
- Interface cassette firmware with FPGA co‑processors for signal processing, optical triggering, and hardware acceleration via memory‑mapped registers
- Maintain and enhance the MAP platform PCIe bridge FPGA (Verilog) which provides bus translation between the host processor and cassette backplane
- Debug FPGA register‑level interactions and timing issues across SPI and PCIe domains
- Microcontroller Firmware
- Develop firmware for bridge board microcontrollers (C) that manage FPGA programming, card‑present detection, I2C register interfaces, and chassis power sequencing
- Maintain power management microcontroller firmware controlling chassis power rails, standby/power‑cycle sequencing, and watchdog functionality
- Kernel & System‑Level Work
- Contribute to Linux kernel and device tree customization on the chassis controller
- Debug and resolve hardware‑software integration issues including I2C bus contention, display pipeline conflicts, IRQ handling, and power management
- Develop and maintain system services, udev rules, and shell scripts for chassis lifecycle management (boot, hot‑plug, reboot, shutdown)
- Cross‑Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with hardware engineers on board bring‑up, schematic review, and signal integrity debugging
- Collaborate with the software team on communication between cassette firmware and the web GUI / front panel applications
- Support manufacturing with calibration firmware, production test scripts, and factory provisioning tools
- Leverage AI‑augmented development workflows (e.g., AI coding assistants) to accelerate firmware development, debugging, analysis and unit‑testing
Required Qualifications
- BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
- 7+ years of embedded firmware development experience
- Strong proficiency in C and C++ for embedded systems (bare‑metal and Linux)
- Hands‑on experience with ARM and/or DSP processor architectures
- Experience with FPGA interfacing (register‑level, SPI/I2C/memory‑mapped I/O); HDL (Verilog or VHDL) reading ability preferred
- Solid understanding of serial communication protocols: I2C, SPI, UART, USB
- Experience with embedded Linux (kernel configuration, device trees, cross‑compilation, driver development)
- Proficiency with debugging tools: JTAG, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, serial consoles
- Familiarity with version control (Git) and CI/CD build systems
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with DSP platforms and real‑time signal processing (FFT, filtering, spectral analysis)
- Experience with Xilinx Zynq or similar ARM+FPGA SoC development
- Experience with AVR or similar 8‑bit microcontrollers
- Knowledge of SCPI protocol and test & measurement instrument firmware
- Experience with fiber optic components and optical test instrumentation
- Experience with PCIe protocol and bridge design
- Knowledge of RTOS concepts (FreeRTOS, uClinux, or similar)
- Experience with Docker‑based embedded build environments and Buildroot/Yocto
- Familiarity with Debian packaging and systemd service architecture
- Experience with AI‑augmented development tools and workflows
Pay range: $86,929 – $161,439. Exceptional qualifications, experience and location may impact salary. VIAVI offers a competitive benefits package that includes paid time off, health, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and a bonus program.
VIAVI Solutions is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer – minorities/females/veterans/persons with disabilities.
Firmware Development Engineer employer: Viavi Solutions
At VIAVI, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. Our employees enjoy a competitive benefits package, including paid time off, health and life insurance, and a robust 401(k) plan, all while working in a dynamic environment that encourages personal and professional growth. Located in a vibrant area, our team is passionate about pushing boundaries and delivering solutions that keep the world connected, making VIAVI a rewarding place to build your career.
