Principal Firmware Engineer

Overview

Microsoft Silicon and Cloud Hardware Infrastructure Engineering (SCHIE) is the team behind Microsoft’s expanding Cloud Infrastructure and responsible for powering Microsoft’s “Intelligent Cloud” mission.

SCHIE delivers the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft's over 200 online businesses including Bing, MSN, Office 365, Xbox Live, Skype, OneDrive, and the Microsoft Azure platform globally with its server and data center infrastructure, security and compliance, operations, globalization, and manageability solutions.

Our focus is on smart growth, high efficiency, and delivering trusted experiences to customers and partners worldwide, and we are looking for passionate engineers to help achieve that mission.

Are you passionate about working on cutting edge technology in a team that embodies the growth mindset? Are you hoping to join an organization which is built on the mission “To empower every person and organization on this planet to achieve more”?

The Firmware Center of Excellence org in SCHIE is responsible for building Hardware/Firmware for Azure Infrastructure. We are working on the next generation of Hardware/Firmware for server, silicon, and rack infrastructure with a focus on innovation in firmware technology to secure Azure infrastructure for Microsoft and their customers.

Our team works closely with AI and Azure-Core teams for the architecture and development of Cobalt and Maia systems in Azure Data-centre.

We are looking for a highly motivated Principal Firmware Engineer with a strong background in silicon firmware library and Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) development for embedded systems. In this role you will define the architecture of the reusable firmware libraries, HAL, and low-level device drivers that enable the bring-up and operation of Microsoft’s next-generation AI and compute silicon.

#SCHIE

Responsibilities

• Drive the architectural vision and strategic direction for silicon firmware libraries and the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) across SoC platforms—spanning boot ROMs, low-level device drivers, and system runtimes. Define reusable driver interfaces (like- PCIe, NVME, Memory Controller, Network Interface) and the system libraries required for SoC bring-up, ensuring scalability, portability, performance, and security.
• Mentor and guide senior and junior engineers in firmware library, HAL, and driver development, debugging, and optimization. Provide technical oversight across multiple subsystems and components.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison between hardware/silicon architects, Silicon DV team and partner firmware development teams to align silicon firmware library and HAL development with overall product goals.
• Lead complex system-level debugging efforts, conduct root cause analysis, and perform performance tuning across the hardware, HAL, and firmware boundaries.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends in silicon firmware, HAL design, and low-level software. Propose and prototype innovative solutions to enhance reusability, portability, and operational efficiency across product lines.
• Own the complete firmware library development lifecycle—from concept and design through SoC bring-up, validation, manufacturing, and productization. Ensure delivery of high-quality, production-ready, reusable code.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related field.
• 12+ years of professional years of Experience in FW and or Embedded SW development experience, particularly in a multi-core platform environment with a strong focus on scalable architecture.
• 8+ years of experience designing and developing Hardware Abstraction Layers (HAL), reusable silicon firmware libraries, and low-level device drivers (PCIe, SPI, I2C, I3C, or similar) for SoC platforms, including driver interface definition and system libraries for SoC bring-up.
• Solid understanding of computer architectures including processors, buses, and memories.
• Proven track record of leading complex SoC bring-up initiatives, collaborating across multiple stakeholder teams, and delivering production-grade firmware solutions.
• Expert-level proficiency in C/C++/Rust, with demonstrated experience in designing and optimizing low-level firmware components.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of operating systems including drivers, memory management, boot loaders, and scheduling.
• Basic Verilog (or any other HDL) programming & waveform debugging
• Excellent debugging skills with GDB or equivalent.
• Experience developing firmware in pre-silicon environments and on test benches.
• Shipped products running firmware or embedded software you’ve written.
• Experience with one or more of these: drivers, DMA, PCIe, NVMe, image video encoders/decoders, memory controllers/training, boot flows, or power management
• Deep understanding of computer architecture, including processors, buses, memory hierarchies, and interconnects.

Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings: Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances.

If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.