A Firmware Engineer is a professional who navigates the intricate space between hardware and software, creating the essential code that runs on embedded systems. These engineers play a crucial role in ensuring the seamless functionality of devices we encounter daily, from smart home devices to medical equipment. In this blog post, we'll explore the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills that define success in the dynamic role of a Firmware Engineer.

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Main Responsibilities of a Firmware Engineer

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Firmware Engineer:

Analyze

• Analyze and optimize the bus loading and communication latency.

• Analyze complex technical problems and propose design of comprehensive solutions.

• Analyze, design, program, debug and modify software.

• Analyze system requirements for firmware development.

Apply

Apply problem solving skills to identify and improve low-level system performance issues.

Architect

• Architect and establish hearing aid DSP frameworks.

• Architect, design and implement firmware and Boot Loader of AMD dGPU / APU products.

• Architect, design, develop and debug firmware for electronic locks, products and systems.

Assess

Assess and recommend emerging technologies through close partnership with industry leaders.

Assist in

Assist in coordinating and planning the team's objectives in an agile manner.

Attract

Attract, develop, engage and retain your team members.

Build

• Build systems and maintain processes for code deployment, testing, and manufacturing reliability.

• Build tools and automation that eliminate repetitive tasks.

Coach

Coach, instruct and support group members in daily execution on content and processes.

Code

Code quality, robustness, extendibility and performance are critical.

Collaborate with

• Collaborate closely with Hardware Engineers on the team to design embedded systems for IIoT products.

• Collaborate in cross-functional development teams.

• Collaborate with colleagues to come up with design ideas and approaches.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams for project success.

• Collaborate with hardware engineers on system architecture.

• Collaborate with internal teams to identify desired firmware behavior.

• Collaborate with manufacturing teams for mass production.

• Collaborate with multiple teams in our company, as well as with our monitor maker partners.

• Collaborate with quality assurance teams for testing.

Compiler

Compiler toolchains, debug tools, build environments is required.

Conduct

• Conduct conceptual product design and participates in the development of concepts and architectures.

• Conduct feasibility studies for firmware solutions.

• Conduct firmware unit test.

• Conduct Software unit test and support integration and systems testing.

Configure

Configure and optimize real-time operating systems (RTOS).

Contribute to

• Contribute expertise to and learn from the larger software group.

• Contribute to automated regression test suite.

• Contribute to continuous improvement of development processes.

• Contribute to technical strategy discussions, selecting processes and tools as required.

• Contribute to the implementation of product and system test set-ups.

Coordinate

• Coordinate configuration and release of software.

• Coordinate workload of group members in the segments.

Craft

Craft comprehensive high level plans of the operation of complex PC systems.

Create

• Create and implement algorithms.

• Create and maintain documentation for firmware designs.

• Create and maintain software lifecycle documents.

• Create design documents on software architecture and algorithms.

• Create Firmware spec template and test requirement template.

• Create product documentation and user manuals.

Debug

• Debug and test tools such as JTAG, ICE, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.

• Debug and troubleshoot firmware-related issues.

• Debug issues using oscilloscopes and logic analyzers.

• Debug memory interface issues.

Define

• Define and design automotive Ethernet-based networking scheme.

• Define / develop code framework and functional test to fulfill the test strategy / plan.

• Define firmware functional spec and test requirement.

Design

• Design and develop BIOS Verification scripts and tools for internal BIOS / FW code.

• Design and develop production-quality code for Product Development.

• Design and implementation of firmware for new integrated circuit products.

• Design and implement code for microcontrollers.

• Design and implement creative solutions for boot software.

• Design and implement system calibration mechanisms.

• Design scalable FW architecture designed to operate with different hardware products.

• Design software subsystems, components, and their interfaces in support of business requirements.

• Design software using a known and well-respected methodology.

• Design Verification Test (DVT) Engineer to develop DCO firmware DVT infrastructure.

Develop

• Develop algorithms for safety, control strategies, communications policies, etc. . #.

• Develop and documents software for safety critical applications.

• Develop and execute feature enablement and test plans for system and power management IP.

• Develop and integrate solid state metrology and sensors used within metering products.

• Develop and maintain CI (Continuous-Integration) testing initiatives.

• Develop and maintain firmware for new and existing products.

• Develop and maintain functional specific training and training plans for employees.

• Develop and maintain Linux driver used by CPU and GPU diagnostic software to validate the SOC IPs.

• Develop and maintain test fixtures for firmware validation.

• Develop and provide day to day direction and oversight to other firmware engineers.

• Develop application to interact with Bluetooth BLE.

• Develop application to interact with LTE modem.

• Develop auto-test script using Python.

• Develop, debug and validate firmware within pre & post silicon environments.

• Develop diagnostics release script (Linux Shell, Ruby).

• Develop diagnostics software to bring-up and validate ASIC features on both pre-silicon environment.

• Develop documentation required for collaboration, sustainability, and internal processes.

• Develop efficient data processing and collection algorithms in a resource-constrained environment.

• Develop electronic and embedded software designs and product prototypes.

• Develop embedded firmware for electronic devices.

• Develop, enhance and debug new and existing real-time firmware in C and C++.

• Develop firmware to process sensors commonly used in robotics (IMU, GPS, ultrasonics, etc).

• Develop linux kernel drivers.

• Develop software architecture.

• Develop Software Test Requirements.

• Develop unit tests and regression tests for the firmware modules.

Document

Document your software designs.

Drive

• Drive design reviews, quality improvements and architectural discussions.

• Drive firmware / hardware co-design for optimized solutions and schedules.

Enable

Enable Independent BIOS Vendor on new CPU / APU products.

Engage

Engage as a phenomenal teammate, always ready to seek new challenges.

Ensure

• Ensure firmware compliance with regulatory standards.

• Ensure QMS processes for function are established and maintained.

• Ensure that capacity plan is in line with sub-business commitments.

• Ensure the reliability and stability of firmware code.

• Ensure thorough familiarity with company policies and procedures.

Establish

Establish and maintain functional procedures, guidelines and templates.

Estimate

Estimate and track time and effort necessary for completing implementation tasks.

Evaluate

• Evaluate and calibrate sensors to be used in the application.

• Evaluate and select appropriate microcontrollers for projects.

• Evaluate, choose, and communicate with new and existing vendors.

Help

Help the team establish best practices for development, test, and deployment.

Identify

• Identify and implement engineering and quality process improvements.

• Identify areas of improvement in both new designs and bug fixes / refactoring opportunities.

Implement

• Implement and debug firmware.

• Implement and deploy new code.

• Implement and ensure adherence to engineering best practices and procedures.

• Implement and manage over-the-air updates.

• Implement over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates.

• Implement security measures within firmware code.

• Implement the control algorithms on top of Linux and FreeRTOS operating systems.

• Implement Treau's energy saving and efficient heating / cooling system control algorithms.

Integrate

• Integrate electronic hardware, firmware, and software into complete systems.

• Integrate firmware with higher-level software applications.

• Integrate internal and third-party software modules together and tests the combined package.

• Integrate IoT infrastructure using Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform.

• Integrate new sensors and hardware onboard the drone platform.

• Integrate new sensors, improve control systems, implement and debug features.

• Integrate wireless communication protocols (BLE, Wi-Fi, etc.).

Interact with

Interact with team and clients to clearly communicate work progress and design details.

Interface with

Interface with management and off-site teams to co-develop the complete product solution.

Investigate

Investigate future roadmaps and product user documentation to understand software impact.

Keep

Keep abreast of advancements in robotics and relevant fields of engineering.

Lead

• Lead and coordinate unit, integration, and software system test activities.

• Lead firmware and / or product lifecycle related process, tools, and projects.

• Lead Security Software / Firmware Engineer - 106362.

Maintain

• Maintain a high bar for product quality, safety and user experience.

• Maintain test platforms and HW equipment for diagnostics release process.

• Maintain version controlled software through pull requests and code reviews.

Make

• Make performance and optimization trade-offs to meet product requirements.

• Make recommendations and refine SW engineering processes to improve quality and efficiency.

Manage

• Manage firmware release cycles and versioning.

• Manage individual project priorities, deadlines, and deliverables.

• Manage teams across multiple regions and daily coaching / mentorship, is expected.

Mentor

Mentor staff to develop key software systems development skills and capabilities.

Network

Network packet processing and network protocols (ethernet, IP, UDP, TCP .).

Optimize

Optimize firmware code for performance.

Own

Own and write prototype and production grade firmware for various microcontroller designs.

Participate in

• Participate in brainstorms outside your area of expertise.

• Participate in hardware and software design reviews, and support product testing and validation.

• Participate in sprint planning, backlog grooming, and task allocation.

• Participate in testing new and existing firmware.

• Participate in the hardware design process.

Peer

Peer review code for adherence best practices, design guidelines and coding standards.

Perform

• Perform code reviews for quality assurance.

• Perform design and full-cycle development of firmware and software products (new and existing).

• Perform pre-silicon verification on emulator and ASIC bring up on real silicon.

• Perform scheduling activities and communicates schedule to management and customers.

• Perform well under pressure and work effectively to meet project deadlines.

Plan

Plan and allocate the group resources.

Produce

• Produce all internal documentation and records for development and testing.

• Produce documentation for other internal teams and technical user manuals.

Program

Program microcontrollers using assembly and C/C++.

Prototype

Prototype, design, and implement CI solutions.

Provide

• Provide constructive feedbacks to team members on a regular basis to improve their performance.

• Provide estimates of effort, schedule, and size of change to Project Manager.

• Provide firmware architectural support of the new product development products.

• Provide functional input (opportunities, ideas) to the Sub Business roadmap.

• Provide leadership to junior developers and always ready to take on new challenges.

• Provide R&D input on CAPA reports and post product release support to BD Manufacturing worldwide.

• Provide support for team in troubleshooting issues in the field and in development.

• Provide support to customers.

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to developers, program managers.

• Provide technical support during product development.

Report

Report project progress, issues and risks to the Manager.

Represent

• Represent ICT Firmware team in corporate and executive planning and execution forums.

• Represent needs of a specific product and create development backlog.

Research

• Research and make innovative recommendations around new technologies.

• Research ways to improve software and / or system performance.

Solve

Solve functional escalations.

Stay abreast of

Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends.

Support

• Support development of (bare metal) firmware run on embedded microcontrollers within Nvidia GPUs.

• Support diagnostics and device operations.

• Support in technical proposals and hardware system design.

• Support internal and external platform bring-up.

• Support pre- and post– silicon as well as production cycle efforts.

• Support with weekly reporting and metrics where / when required.

Test

Test and validate firmware on target hardware.

Translate

Translate system requirements into firmware functional designs.

Troubleshoot

Troubleshoot code for firmware (IC embedded code) applications.

Understand

Understand telecommunication protocol, such as OTN (Optical Transport Network) or SONET / SDH.

Verify

Verify Diagnostic framework on emulation, Simulation and silicon.

Work with

• Work and interface with engineers of different disciplines.

• Work as a member of an agile team to produce rapid and effective results.

• Work closely with customers to address and resolve BIOS issues.

• Work closely with the hardware team to develop software applications.

• Work on a system simulator as part of pre-silicon efforts.

• Work well on your own and as part of a team.

• Work with 3rd party vendors to support their hardware on the American Well platform.

• Work with AMD internal firmware and software teams on platform software development.

• Work with customers and help customers to debug BIOS / firmware relative issues.

• Work with design and modeling teams to develop firmware requirements and algorithms.

• Work with design team to determine alternate solutions.

• Work with Firmware functional manager and ODM program manager to improve ODM process.

• Work with hardware and optical groups to trouble-shoot FW issues on ZYNQ platforms.

• Work with HW and optical groups to translate requirements into working designs.

• Work with networked audio devices.

• Work with partners to ensure design compatibility and system integration.

• Work with project managers in Agile / Scrum settings.

• Work with Software Quality Assurance and Technical Support to determine and resolve issues.

• Work with the development team to trouble shoot optical component (ROSA / TOSA) controls.

• Work with version control systems for code management.

Write

• Write and maintain project documentation.

• Write development documentation and contribute content to end user documentation.

• Write development documentation and supply content to end-user documentation.

• Write device drivers for various peripherals.

• Write firmware to interface with a custom Linux OS and video codecs (Cisco / Polycom).

• Write source code, and provide documentation.

• Write test cases for design verification and compliance tests.

• Write test plans and conducts design verification tests.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Firmware Engineer:

1. Proficiency in C, C++, and assembly languages.

2. Understanding of embedded systems and their constraints.

3. Skill in programming microcontrollers.

4. Expertise in debugging tools and techniques.

5. Ability to write device drivers for peripherals.

6. Knowledge of system architecture and hardware-software interaction.

7. Experience with configuring and optimizing RTOS.

8. Skill in using version control systems like Git.

9. Familiarity with implementing security measures in firmware.

10. Expertise in testing and validating firmware on target hardware.

11. Knowledge of tools facilitating cross-functional collaboration.

12. Understanding of protocols like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

13. Ability to create and maintain comprehensive documentation.

14. Skill in conducting feasibility studies for firmware solutions.

15. Proficiency in using debugging tools.

16. Experience in implementing over-the-air firmware updates.

17. Understanding of compliance with regulatory standards.

18. Ability to perform and participate in code reviews.

19. Skill in configuring and optimizing real-time operating systems.

20. Ability to develop and maintain firmware test fixtures.

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Firmware Engineer:

1. Effective problem-solving skills for debugging and troubleshooting.

2. Clear and concise communication within cross-functional teams.

3. Strong collaborative skills for working with diverse teams.

4. Ability to adapt to evolving technologies and project requirements.

5. Meticulous attention to detail in firmware code and documentation.

6. Innovative thinking for efficient and effective firmware solutions.

7. A commitment to continuous learning in a rapidly evolving field.

8. Efficient time management for meeting project deadlines.

9. Analytical and critical thinking for evaluating system requirements.

10. A collaborative and supportive team player.

Conclusion

By encompassing these responsibilities and developing the required hard and soft skills, Firmware Engineers can excel in their roles, contributing to the development of cutting-edge technologies and ensuring the seamless functioning of embedded systems in diverse industries.