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Western Digital

# Principal / Technologist Firmware Engineer

Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China Full-time Senior individual contributor Software Engineering 

Listed on Western Digital’s official careers site. Posted August 3, 2026. Check that it is still open and apply there.
[Apply on Western Digital’s careers site →](https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/WesternDigital/744000141166179-principal-technologist-firmware-engineer)

[OpenNash Jobs](https://jobs.opennash.com/) / [Western Digital](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/western-digital/) / Principal / Technologist Firmware Engineer

## Job description

### Role Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Embedded Software Engineer to join our engineering team. This role demands a seasoned professional with deep technical mastery across the full embedded stack — from low-level bare-metal firmware through RTOS-based systems to Linux kernel and application-layer development. The ideal candidate bridges hardware and software domains fluently, bringing hands-on FPGA development experience alongside proven capability in upper-computer (PC/host-side) software.

This is a senior individual contributor role requiring independent technical judgment, architectural thinking, and the ability to drive complex projects from concept to production. Key Responsibilities
- Architect, develop, debug, and optimize firmware and software for embedded platforms spanning bare-metal, RTOS, and embedded Linux environments
- Write and maintain board support packages (BSPs), bootloaders, peripheral drivers, and hardware abstraction layers for microcontrollers and SoCs
- Develop and maintain Linux kernel modules, device drivers, device-tree configurations, and root filesystem customization for embedded Linux targets
- Design, implement, and verify FPGA logic (Verilog/VHDL); collaborate with hardware teams on FPGA-based prototyping, signal processing pipelines, or custom peripheral integration; develop and debug firmware-FPGA interfaces
- Develop host-side applications (C/C++, Python, C#, or Qt-based) for device communication, data acquisition, test automation, calibration tools, and production diagnostics
- Lead board bring-up activities, integrate software/firmware/FPGA components, and drive system-level debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG/SWD debuggers, and protocol analyzers
- Profile and optimize system performance (latency, throughput, memory footprint, power consumption); implement robust error handling, watchdog strategies, and fault-tolerant designs
- Provide architectural guidance and code reviews; mentor junior engineers; establish coding standards, documentation practices, and development workflows for the embedded team
- Work closely with hardware, mechanical, test, and product teams to translate system requirements into embedded software specifications and deliver integrated solutions

## Qualifications
- B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline
- 8+ years of professional embedded software/firmware development experience
- Deep proficiency in C/C++ for resource-constrained targets; extensive experience with at least one commercial or open-source RTOS; solid understanding of real-time scheduling, interrupt handling, synchronization primitives, and deterministic timing
- Demonstrated experience with Linux kernel internals — driver development, kernel module programming, user-space/kernel-space interfaces (ioctl, sysfs, netlink), and cross-compilation toolchains
- Hands-on development in Verilog or VHDL targeting Xilinx and/or Intel (Altera) platforms; familiarity with synthesis, timing closure, simulation, and on-chip debug (ILA/SignalTap)
- Proven track record building PC-side applications for embedded device interaction — serial/USB/Ethernet communication stacks, GUI or CLI tools, and automated test frameworks
- Expert-level use of JTAG/SWD debuggers, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes; proficiency with version control (Git), CI/CD pipelines, and build systems (Make, CMake, Yocto/Buildroot)
- Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills; ability to produce clear design documents, interface specifications, and technical reports
- Proficient in English verbal communication; able to effectively collaborate and conduct technical discussions across cross-functional and cross-regional teams Preferred Qualifications

### Experience with high-speed interfaces
- PCIe, USB 3.x, Ethernet (including RGMII/SGMII), or MIPI
- Familiarity with hardware description and verification methodologies (SystemVerilog, UVM) or High-Level Synthesis (HLS)
- Experience with signal/image processing algorithms implemented in firmware or FPGA fabric
- Proficiency in Python for scripting, test automation, and rapid prototyping
- Experience with Agile/Scrum development methodologies in a hardware-software co-development environment
- Familiarity with storage systems, motor control, or industrial/IoT domains is a plus

## At a glance
- Posted by the employer: Aug 3, 2026
- First seen by OpenNash: Jul 11, 2026
- Last checked: Oct 18, 2026
- Listed for: 99 days
- Location: Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
- Employment type: Full-time[Apply on Western Digital’s careers site →](https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/WesternDigital/744000141166179-principal-technologist-firmware-engineer)

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