Job Information
Marvell Principal Software Engineer -memory constrained embedded C/C++ Firmware development in Ottawa, Canada
About Marvell
Marvell’s semiconductor solutions are the essential building blocks of the data infrastructure that connects our world. Across enterprise, cloud and AI, and carrier architectures, our innovative technology is enabling new possibilities.
At Marvell, you can affect the arc of individual lives, lift the trajectory of entire industries, and fuel the transformative potential of tomorrow. For those looking to make their mark on purposeful and enduring innovation, above and beyond fleeting trends, Marvell is a place to thrive, learn, and lead.
This is an existing vacancy.
Your Team, Your Impact
The Optical Digital Signal Processing (ODSP) PHY SW Team develops software for Marvell's DSP products used in pluggable optical modules—chips that form the backbone of the internet, moving data within and between data centers worldwide. Marvell is the market leader in direct-detect optical DSPs (100G to 1.6T), with products deployed in every major cloud data center and AI cluster. We own all SW components including embedded FW, customer SDK, and lab scripts, and we're the go-to group for getting things done across the entire product lifecycle—from pre-silicon simulation through field deployment.
What You Can Expect
The core responsibilities for the SW team include embedded FW that runs on our RISC-V-based multi-core MCU, C SDK provided to customers, Python-based GUI for in-field debug, and test infrastructure for the above.
The SW team is a key enabler for bringing a product to production, and the role of a Principal Engineer in our team is to ensure the overall success of that product. This role combines technical leadership with project coordination responsibilities.
Technical Leadership & Development
Lead the Architecture, Design, Development, and Testing of embedded C firmware for controlling our extremely complicated DSP HW
Serve as the technical lead on a product, guiding SW team members (2-8 developers) through the development process
Drive firmware development for DSP control blocks including RX/TX signal processing, FEC, PLL/FLL, reference generation, and thermal monitoring
Lead technical reviews of firmware architecture, API design, and system integration approaches
Translate complex specifications from standards bodies (MSA/OIF/CMIS) or directly from customers into easy-to-digest requirements, and clear sequence diagrams to aid in development
Take lead on difficult to debug issues, drive to root causes with HW/Systems teams, and follow up with test/validation/customer support teams
Project Coordination & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Work with the cross-functional team to plan SW milestones, develop in sprints, closing tickets, and roll out features for the product
Coordinate with Marketing, AE, Test, Validation, SW_QA, and Hardware teams to align on deliverables and schedules
Provide regular status updates on milestones, scope, dependencies, and blockers
Manage Agile sprint planning and backlog prioritization in collaboration with stakeholders
Customer Engagement & Support
Lead technical discussions with tier-1 customers on feature requirements, API specifications, and implementation
Support customer bring-up activities and resolve field issues
Work with AE teams to understand customer expectations and deliver critical features
Handle customer-specific feature development such as FEC burst statistics, VDM telemetry, and CMIS compliance
Team Development
Mentor engineers on embedded firmware development, debugging techniques, and best practices
Conduct code reviews and provide technical guidance to ensure code quality and maintainability
Foster collaboration across geographically distributed teams
What We're Looking For
Minimum Requirements:
BS/MS degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Software Engineering, or related technical field(s)
10+ years of experience in memory constrained embedded C/C++ FW development
SW Team Lead or Technical Lead experience on embedded projects
Architecture design & development, code reviews & testing, through to customer volume production
Understanding of embedded SoC, micro-controller architecture (RISC-V a plus), memory-mapped hardware interfaces, GPIOs, ISRs, etc.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, and able to collaborate in a large cross functional organization
Excellent problem-solving and customer debug skills on real hardware in the lab
Experience with using revision control and defect tracking systems
Preferred but not required:
Experience with SERDES, IM-DD/Coherent DSP, Ethernet/PCIe PHYs, and/or Optical Module SW
Experience with designing/developing/debugging software state machines, transitions, context saving, error handling
Experience with mixed-signal (analog+digital) control and monitoring, PID/feedback loop control
Experience with bare-metal, RTOS, device driver, Linux kernel, etc.
Familiarity with advanced compiler options and details (clang/gcc preferred)
Proficient in C and Python, with knowledge of git, Linux, makefiles, gdb, IDEs, bash
Familiarity with digital verification test flows, FPGA emulation, hardware languages such as Verilog
Familiarity with lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, supplies, PNAs, ONTs
Understanding of Ethernet networking from the OSI model, with emphasis on the PHY up to the data link level
Familiarity with forward error correction, PCS framing, PMA/PMD, PRBS, and other PHY traffic schemes
Understanding of signal processing: histograms, BER, SNR, sampling phase, Shannon limit, impulse & frequency response, FFT, etc.
Expected Base Pay Range (CAD)
145,800 - 194,400, $ per annum
Additional Compensation and Benefit Elements
With competitive compensation and great benefits, you will enjoy our workstyle within an environment of shared collaboration, transparency, and inclusivity. We’re dedicated to giving our people the tools and resources they need to succeed in doing work that matters, and to grow and develop with us. For additional information on what it’s like to work at Marvell, visit our Careers (https://www.marvell.com/company/careers/) page.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.
Interview Integrity
To support fair and authentic hiring practices, candidates are not permitted to use AI tools (such as transcription apps, real-time answer generators like ChatGPT or Copilot, or automated note-taking bots) during interviews.
These tools must not be used to record, assist with, or enhance responses in any way. Our interviews are designed to evaluate your individual experience, thought process, and communication skills in real time. Use of AI tools without prior instruction from the interviewer will result in disqualification from the hiring process.
This position may require access to technology and/or software subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). As such, applicants must be eligible to access export-controlled information as defined under applicable law. Marvell may be required to obtain export licensing approval from the U.S. Department of Commerce and/or the U.S. Department of State. Except for U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), all applicants may be subject to an export license review process prior to employment.
Marvell may employ artificial intelligence technologies to assist in the evaluation of job applications. All application reviews include meaningful human involvement, and no hiring decisions are made solely on the basis of automated processing.
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