Sr. Staff Software Engineer, Embedded Systems (Boston or Mountain View)

As a Sr. Staff Software Engineer, Embedded Systems at Lightmatter, you will be instrumental in developing the firmware and device software essential for our photonic AI processors and interconnects. Your duties include collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to define architecture, creating monitoring diagnostics for photonic transceivers, and integrating with data center administration capabilities. Additionally, participating in customer engagements to gather usability requirements will be key in ensuring our products meet market needs.

Candidates for the Sr. Staff Software Engineer, Embedded Systems role at Lightmatter should ideally possess a BS and 12+ years of experience or an MS with 8+ years in software development. A solid background in device driver and kernel-side development is necessary, along with a strong grasp of hardware-software integration. Experience in Linux, embedded systems, and proficiency in programming languages like Python or C++ will be preferred.

The work environment for a Sr. Staff Software Engineer, Embedded Systems at Lightmatter is collaborative and multidisciplinary. You’ll be working closely with experts from diverse fields such as analog and digital systems, networking, and photonics. Lightmatter promotes a flexible, hybrid workplace model that fosters innovation, allowing you to work both remotely and on-site, depending on your needs.

In your role as a Sr. Staff Software Engineer, Embedded Systems at Lightmatter, you'll be involved with exciting projects that push the boundaries of AI technology. This includes developing software for photonic communications, enhancing device interfaces, and integrating with advanced telemetry and security features. Your work will directly contribute to the ongoing development of revolutionary photonic computing systems.

Lightmatter offers a comprehensive benefits package for its Sr. Staff Software Engineers, Embedded Systems, which includes health care plans, retirement savings matching, life insurance, generous time off, paid family leave, and various forms of disability coverage. Additionally, employees can participate in training and development programs and benefit from a flexible workplace model and stock option plans.

In answering this question, share specific projects where you've developed or improved device drivers. Highlight the challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the outcomes of your work. Provide details on relevant technologies you utilized, showing a deep understanding of the process.

Discuss your strategies for effective collaboration, such as regular communication, setting shared goals, and leveraging each team member's strengths. Provide examples where you successfully worked with cross-functional teams and how it contributed to the project's success.

Highlight the importance of understanding hardware specifications, power management, memory constraints, and the need for efficient algorithms. Discuss how you prioritize security and reliability in firmware design and provide examples of past experiences.

Be ready to share a specific example of a difficult software problem you encountered and detail the steps you took to resolve it. Emphasize critical thinking, debugging skills, and any innovative approaches you applied to find a solution.

Discuss methods you employ to test and validate the integration of software with hardware, including simulators, real-time testing, and debugging techniques. Highlight your proactive communication with hardware teams to prevent potential issues.

Clearly outline your proficiency in technologies such as Python, C++, Linux, or any other relevant systems and tools. Connect your skills to specific projects you've completed, showcasing how your knowledge contributed to successful outcomes.

Share your thoughts on the methodologies you adopt, such as Agile or Scrum, and why you believe in their effectiveness. Provide examples of how employing these methodologies has improved team productivity and project delivery.

Discuss your familiarity with OpenBMC and DMTF, pointing out how these standards can enhance data center management and interoperability. Share any experiences where you used these in past projects and how it aligns with Lightmatter’s goals.

Express your passion for innovation in AI and embedded systems. Share what excites you about Lightmatter’s projects and vision. Articulate how your personal and professional goals align with the company’s mission to revolutionize computing with light.

Mention the resources you utilize to stay updated, such as industry publications, online courses, or tech meetups. Highlight your commitment to continuous learning and how it helps you apply the latest advancements to your work.