Job Profile: Firmware Software Architect
The Firmware Software Architect is a recognized technical authority responsible for defining, evolving, and safeguarding the architecture of firmware components within complex DAQ (Data Acquisition) systems. This role ensures that firmware solutions deliver exceptional performance, reliability, and scalability, while remaining fully aligned with the overarching system vision established by the System Architect. The Firmware Architect drives innovation and lays the groundwork for next-generation DAQ platforms by modernizing existing solutions and seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technologies.
The Firmware Software Architect will collaborate within a team of technical leaders, guided by the Head of Platform Architecture, to define and execute technical roadmaps. This team ensures a streamlined, high-performance technology stack overall solutions by driving innovation and staying at the forefront of industry advancements .
Key Responsibilities
1. Firmware Architecture Leadership
Own the end-to-end firmware architecture for DAQ hardware platforms, with a strong focus on digital hardware bring-up and first-time-right hardware enablement.
Define architectural principles, patterns, and standards for low-level firmware, including driver-level C code, boot flows, hardware abstraction, and real-time execution on R5 cores.
Establish robust interfaces and integration concepts between digital hardware, FPGA-based interfaces, low-level firmware, real-time communication stacks, and higher software layers.
2. Strategic Collaboration
Partner closely with the System Architect and Hardware Architect to shape system concepts, define bring-up strategies, and resolve hardware-software integration trade-offs early.
Align firmware architecture with processor architecture, board design, FPGA designs, boot concepts, and real-time bus requirements to ensure the hardware can be commissioned and operated as intended.
Provide feasibility assessments, risk analysis, and technical guidance for digital hardware bring-up, firmware integration, and platform readiness during early development phases.
3. Technology & Innovation Leadership
Evaluate processors, SoCs, digital interfaces, and real-time communication technologies for integration into DAQ platforms.
Lead prototyping and proof-of-concept activities for hardware bring-up, low-level driver architecture, and integration of C-based protocol stacks for real-time busses.
Drive architectural decisions for boot processes, startup sequencing, diagnosability, and firmware update mechanisms to ensure robust and serviceable platforms.
4. Implementation Guidance
Act as a technical mentor and hands-on advisor for firmware teams developing low-level C code, board support packages, and hardware-near software components.
Ensure architectural consistency and implementation quality across driver development, R5-core firmware, real-time bus integration, and hardware bring-up activities.
Provide hands-on support for critical debugging, startup issues, boot problems, and firmware-hardware integration challenges to enable successful platform commissioning.
5. Lifecycle & Sustainability Management
Monitor firmware robustness, startup behavior, and hardware interaction in deployed systems.
Define and evolve concepts for firmware maintainability, safe firmware updates, and long-term support across hardware generations.
Anticipate component and technology changes and establish migration strategies for firmware, boot loaders, and hardware-dependent software layers.
6. Stakeholder Engagement
Communicate architectural decisions and rationale to internal stakeholders and external customers.
Qualifications & Experience
Master’s degree (M.Sc.) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
Extensive experience in firmware architecture, embedded systems, and digital hardware bring-up for complex hardware platforms (>5 years).
Strong understanding of hardware-near software architecture, modular low-level design, and real-time system constraints.
Deep expertise in embedded C development at driver and board-support-package level; solid C++ knowledge is a plus where relevant.
Experience bringing up firmware on new digital hardware platforms
Experience interfacing with FPGA-based designs; knowledge of FPGA design is a strong plus.
We Offer
Freedom with responsibility is the framework for HBK’s employees. This allows for a good balance between work and family life and for constant development of professional and personal skills in an international and enjoyable working environment.
One company – HBK
On 1 January 2019, Brüel & Kjær and HBM merged their activities into a new company called HBK (Hottinger Brüel & Kjær). With more than 3,500 employees worldwide and production facilities in Denmark, Germany, the UK, the USA, China and Portugal and presence in 80 countries, HBK is a leading player in the test and measurement area. For further info please visit www.hbkworld.com.