Embedded Software Engineer

Cirrus Logic, Inc.; Newbury; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology solutions company located in Newbury is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to develop high-performance firmware for DSP architecture and microcontrollers. The role entails designing real-time embedded software, optimizing pipelines, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Candidates should be experienced in C/C++ and comfortable with RISC V or Arm architecture. This hybrid position requires two in-office days based on business needs, with a commitment to a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Benefits

Diversity and inclusion programs

Flexible work schedule

Hybrid work model

Qualifications

• Strong experience developing embedded firmware in C/C++.
• Hands-on experience with RISC V and/or Arm architecture.
• Solid understanding of register-level programming and memory-mapped I/O.
• Proven ability to optimize firmware and manage concurrency.
• Strong debugging skills with hardware and firmware.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain embedded firmware for DSP cores.
• Build and optimize real-time signal-processing pipelines.
• Implement and debug drivers and RTOS components.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements.
• Participate in code reviews and establish best practices.

Skills

Embedded firmware development

C/C++ programming

RISC V and Arm architecture

Debugging skills

Performance optimization

Tools

GCC/LLVM toolchains

JTAG/SWD debuggers

Logic analyzers

Job description

For over four decades, Cirrus Logic has been propelled by the top engineers in mixed-signal processing. Our rockstar team thrives on solving complex challenges with innovative end-user solutions for the world's top consumer brands. Cirrus Logic is also known for its award‑winning culture, built on a foundation of inclusion and fairness, meaningful community engagement, and delivering enjoyable employee experiences at every turn. But we couldn’t do it without our extraordinary workforce – and that’s where you come in. Join our team and help us continue to make Cirrus Logic an exceptional place to grow your career!

We’re looking for an Embedded Software Engineer who thrives close to the hardware and enjoys building high‑performance, reliable firmware for DSP architecture and microcontrollers (e.g., RISC V and Arm Cortex M/A). You’ll design and implement real‑time embedded software, optimize compute‑heavy pipelines, and collaborate with hardware and systems teams to bring products from concept to production.

This role suits someone who can move comfortably between architecture/design, low‑level firmware, and performance tuning—especially where latency, throughput, power, and determinism matter.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and maintain embedded firmware for DSP cores and MCUs (RISC V and/or Arm).
• Build and optimize real‑time signal‑processing pipelines (fixed‑point and/or floating‑point), potentially including FFTs, filters, modulation/demodulation, codecs, feature extraction, or control loops.
• Develop firmware using a mix of C/C++ (and selective assembly where appropriate), with strong focus on performance, memory, and power optimization.
• Work with SoC/board peripherals: DMA, timers, SPI, I²C, UART, I²S/TDM, PWM, GPIO, and relevant bus fabrics.
• Bring up new hardware: boot flows, clocks, memory maps, interrupt vectors, peripheral init, and early validation.
• Implement and debug drivers and RTOS components (e.g., Zephyr or equivalent), including task scheduling, synchronization primitives, and ISR design.
• Develop test strategies: unit tests, hardware‑in‑the‑loop tests, test automation, and manufacturing/production diagnostics.
• Use debugging/profiling tools: JTAG/SWD, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, trace (ETM/ITM), and cycle‑accurate profiling when available.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with hardware, FPGA/ASIC, systems, and application teams to define requirements and interfaces.
• Contribute documentation: architecture notes, interface specs, timing budgets, work packages, and bring‑up guides.
• Participate in code reviews and help establish best practices for embedded quality, safety, and maintainability.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Strong professional experience developing embedded firmware in C/C++ for MCUs and/or DSPs.
• Hands‑on experience with RISC V and/or Arm architecture (Cortex M/A), including interrupts, memory, caches, and performance characteristics.
• Solid understanding of embedded software fundamentals:
• register‑level programming, memory‑mapped I/O
• concurrency (ISRs, RTOS tasks), race conditions, timing determinism
• fixed‑point arithmetic, numerical precision, and overflow/underflow management
• Proven ability to optimize firmware: cycle counting, memory layout, DMA usage, cache behavior, minimizing latency and jitter.
• Comfortable with toolchains and build systems:
• GCC/LLVM‑based toolchains, cross‑compilation
• CMake/Make, Meson, linker scripts, map files
• Strong debugging skills with hardware and firmware:
• JTAG/SWD debugging
• root‑cause analysis of timing and performance issues
• Source control expertise (Git) and disciplined engineering practices (code reviews, CI).

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• Languages: C, C++, (optional) assembly, Python for test tooling/scripts
• Architectures: RISC V, Arm Cortex M/A, DSP cores
• RTOS/OS: Zephyr, embedded Linux (optional)
• Tools: JTAG/SWD debuggers, GDB, OpenOCD/J‑Link, logic analyzer, oscilloscope, trace tools
• Practices: profiling, timing analysis, unit/integration testing, CI/CD for embedded
• Experience with common DSP libraries/techniques (e.g., CMSIS‑DSP, vendor DSP libs) and SIMD/vector optimization patterns.
• Experience with Zephyr, or embedded Linux on Arm.
• Familiarity with bootloaders, secure boot, OTA update mechanisms, and field diagnostics.
• Understanding of digital communications, or audio, processing domains.
• Exposure to safety/security standards (e.g., MISRA C/C++, IEC 61508, ISO 26262)

This Newbury or London based role is a hybrid remote position and will follow a 2 day in‑office work schedule, with in‑office days based on business needs and team preference. You must be based within commutable distance of the work location listed on the job posting, or willing to relocate prior to beginning employment with Cirrus Logic.

Export control restrictions based upon applicable laws and regulations would prohibit candidates who are nationals of certain embargoed countries from working in this position without Cirrus Logic first obtaining an export license. Candidates for this role must be able to access technical data without a requirement for an export license. We are unable to sponsor or obtain export licenses for this role.

At Cirrus Logic, we believe that diversity drives innovation, and we are committed to encouraging an open and collaborative culture where different approaches, ideas, and points of view are respected and valued. We aim to promote a workplace where everyone can contribute irrespective of race, colour, national origin, religion or belief, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, pregnancy status, or disability.