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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal/Staff Software Engineer - **Company:** Nokia - **Location:** Richardson, TX, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $125,000.0 - $232,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Board Bringup, Artificial Intelligence, Confluence, JIRA, C++ (Programming Language), Software Quality, Code Review, Collaborative Software, Cursor (Graphical User Interface Elements), Software Debugging, Distributed Data Store, Embedded Software, Firmware, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Hardware Interface Design, Real-Time Operating Systems, Powerpc, Software Requirements Analysis, Systems Integration, AI Infrastructure, CPLD, GitHub Copilot, Control Structures, Git, Bare Metal, Performance Monitor - **Published:** July 2, 2026 - **Apply:** https://jobs.localjobnetwork.com/apply/add/86865814/1 ## About the Role * Strong hands-on experience developing embedded software and firmware in C/C++ on bare metal and/or RTOS-based platforms. * Deep expertise in real-time embedded systems, including timing-critical execution, interrupt handling, control loops, and operation in resource-constrained environments. * Solid domain knowledge of optical transport and Optical DCI technologies, particularly those supporting AI-scale bandwidth and latency requirements. * In-depth understanding of OpenROADM and OpenConfig, including YANG-based data modeling and interfaces for optical device control, telemetry, and automation. * Experience with ARM, PowerPC, Intel, or similar processor architectures, including low-level hardware interfaces, board bring-up, and interaction with FPGA/CPLD logic. * Proven experience designing and integrating hardware interfaces and interprocessor communication mechanisms in multiprocessor systems. * Strong systems-level thinking, with the ability to debug and resolve issues spanning firmware, hardware, and system behavior. * Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate technical concepts and collaborate effectively across teams. * Proficiency with modern development and collaboration tools, including Git, Jira, and Confluence., * 8-12 years of relevant industry experience with a Bachelor's degree in Science, Technology, or Engineering, OR * 6-10 years of relevant industry experience with a Master's degree in Science, Technology, or Engineering. Nice-to-Have: * Hands-on experience using AI-assisted development tools (e.g., Cursor, GitHub Copilot) to improve development efficiency, code quality, and execution velocity. ## Description As a Principal/Staff Software Engineer, you will be an advanced individual contributor responsible for owning complex technical domains and providing leadership within cross-functional teams. You will play a key role in building and scaling Optical DCI transport platforms that support the AI infrastructure super cycle, delivering ultra-high bandwidth, low-latency connectivity for distributed data centers and large-scale GPU/accelerator clusters. This involves working closely with hardware, optics, FPGA, and system teams to develop robust, scalable, and highly reliable transport solutions for optical line systems, ROADMs, high-capacity transponders, and related DCI platforms. * Own the design and implementation of complex embedded software and firmware components for Optical DCI transport systems supporting AI and hyperscale workloads. * Execute across the full embedded software lifecycle, including requirements analysis, design, implementation, integration, verification, and system-level qualification. * Design and develop real-time control, monitoring, and telemetry software for high-capacity optical transport, encompassing optics control, link management, fault handling, and performance monitoring. * Translate AI infrastructure and DCI system requirements (bandwidth scaling, latency, resiliency, automation) into efficient, maintainable software designs within established architectures. * Lead technical execution for a defined subsystem or feature area, ensuring delivery with high quality, performance, and reliability. * Participate in hardware/software co-design, platform bring-up, and debugging complex system-level issues involving firmware, hardware, optics, and FPGA subsystems. * Drive best practices through design reviews, code reviews, and technical guidance, raising the quality bar across the team. ## Related Videos - [Improving quality with Agentic AI with Rovo Dev and Xray](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2005-improving-quality-with-agentic-ai-with-rovo-dev-and-xray) - [How a Small Team Shrank a Microsoft Monorepo by 94%](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1236-how-a-small-team-shrank-a-microsoft-monorepo-by-94) - [More efficient software for more efficient microchips](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1164-more-efficient-software-for-more-efficient-microchips) - [Collaboration Quantified: Lessons from Open Source Developer Networks](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1422-collaboration-quantified-lessons-from-open-source-developer-networks) - [Git for Code Reviews](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/429-git-for-code-reviews) - [Unlocking the potential of Digital & IT at Vodafone](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/602-unlocking-the-potential-of-digital-it-at-vodafone) ## Related Articles - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [Résumé-Driven Development: How IT trends affect the job market for software developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/59-resume-driven-development-how-it-trends-affect-the-job-market-for-software-developers) - [How software is steering vehicle technology](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/515-how-software-is-steering-vehicle-technology) - [The Best Software Developer Blogs to Read](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/156-the-best-software-developer-blogs-to-read) - [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers) - [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline)