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# Staff Firmware Engineer (Secure Boot & Real Time Platform)

- **Company:** 42Dot Inc.
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $189,240.0 - $266,760.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Board Bringup, Microsoft Access, Booting (BIOS), Software Debugging, File Systems, Embedded C, Fault Tolerance, Firmware, Flash Memory, Hardware Design, Inter-Process Communication, Intrusion Detection Systems, Joint Test Action (IEEE Standards), Microsoft Data Access Components, System Availability, State Machines, U-Boot, EMMC
- **Published:** September 4, 2026
- **Apply:** https://startup.jobs/sr-staff-firmware-engineer-secure-boot-real-time-platform-42dot-8285707

## About the Role

* Hardware Root of Trust & Security: Configure hardware-based cryptographic enclaves (HSMs, TPMs, or ARM TrustZone).
 * Develop firmware controls for secure key storage, device attestation, and anti-rollback protection via eFuses or secure flash memory.
 * High-Performance Inter-Core Communication: Design, implement, and optimize low-latency Inter-Process Communication (IPC) and Inter-Core Communication (ICC) mechanisms utilizing shared memory architectures, hardware semaphores, and zero-copy data paths.
 * High-Durability Storage Systems: Package and deploy low-level block drivers and fault-tolerant flash file systems (e.g., eMMC, UFS, QSPI).
 * Implement advanced wear-leveling and delta compression techniques to maximize flash lifespan and minimize bus bandwidth.

## Description

As a Sr. Staff Firmware Engineer, you will design and implement the mission-critical secure boot-chain, flash partition architecture, and hardware-enforced isolation layers for our next-generation Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) platform. This is a pure embedded C engineering role focused on high availability, extreme durability, and fail-safe robustness. You will architect the boundaries where bare silicon meets low-level execution environments, developing a zero-downtime system that handles concurrent inter-core communication and guarantees autonomous systems never experience a field failure., * Architect the Secure Boot-Chain: Design and optimize the multi-stage secure boot sequence-from immutable mask ROM and Primary Bootloaders (PBL) to Secondary Bootloaders (SBL/U-Boot)-ensuring execution integrity.

 * Hardware-Enforced Isolation: Implement and configure advanced hardware firewall technologies (such as NXP xRDC / XRDC4) and core-level Memory Protection Units (MPUs).
 * Manage Cohort/Domain IDs, Master Domain Assignment Controllers (MDAC), and Peripheral Access Controllers (PAC) to achieve strict resource isolation, peripheral partitioning, and fault domain segregation.
 * Fail-Safe A/B Update Layouts: Implement atomic A/B firmware slot update schemes and dual-bank partition architectures.
 * Design the low-level state machines for partition switching, background flashing, and automatic runtime fallback loops., * Pure Firmware Development: Write high-performance, deterministic embedded C tailored for resource-constrained environments, ensuring freedom from interference (FFI) and tight control over task scheduling.
 * Defensive Engineering: Protect low-level execution paths against physical and electrical attack vectors, including voltage manipulation, clock glitching, and unauthorized side-channel access.
 * Low-Level Hardware Integration: Lead physical hardware bring-up and verification in the lab using JTAG/SWD debuggers, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes.
 * Validate low-level memory protections, security states, and low-to-high speed peripheral/bus interference

Interview Process

 * Application Review - Coding Test - 1st interview - 2nd interview - Offer Negotiation - Hiring
 * The screening procedures may vary depending on the position, schedule, or other circumstances.
You will be individually notified of the screening schedule and results via the email address provided in your application., * In accordance with fair hiring practices, do not include any personal information unrelated to your job qualifications (e.g., Social Security Number, family relations, marital status, age, photo, physical condition, place of birth, etc.) in your resume.

 * All documents must be submitted in PDF format and under 30MB in size.
 * If you experience issues uploading your resume, please send it along with the job posting URL to recruit@42dot.ai.
 * We strongly encourage applications from U.S. veterans and candidates eligible for employment preference under applicable laws.
 * Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
 * 42dot does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not pay fees for any such submissions. Equal Opportunity Statement
 * 42dot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.


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