Principal Engineer, Architecture (USB Systems & IP)

Location: San Jose, CA, United States

Salary: Base pay range of $245,000, plus potential incentive compensation, equity, and benefits.

Company

hirify.global develops low-cost, low-power programmable logic solutions, including FPGA, CPLD, and programmable power management devices.

What you will do

• Define architectures and technical requirements for future USB subsystems across FPGA and SoC product families.
• Serve as the company-wide subject matter expert for USB 2.0, USB 3.x, USB Type-C, USB Power Delivery, hubs, bridges, and related standards.
• Evaluate and guide integration of third-party USB controller, PHY, and protocol IP solutions.
• Lead architecture studies, competitive analysis, technology assessments, and product roadmap recommendations.
• Collaborate with silicon design, firmware, software, applications, product planning, customers, and ecosystem partners on reference platforms and production solutions.
• Develop specifications, architectural proposals, white papers, and executive presentations; support validation, interoperability, compliance, mentoring, and standards engagement.

Requirements

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 12+ years of industry experience in semiconductor, embedded systems, FPGA, ASIC, or SoC development.
• Technical leadership at subsystem or system architecture level, including leading cross-functional discussions and complex initiatives independently.
• Deep USB expertise covering USB 2.0, USB 3.x SuperSpeed, USB Type-C, USB Power Delivery, hubs, bridges, and device, host, and OTG implementations.
• Hands-on experience developing USB-based applications and products and implementing or integrating device, host, or dual-role solutions.
• Strong understanding of USB controller IP, host/device/dual-role controllers, PHY architectures, DMA and data movement, and third-party USB IP offerings.
• Experience with embedded USB firmware, boot loaders, firmware updates, device management, enumeration, reference software, middleware, BSPs, application frameworks, drivers, kernel-level software, or system integration.
• Strong understanding of embedded processors, RTOS environments, firmware/software partitioning, and debugging HW/FW/SW interactions with protocol analyzers, logic analyzers, and software tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Nice to have

• FPGA architectures and FPGA-based USB implementations.
• Linux USB subsystems, driver frameworks, and kernel development.
• Windows USB driver development and device certification.
• PCIe, Ethernet, MIPI, UART, SPI, I2C, or other embedded interfaces.
• USB compliance testing and certification, third-party IP make-versus-buy analysis, and security concepts such as secure boot, device authentication, firmware integrity, and trusted updates.
• Experience with strategic customers, ecosystem partners, standards organizations, or industry consortiums.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time role in a fast-paced, results-oriented, team-first environment.
• Comprehensive benefits may include healthcare, retirement plans, and paid time off.
• Potential eligibility for variable or incentive compensation and equity.
• Provides technical leadership across product generations, mentors engineers, drives consensus, and influences product strategy.
• Employment requires satisfactory proof of the right to work in the United States, plus successful background and reference checks.