Sr. Staff Firmware Engineer (Secure Boot & Real Time Platform)

42dot· ENGINEERING
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📍 Sunnyvale, United StatesFullTime💰 USD 189K–267K

About this role

We are looking for the best

About Us

42dot is a mobility AI company committed to solving mobility challenges with software and AI. As the Global Software Center of Hyundai Motor Group, 42dot pioneers the future of mobility by advancing the development of software-defined vehicles. 

We develop safety-first, user-centric software-defined vehicle technologies that deliver the latest performance through continuous updates like smartphones. By advancing software and AI technology, 42dot envisions a world where everything is connected and moves autonomously through a self-managing urban transportation operating system.

About the Role

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.

Responsibilities

  • 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.

Qualifications

  • 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.

Preferred Qualifications

  • 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.

Compensation

  • $189,240 - $266,760

Additional Information

  • 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.

※ Please review the following information before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Sr. Staff Firmware Engineer (Secure Boot & Real Time Platform) role at 42dot?
The listed salary for this Sr. Staff Firmware Engineer (Secure Boot & Real Time Platform) position at 42dot is USD 189K–267K. This is an FullTime role.
Where is the Sr. Staff Firmware Engineer (Secure Boot & Real Time Platform) position at 42dot located?
This Sr. Staff Firmware Engineer (Secure Boot & Real Time Platform) role at 42dot is based in Sunnyvale, United States. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Is the Sr. Staff Firmware Engineer (Secure Boot & Real Time Platform) role at 42dot full-time or part-time?
This is listed as a FullTime position. It is posted as a Sr. Staff Firmware Engineer (Secure Boot & Real Time Platform) role in the ENGINEERING department at 42dot.
Which team or department does the Sr. Staff Firmware Engineer (Secure Boot & Real Time Platform) at 42dot belong to?
This Sr. Staff Firmware Engineer (Secure Boot & Real Time Platform) position is part of the ENGINEERING department at 42dot. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Sr. Staff Firmware Engineer (Secure Boot & Real Time Platform) position at 42dot?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to 42dot's official application portal hosted on ashby where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Sr. Staff Firmware Engineer (Secure Boot & Real Time Platform) job at 42dot posted?
This Sr. Staff Firmware Engineer (Secure Boot & Real Time Platform) position at 42dot was posted on Jun 19, 2026. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Sr. Staff Firmware Engineer (Secure Boot & Real Time Platform)
42dot · 💰 USD 189K–267K
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You'll be redirected to 42dot's official application page on Ashby ATS.