(Senior) Principal Firmware Engineer Controls and Hardware Design

Step into a career with ASM, where cutting edge technology meets collaborative culture. ​

For over 55 years ASM has been ahead of what’s next, at the forefront of innovation and what’s technologically possible. With more than 4,500 ASMers representing 70 nationalities, our people and our advanced semiconductor devices are playing a crucial role in trends such as 5G, cloud computing, AI, and autonomous driving.  But we’re more than just a tech company. We value diversity, inclusion and sustainability as we strive to make a positive impact on the world.  Our development programs help support your growth, shaping your future and pushing the boundaries of innovation to unleash potential.  

Role Overview

We are seeking a Principal Firmware Engineer for Controls & Hardware Design to serve as a technical authority for the architecture, design, and delivery of embedded control hardware and hardware/firmware interfaces used in advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment. This role owns control system hardware strategy, drives complex design decisions, and partners closely with embedded firmware teams to deliver reliable, high‑performance control platforms deployed in production environments.

This position is suited for a deeply experienced engineer with demonstrated leadership in embedded control systems, microprocessor‑based platforms, and hardware/firmware integration, capable of influencing architecture and design direction across multiple programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and design of embedded firmware for control hardware platforms


• Define and implement embedded firmware strategies, standards, and best practices that enable robust firmware development and long‑term platform scalability


• Familiar with complex electronic systems incorporating microprocessors, microcontrollers, ADCs, DACs, and mixed‑signal circuitry optimized for embedded firmware execution


• Familiarity with reading schematics


• Lead firmware bring‑up, validation, and integration, including early firmware execution, board support validation, and interface verification


• Troubleshoot complex system‑level issues at the hardware, firmware, and controls interface, spanning analog, digital, and mixed‑signal domains


• Partner closely with embedded hardware, software, mechanical, and systems engineers to ensure cohesive and predictable control system behavior


• Provide technical leadership through design reviews, mentoring, and cross‑functional collaboration with firmware and controls teams


• Guide prototype development, risk mitigation, and design trade‑offs across the full product lifecycle, with emphasis on firmware enablement and maintainability


• Author and review high‑quality technical documentation, including hardware/firmware interface definitions, design rationale, and system specifications


• Occasional travel to support development, system integration, or escalated technical investigations

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Master’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline


• 10+ years of progressive experience designing embedded control and hardware systems, with demonstrated technical leadership

Core Technical Expertise

• Embedded firmware development in C


• Experience with Linux


• Recognized expertise in embedded firmwareand control system design


• Familiarity with microprocessor‑ and microcontroller‑based architectures supporting embedded firmware


• Proven ability to debug and resolve complex firmware‑level and hardware/firmware interaction issues


• Deep experience designing electronic boards incorporating microcontrollers, ADCs, DACs, and supporting circuitry


• Solid understanding of embedded systems environments, real‑time behavior, and hardware/firmware interfaces


• Expert use of oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and electronic test equipment


• Exceptional attention to detail, technical judgment, and documentation rigor


• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with embedded hardware or a strong working knowledge of embedded hardware development, bring‑up, and debugging


• Experience in the semiconductor manufacturing equipment industry (preferred, not required)


• Control hardware experience for auto RF matching networks and/or RF generators


• Experience with Texas Instruments Sitara processors


• Experience with Analog Devices Blackfin processors


• Experience with Xilinx Spartan FPGAs


• Background in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering applied to complex, real‑time embedded control systems