Embedded Software Architect – Edge AI MCU - Austin, Texas, United States
Originally posted 4 March 2026 by the employer.
About the role
Ambiq is hiring an Embedded Software Architect to define the software architecture and requirements for Edge AI MCU platforms. This position operates at the hardware/software boundary, partnering directly with SoC architects, product teams, IP vendors, and embedded software leaders to guide how silicon is exposed, controlled, optimized, and validated.
What you'll do
- Define the software architecture for low-power Edge AI MCUs and drive early-stage functional allocation between hardware and software. - Develop and refine Software Requirements Specifications (SRS) aligned with customer use cases. - Lead architectural decisions across multi-processor communication, control/data plane separation, data movement acceleration, memory management, and power optimization. - Partner with SoC architects to evaluate hardware/software trade-offs and support software prototyping to validate architectural decisions. - Serve as architectural SME through implementation, validation, bring-up, design reviews, and test plan evaluations. - Mentor engineers and define technical best practices across embedded software teams.
What you'll need
- BS or MS in EE, CE, or CS. - 12+ years of experience developing embedded software for real-time systems. - Deep experience working with ARM Cortex-M platforms and asymmetric multicore architectures. - Strong proficiency in C/C++ (assembly experience preferred). - Experience defining and writing Software Requirements Specifications (SRS), including requirements traceability and testability across pre-silicon and post-silicon platforms. - Deep knowledge of memory systems, data movement, and processor interaction.
Nice to have
- Experience with power optimization strategies in embedded systems. - Familiarity with TrustZone for M-class microcontrollers or trusted firmware environments. - Experience with graphics, display, or audio/video processing. - Experience working directly with IP vendors and external silicon partners.
Skills: embedded software architecture, ARM Cortex-M, bare metal, RTOS, low-power Edge AI MCUs
This role has been open 88 days — well above the 55-day median for Embedded Firmware Engineering roles.
Embedded Firmware Engineering · Systems Software
|
Open roles in category
730
|
Median days open
55 d
|
Median salary
$169k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Ambiq Micro | All employers we track in this specialty (730 roles · 83 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 6 | 730 |
| Open roles in the wider Software, Firmware & Systems family | 12 | 6166 · 145 employers |
| Median days open | 88 d | 55 d (+33 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $169k |
Skills observed across this category: embedded software architecture, ARM Cortex-M, bare metal, RTOS, low-power Edge AI MCUs
Who's hiring in this category
- Qualcomm · 119 open roles · median 53 d
- AMD · 65 open roles · median 37 d
- Micron Technology · 61 open roles · median 87 d
- NVIDIA · 56 open roles · median 61 d
- Lattice Semiconductor · 46 open roles · median 40 d
- NXP Semiconductors · 32 open roles · median 34 d
How we counted: 730 open Embedded Firmware Engineering (Systems Software) roles from 83 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 19 Oct 2026. Specialty figures count only roles carrying this exact specialty label, so an employer's related work in neighbouring specialties is not included there — it is counted in the wider Software, Firmware & Systems family row. Figures refresh nightly.