Ambarella
Staff Software Engineer
3101 Jay Street, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Full-time
First seen by offpeak October 21, 2026
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AI Vision Processors For Edge Applications
Our solutions make cameras smarter by extracting valuable data from high-resolution video streams.
Job Description
We are seeking a Software Engineer to develop and optimize low-level software and microcode for AI workloads on Ambarella AI SoCs. This role focuses on AI workload deployment, performance optimization, heterogeneous compute orchestration, and system-level debugging across the silicon lifecycle.
This is a hands-on engineering role at the hardware–software boundary.
Key Responsibilities:
- Low-Level & Runtime Development
- Develop deep expertise in Ambarella AI SoC and accelerator architecture.
- Design, implement, and debug microcode, runtime, and system-level software to deploy AI workloads.
- Efficiently utilize heterogeneous compute cores and multi-level memory hierarchies to maximize performance.
- Tooling & Infrastructure
- Develop tools and infrastructure to streamline workload deployment, profiling, debugging, and performance analysis.
- Enhance SDKs and workflows to simplify model and algorithm deployment to Ambarella AI platforms.
- Cross-Functional & Customer Collaboration
- Partner with architecture, hardware, compiler, and application teams to deliver production-ready solutions.
- Support customers in optimizing and integrating their models onto Ambarella SoCs.
Qualifications & Skills:
- Required
- Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent.
- 5 to 10 years of experience in systems software, embedded software, firmware engineering.
- Strong C, Python and low-level programming experience.
- Deep understanding of Computer architecture and Microprocessor fundamentals.
- Experience with modern software development processes.
- Strong analytical skills, with a passion for solving complex challenges.
- Strong communication, interpersonal and planning skills.
- Preferred
- Experience with heterogenous compute core SoCs and accelerators.
- Knowledge of Runtimes, Operating Systems and/or RTOS internals.
- Experience debugging system-level issues across components and layers.
- Nice to have
- Knowledge of Deep Learning, Computer Vision fundamentals.
- Knowledge of AI workloads (CNNs, LLMs/VLMs), particularly how they map efficiently to hardware.
What Makes You Successful in This Role
- You enjoy working close to the hardware.
- You are driven by performance optimization challenges.
- You are comfortable navigating ambiguity in fast-moving, product-driven environments.