Principal Software Engineer at Altera

San Jose, California, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Semiconductors, TechnologyIndustries

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline with 15+ years of experience or Bachelor’s Degree in related discipline with 20+ years of experience in software, firmware, and SoC/FPGA systems development
Deep expertise in bare-metal development and driver-level programming
Proven record of HW/SW co-design, performance modeling, and optimizations
Strong proficiency in C/C++, assembly, and debugging tools
Demonstrated success in system-level debug
Hands-on experience across firmware, RTOS, and HW/SW co-design
Decades of embedded expertise

Responsibilities

Define and drive the development of highly optimized firmware and FPGA solutions
Work closely with architects, designers, and engineers to push boundaries of system performance, efficiency, and reliability
Architect and develop embedded software within environments that have constrained resources such as memory, interrupts, and processing power
Make architectural decisions with a focus on software structure, interfaces, frameworks, protocols, algorithms, and/or validation direction
Define complex software structures, algorithms, and/or design patterns for interaction with Firmware
Perform and lead pathfinding activities and explore future technologies
Influence and drive technical direction across Intel and industry as a recognized domain expert
Develop and mentor other technical leaders, grow the community, act as a change agent, and role model Intel values
Align organizational goals with technical vision, formulate technical strategy to deliver leadership solutions, and demonstrate relentless execution in bringing products and technologies to market
Engage in hands-on technical problem solving and collaborate across HW, FW, and SW organizations to deliver complex system-level solutions

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

FirmwareFPGARTOSHW/SW Co-DesignEmbedded SoftwareAlgorithmsDesign PatternsPathfindingMentoring

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary range for this Principal Software Engineer position?

The pay range is $200.4K - $290.1K USD for Bay Area California only, with actual salary varying based on factors like location, knowledge, skills, experience, and training. Incentive opportunities are also offered based on individual and company performance.

Is this role remote or does it require working in an office?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What are the key required skills and qualifications for this role?

Candidates need a Master’s Degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline with 15+ years of experience or a Bachelor’s with 20+ years in software, firmware, and SoC/FPGA systems. Required expertise includes bare-metal development, driver-level programming, HW/SW co-design, performance modeling, optimizations, strong proficiency in C/C++, assembly, and debugging tools, plus demonstrated success in system-level debug.

What is the company culture like for this engineering role?

The role involves thriving in hands-on technical problem solving, collaborating across HW, FW, and SW organizations, mentoring technical leaders, acting as a change agent, role modeling Intel values, and aligning organizational goals with technical vision.

What makes a strong candidate for this Principal Software Engineer position?

A strong candidate is a deep technical expert with decades of embedded expertise, hands-on experience in firmware, RTOS, HW/SW co-design, and a proven track record of leading pathfinding, influencing technical direction across Intel and industry, and delivering products to market.

Altera

Develops digital human agents for AI

About Altera

Altera develops digital human agents that mimic human traits like empathy, friendship, and fun. Their primary product allows users to interact with an AI agent while playing Minecraft, creating a friendly and engaging experience. Altera's agents are designed to be interoperable and capable of long-term autonomy, making them suitable for both individual users and businesses. Unlike many competitors, Altera focuses on advancing research and scaling technology to deliver unique, human-like AI products. The company's goal is to redefine AI agents, enhancing their versatility and human-like qualities.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2023Year Founded

$10.7MTotal Funding

SEEDCompany Stage

Consumer Software, AI & Machine LearningIndustries

11-50Employees

Risks

Priest-led cults in Altera's Minecraft simulation may cause ethical concerns.

Managing 1,000 autonomous AI agents poses safety and ethical challenges.

Creating believable digital humans may lead to misuse in deceptive AI applications.

Differentiation

Altera specializes in digital human agents with traits like empathy and friendship.

Their first product offers a unique Minecraft experience with interactive AI agents.

Altera's focus on human-like AI agents sets them apart in the AI sector.

Upsides

Altera raised $9M in May 2024, showing strong investor confidence.

AI-driven gaming experiences are gaining popularity, benefiting Altera's Minecraft product.

The rise of AI companions in mental health indicates a market for empathetic agents.

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