System Software Engineer (Embedded)
Cerebras Systems· startup· Semiconductors / AI Infrastructure· Feb 17, 2026 · 8mo agoPosted 252 days ago
Sunnyvale, CA
In office
Full-time
Senior
$175K–$230K
5+ years exp
Before you apply
Ghost Signal:
Open since February 17, 2026 — 252 days, and still accepting applications.
Job description
Cerebras Systems builds the world's largest AI chip, 56 times larger than GPUs. This architecture allows Cerebras to deliver industry-leading training and inference speeds; over 10 times faster than GPU-based hyperscale cloud inference services.
This order of magnitude increase in speed is transforming the user experience of AI applications, unlocking real-time iteration and increasing intelligence via additional agentic computation.
Cerebras works with the leading model labs, global enterprises, and cutting-edge AI-native startups. OpenAI recently announced a multi-year partnership openai.com with Cerebras, to deploy 750 megawatts of scale, transforming key workloads with ultra high-speed inference.
About the Role
As part of the Embedded Software team, you will help build the critical software foundation that powers the Cerebras Wafer Scale Engine (WSE)—the world’s largest AI processor.
Our team develops software across the embedded and system stack, including low-level device drivers, Linux platform and BSP components, hardware monitoring, telemetry, diagnostics, and system administration services.
This role is focused on software that sits close to the hardware. You will develop and integrate drivers for sensors, controllers, and other board-level devices using interfaces such as I2C, SPI, CAN, GPIO, and UART, and build monitoring, fault detection, and alerting frameworks on top of them.
The software you develop will be used throughout the product lifecycle—from board bring-up and manufacturing validation to datacenter deployment and in-field diagnostics. You will work closely with hardware, ASIC, manufacturing, systems, and datacenter teams to enable new platforms, diagnose failures, and improve system reliability.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain low-level drivers for sensors, controllers, and board-level devices using I2C, SPI, CAN, GPIO, and related interfaces.
- Build hardware monitoring, telemetry, fault detection, and alerting frameworks on top of these drivers.
- Develop diagnostic software for board bring-up, manufacturing test, system validation, and in-field troubleshooting.
- Enable new hardware through Linux BSP, platform software, and device integration.
- Debug complex hardware/software issues using schematics, datasheets, register-level analysis, and hardware debug tools.
- Partner with hardware, ASIC, manufacturing, and datacenter teams to bring up new platforms, root-cause failures, and improve system reliability.
- Develop system services that expose hardware state, diagnostics, telemetry, and control to higher-level management software.
- Contribute to design reviews, code reviews, and technical planning.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
- A minimum of 5+ years of experience developing production-quality embedded or systems software in C/C++. Experience with Python is helpful.
- Hands-on experience developing or integrating drivers using I2C, SPI, CAN, GPIO, UART, or similar hardware interfaces.
- Strong understanding of embedded systems and hardware/software interactions.
- Ability to read and work from schematics, datasheets, register maps, and hardware specifications.
- Experience debugging board-level and system-level hardware/software issues.
- Strong software engineering fundamentals and experience working across hardware and software teams.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
- Experience with Linux kernel drivers, BSP development, device trees, or platform enablement.
- Experience building hardware monitoring, telemetry, fault-management, or diagnostic frameworks.
- Experience developing software for manufacturing test, board bring-up, system qualification, or in-field diagnostics.
- Experience with hardware debug tools such as JTAG, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, or protocol analyzers.
- Experience with server platforms, AI accelerators, GPUs, CPUs, power/thermal systems, or other complex compute hardware.
- Exposure to datacenter environments, distributed systems, or cluster-level management software.
The base salary range for this position is $175,000 to $230,000 annually. Actual compensation may include bonus and equity and will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, qualifications, and location.
Why Join Cerebras
People who are serious about software make their own hardware. At Cerebras, we have built a breakthrough architecture that is unlocking new opportunities for the AI industry. With dozens of model releases and rapid growth, we’ve reached an inflection point in our business. Members of our team tell us there are five main reasons they joined Cerebras:
1. Build a breakthrough AI platform beyond the constraints of the GPU.
2. Publish and open source their cutting-edge AI research.
3. Work on one of the fastest AI supercomputers in the world.
4. Enjoy job stability with startup vitality.
5. Our simple, non-corporate work culture that respects individual beliefs.
Find out more about what it's like to work at Cerebras here cerebras.ai!
Apply today and become part of the forefront of groundbreaking advancements in AI!
Cerebras Systems is committed to creating an equal and diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We believe inclusive teams build better products and companies. We try every day to build a work environment that empowers people to do their best work through continuous learning, growth and support of those around them.
This website or its third-party tools process personal data. For more details, click here cerebras.net to review our CCPA disclosure notice.
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