Principal Software Architect – NPU Developer Platform

Base Pay Range

$/yr - $/yr

Annual Bonus and RSUs

* We are not accepting outside agencies at this time*

Brain Chip is pioneering neuromorphic edge AI processors that deliver ultra-low-power intelligence at the point of data creation. We are seeking a seasoned Principal Software Architect with 7+ years of deep systems software experience to own the full developer platform for our 3rd-generation Neural Processing Unit (NPU).

Reporting directly to the CTO and partnering closely with our internal compiler lead, you will architect, integrate, and deliver a production-grade software ecosystem—including a VS Code-based IDE with embedded LLM assistance, system-level profiling, target-side boot loader, RTOS integration, and advanced debugging—all built atop mature open-source foundations and our in-house compiler.

Your mission: assemble together a seamless, best-in-class developer experience that hides complexity and accelerates adoption of Brain Chip’s unique neuromorphic hardware.

This is a hybrid role, in our Laguna Hills, CA office 2x-3x a week.

• Own end-to-end integration of our internal compiler into a unified toolchain with runtime, IDE, debugger, profiler, and deployment pipeline.
• Design a VS Code-based IDE with LLM‑powered developer assistance.
• Architect a secure, minimal target boot loader.
• Extend GDB/LLDB with NPU‑specific commands for cycle‑accurate stepping, event tracing, and state inspection (membranes, synapses, queues), and support JTAG, SWD, and OTA debug with non-intrusive hardware tracing.
  • Implement custom GDB/LLDB extensions for NPU debugging.
  • Enable hardware tracing via JTAG, SWD, OTA.
• Work hand‑in‑hand with the CTO and silicon team to expose hardware capabilities via software abstractions and use profiling & simulation data to influence microarchitecture (e.g., memory tiling, sparsity engines, event routing).

• Education:
  
  BS in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent.
• Experience:
  
  7+ years in systems software; 3+ years integrating and productizing complex tool chains (compilers, IDEs, debuggers, profilers). Proven success shipping VS Code extensions or full developer platforms. Deep experience with open‑source integration and upstream contribution workflows.
• Technical Expertise:
  • IDE & Tooling: VS Code Extension API, LSP, DAP, Type Script, Web Assembly UI.
  • Debug & Profiling: GDB/LLDB extensions, OpenOCD, eBPF, perf, hardware trace (ETM/HTM).
  • RTOS & Embedded:
    Zephyr/FreeRTOS, device trees, linker scripts, bare‑metal bring‑up.
  • Languages:
    
    Expert in C/C++, Rust; strong in Python, Type Script.
• Domain Fit:
  Experience with edge AI, neuromorphic, or ultra‑low‑power SoCs strongly preferred or intense curiosity and interest.

• Upstream contributions to VS Code, LLVM, Zephyr, OpenOCD, or other large open source projects.
• Experience with LLM integration in IDEs (Copilot, Code Llama, custom fine‑tuned models).
• Secure boot and firmware update systems in production devices.
• Patents or publications in developer tools, profiling, or edge AI deployment.
• Strong background in robotics and embedded systems.

Director

Full-time

Computer Hardware Manufacturing

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Brain Chip by 2x.

• Medical insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)