Altera · San Francisco
Software Engineering
Altera is building the software stack that takes our FPGAs from silicon all the way to the host application — the full path a host-side application takes down through framework and driver layers to the hardware doing the work.
We're looking for an AVP, Software Solution Engineering to own the architecture of that full stack and lead the team building its top layers: the host application layer and the framework/integration layer that sits between it and the accelerated services below. You'll set the interface contracts that let every layer beneath — accelerated services, runtime and data movement, drivers, and the FPGA itself — build against a stable, coherent spec, and you'll often be the technical counterpart to outside platform or framework providers your stack integrates with.
This is a hands-on architecture role, not a slide-deck role. You'll be making real design decisions about how a host application talks to hardware acceleration underneath it, and you'll lead a small team of engineers shipping and maintaining that stack as a real product — not a one-off demo.
What You'll Do
Architect a multi-layer software stack end to end — from the host application layer down through framework/integration, accelerated services and libraries, runtime and data movement, drivers, and the underlying FPGA hardware — even where you don't own every layer directly.
Own delivery of the top two layers: the host application layer (application logic, orchestration, tooling for whatever workload runs on top) and the framework/integration layer (SDK and API integration with whatever host frameworks, operating environments, or third-party platforms the application depends on).
Define and hold stable interface contracts between layers so teams building the lower layers can develop against a fixed spec rather than a moving target.
Where the stack integrates with an external platform or framework provider, serve as the architecture-level technical counterpart — co-designing, not just consuming their SDK.
Lead and grow a small team of software engineers building and maintaining the layers you own.
Partner with solution architects and solution engineers building customer proofs-of-concept, ensuring their work is built on top of your production stack rather than diverging from it.
Track the roadmaps of whatever host platforms, frameworks, or dependencies the stack integrates with, and adapt the architecture as they evolve.
The pay range below is for Bay Area California only. Actual salary may vary based on a number of factors including job location, job-related knowledge, skills, experiences, trainings, etc. We also offer incentive opportunities that reward employees based on individual and company performance.
$231.5K - $375.0K USD
We use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants for the position. Applicants must be eligible for any required U.S. export authorizations.
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field required. Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) preferred.
15+ years of experience in software engineering, software architecture, or platform development, with significant experience building and delivering complex, multi-layer software systems.
Experience leading engineering teams and defining APIs, SDKs, frameworks, or platform integrations is required.
Experience with hardware-accelerated computing, FPGA, semiconductor, cloud, AI/ML, or high-performance computing environments is strongly preferred.