Senior Staff Engineer - Platform

Why join Upscale AI

Upscale AI is building the high-performance infrastructure powering the next generation of artificial intelligence. Backed by over $300M in funding and rapid global adoption, we are scaling systems designed for the world's most demanding AI workloads.

We focus on first-principles engineering across silicon, systems, and networking - where performance, scale, and execution are critical. Our team is talent-dense and high-performing. We value ownership, technical rigor, and speed, and we offer the opportunity to work on foundational problems with immediate, real-world impact.

If you're looking to do high-impact work, move fast, and help define the infrastructure behind the future of AI - Upscale AI is where you can produce meaningful work at the frontier - and operate at a high standard.

Position Overview

This is a full-time, on-site role for a Senior Staff Platform Engineer located in Santa Clara, CA. The engineer will own end-to-end platform software development - spanning Board Support Packages (BSP), network operating systems (SONiC, FBOSS), baseboard management controller firmware (OpenBMC), and hardware diagnostic software for both platform-level and ASIC-level validation. The ideal candidate combines deep embedded systems expertise with systems-level thinking, bridging hardware and software to deliver production-grade infrastructure at scale.

This role spans both x86 and ARM architectures and demands fluency across the full stack - from low-level firmware and device drivers to user-space services, telemetry frameworks, and diagnostic tooling.

Responsibility

• Platform software Design and Development: Architect and develop Linux BSP, platform drivers, and user-space services for SONiC (x86), FBOSS (x86), and OpenBMC (ARM) platforms - covering kernel/device-tree configuration, bootloader integration, DMTF-based manageability (MCTP, PLDM, Redfish), and peripheral drivers (I2C, SPI, PCIe, GPIO). Design embedded diagnostic firmware in C/C++ for hardware bring-up, manufacturing validation, and health monitoring. Develop ASIC-level tests (memory, SerDes, datapath) and platform-level diagnostic suites (PCIe, power rail, thermal, transceiver), integrating diagnostics into manufacturing flows and field RMA processes. Contribute to relevant open-source communities.
• System Performance Analysis and Troubleshooting: Use structured debug methodologies and hardware tools (JTAG, logic analyzers) to isolate hardware vs. software failures and drive root-cause resolution. Profile and optimize platform software for boot time, latency, and resource utilization.
• Hardware and Software Testing and Validation: Plan and execute HW/SW validation campaigns with defined pass/fail criteria. Build automated test infrastructure in Python and Bash for orchestration, log parsing, and CI/CD integration. Instrument code for coverage and maintain quality metrics.
• Diagnostic Tools and Methodologies Development: Build scripts and utilities (Python, Bash) for faster debug, capture, and repeatable runs; standardize trace/result workflows; and hook into validation pipelines and internal tooling as programs scale.
• Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams: Partner with hardware, firmware/software, validation, and program teams on priorities, joint debug, and evolving diagnostic coverage for production-quality outcomes.
• Ownership of Code Quality, Performance, and Reliability: Deliver maintainable code with solid tests, reviews, and engineering practice so platform, diagnostic firmware and related software meet performance and production standards.

Qualifications

• Strong analysis and hands-on troubleshooting on complex HW/SW systems.
• Proven testing and validation of hardware and software for performance and reliability.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ for embedded and systems-level development; Python and Bash for automation, scripting, and tooling
• EE background: circuit design and system integration.
• Clear written and verbal communication across disciplines.
• Strong understanding of hardware interfaces and protocols: I2C, SPI, PCIe, UART, GPIO, MDIO, JTAG. Diagnostic tools and methodologies (plus).
• Bachelor's or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years in platform, diagnostic embedded firmware development.

$237,000 - $260,000 a year

Where you fall within that range depends on your experience, skills, and impact - we benchmark against internal levels to keep things fair and consistent.

Equal Opportunity

Upscale AI is building a team that reflects a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. We're proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status.

Accessibility & Accommodations

We're committed to making our hiring process accessible to everyone. If you need accommodations at any stage, just reach out to us at View email address on click.appcast.io - we're happy to help. Note: This inbox is only for accommodation requests.