CTO of AI Firmware services start-up

We are floating a new embedded system services company specializing in end-to-end Embedded system design services, SoC design services, FPGA design services with a deep focus on AI/ML offloading SoCs / Physical AI. The founders' (Ex-Broadcom, Ex-Apple) portfolios includes CXL switch firmware designs and implementations, several designs involving AMD/Xilinx Ultrascale+ MPSoC/RFSoC, Several Custom ASICs, and hardware/firmware designs for multiple physical AI SoC startups in the valley. We are in the process of expanding our portfolio of projects and are looking for an individual who is passionate about advancement in high speed connectivity technologies that makes the current advancements in AI possible – technologies like NVLink, PCIe 6/7, CXL, HBM ...etc. who can join us in our journey to new heights.

This is a senior role (18+ years of experience in Firmware Design) with focus on connectivity solutions and other core technologies within a small, lean, and execution-focused team in the bootstrapping phase. This is an “equity only” position till we land our first project. You work directly with the existing founders one of which is an industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience in HW/FW/SW design and implementations across a wide variety of systems.

The role can be initially hybrid, but involves travel within the bay are for client meetings and other customer engagements. Hence, a local candidate is preferred.

Job responsibilities – CTO

Technical Strategy

• Evaluate and adopt emerging embedded technologies, platforms, and methodologies
• Stay current on industry trends and evaluate emerging potential markets
• Build the strategy to gain and retain expertise on specific technology stacks and platforms the company specializes in
• Build and execute the strategy to maintain the company’s technical differentiation in the market. Communicate with the BD/Marketing team with clear objectives on how to position and leverage the key technical differentiators

Engineering Leadership and architecture

• Oversee all technical project execution across all client engagements
• Establish and enforce engineering best practices across all phases of the workflows
• Ensure on-time and high-quality delivery of the technical commitments of the projects
• Lead architecture designs on the projects and make critical technical decisions with reference to the projects with clear and well documented reasoning behind such decisions
• IP protection strategy design for company’s own IP
• Work with CRO to convert MROs, proposals, RFPs ...etc into viable project proposals
• Build an in-house strong engineering team with focus on the company’s long term goals with special attention to possible skills gaps
• Define and implement career ladders for technical and managerial growth of the team members

Client/Partner liaison

• Work with the CRO/team to assist in technical aspects of projects in the pipeline and provide the feasibility analysis
• Own the technical sections of SoWs, proposals ...etc
• Build company’s credibility by working closely with client’s technical teams and by being a subject matter expert
• Identify potential productization opportunities among the company’s projects/ideas
• Maintain technical relationships with past, present, and possibly future clients’ technical teams
• Work with CRO/team to identify potential partners, clients, and vendors
• Contribute to the company’s content strategy