Staff Platform Firmware Engineer, AI Datacenter

Tesla's AI Hardware team builds the custom silicon and datacenter infrastructure behind Full Self-Driving, Optimus, and some of the largest AI training clusters in the world. Every GPU, every custom accelerator, and every server in these clusters depends on PCIe as the critical high-speed interconnect linking compute, memory, networking, and storage. As we push toward PCIe Gen 5 and Gen 6 speeds, the firmware and driver stack must deliver maximum bandwidth, minimal latency, and rock-solid reliability at massive scale.

We are seeking a Senior or Staff Platform Software Engineer with deep PCIe expertise to own the firmware and Linux driver stack for our AI compute platforms. You will develop, optimize, and validate PCIe subsystems across custom SoCs, GPUs, and datacenter hardware -- ensuring our interconnect infrastructure keeps pace with the demands of next-generation AI workloads.

• Develop and optimize PCIe Gen 5/Gen 6 firmware and Linux kernel drivers for Tesla's AI compute platforms
• Implement PCIe enumeration, link training, and configuration for custom SoCs and accelerator cards
• Bring up proto hardware and develop proof-of-concept firmware to validate new platform designs before production
• Build and run platform-level validation -- PCIe performance, thermal, power, and stress testing across the full compute stack under AI training workloads
• Debug PCIe link failures, signal integrity issues, and protocol errors using analyzers and silicon debug tools
• Develop Linux device drivers for custom hardware -- DMA, interrupts, MMIO, and peer-to-peer transfers
• Drive root cause analysis of PCIe failures across firmware, kernel, and hardware
• Degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent experience
• 8+ years in firmware or low-level software development with focus on PCIe
• PCIe Gen 4/5/6 architecture -- link training, transaction layer, configuration space
• Linux kernel driver development -- device drivers, DMA, interrupts
• Platform validation and performance testing -- PCIe, thermal, power, system-level stress
• C programming; kernel debug tools (ftrace, perf, crash)
• Hardware debug experience -- protocol analyzers, JTAG, oscilloscopes
• System architecture fundamentals -- IOMMU, NUMA, memory hierarchies

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in AI/ML infrastructure -- GPU clusters, training frameworks, or high-performance compute environments
• Familiarity with large-scale AI workload characteristics and their impact on interconnect performance (data movement patterns, collective operations, memory bandwidth demands)
• Experience with high-speed networking stacks that share PCIe infrastructure
• Experience with CXL (Compute Express Link) or next-generation interconnect technologies
• Familiarity with GPU/accelerator interconnects -- NVLink, Infinity Fabric, UALink, or similar chip-to-chip and multi-node interconnect technologies
• Python scripting for test automation and performance tooling
• Yocto or Buildroot for embedded Linux image builds

Benefits

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

• Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
• Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
• Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
• Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
• Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
• Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
• Tesla Babies program
• Commuter benefits
• Employee discounts and perks program

Expected Compensation

$188,000 - $432,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.