Applications Engineer

Job Description:

We're seeking a seasoned software driver developer with a strong background in designing and developing high-performance, reliable, and scalable drivers. As a lead software driver developer on our team, you will be a key player in driving technical excellence, fostering collaboration, and delivering exceptional results. You should be a self-motivated and independent individual who can take ownership of complex driver development projects, identify and resolve technical issues, and proactively collaborate with cross-functional (design, FAE and customer) teams to ensure seamless system integration. In this role, you will work closely with our engineering team to architect, design, and develop high-quality drivers that meet our performance, reliability, and scalability standards. You will be responsible for troubleshooting and resolving complex driver-related issues, and for guiding junior engineers in implementing driver components and resolving technical challenges. To be successful in this role, you should possess excellent technical leadership skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts, drive technical discussions, and mentor colleagues on driver development best practices. You should also be able to work effectively with our hardware engineering team to ensure that our drivers are optimized for our hardware platforms, and that our system-level design is aligned with our overall product strategy.

Core Responsibilities: 

• Driver Development and Customization
  • Customize Windows device drivers to meet customer-specific requirements and platform needs
  • Develop and integrate new features, updates, and bug-fixes into existing driver codebases
  • Ensure seamless integration of device drivers with customer applications and platforms
• Customer Support and Issue Resolution
  • Triage and reproduce customer-reported issues to identify root causes and develop effective solutions
  • Debug and troubleshoot complex issues using various tools and techniques, such as kernel debugging and performance analysis
  • Collaborate with customers to gather information, reproduce issues, and verify fixes
• Customer Integration and Onboarding
  • Support customers in integrating Texas Instruments Windows device drivers and associated applications into their platforms and systems
  • Provide guidance and expertise to customers on driver installation, configuration, and optimization
  • Ensure customers have a smooth onboarding experience and can effectively utilize Texas Instruments drivers and applications
• Technical Review and Validation
  • Review customer schematics and designs from a software and driver perspective to identify potential issues and areas for improvement
  • Validate customer designs and ensure they meet Texas Instruments driver and application requirements
  • Provide feedback and recommendations to customers on design improvements and optimization opportunities
• Device Setup and Testing
  • Set up and configure new devices and reference platforms for testing and validation purposes
  • Develop and execute test plans to ensure driver functionality, performance, and reliability
  • Collaborate with other teams to ensure devices and platforms meet Texas Instruments quality and reliability standards
• Collaboration and Leadership
  • Work closely with field-applications teams to support customer engagements and ensure successful project outcomes
  • Collaborate with other teams, such as Design, Firmware, SQA, and Tool, to ensure alignment and effective communication
  • Lead multiple complex engineering projects involving highly challenging and unique product applications, and ensure successful project execution and delivery
• Project Leadership and Management
  • Effectively lead and manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks and resources to meet project goals and deadlines
  • Develop and execute project plans, resource allocation plans, and risk management strategies
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure project alignment and effective communication, and ensure that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.

Required Skillsets:

• Education and Background
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field
  • Proven experience of 5+ years in software application engineering, with a focus on audio applications, Windows APO, or related technologies
• Technical Expertise
  • Recent experience with deploying audio device drivers for Windows or other operating systems on various platforms (Intel, AMD, ARM)
  • Strong knowledge of Windows hardware device applications, Windows kernel software development, and Windows driver integration
  • Familiarity with PC system bring-up, ACPI, and serial buses and protocols (e.g., I2C, SPI, I2S, HDA, SoundWire/SDCA)
  • Experience with software development tools, such as automated tests, logs, and debuggers
• Communication and Collaboration
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Proven ability to work collaboratively across geographies, internal groups, and with external customers and partners
  • Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to actively listen to diverse perspectives and effectively influence individuals across various disciplines
• Troubleshooting and Problem-Solving
  • Strong troubleshooting skills, with the ability to use software and hardware tools (e.g., logic analysers, oscilloscopes, DMMs) to identify and resolve complex technical issues
  • Ability to analyse schematics and data sheets to understand system architecture and identify potential issues
• Leadership and Personal Qualities
  • Customer-focused and results-oriented, with a passion for delivering high-quality solutions and leading the development of others
  • Strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously
  • Self-managed and flexible, with the ability to thrive in dynamic environments and adapt to changing priorities and requirements
  • Embraces change and acts as a change agent, with a willingness to learn and grow in a rapidly evolving technical landscape
• Nice to Have
  • Experience with agile development methodologies and version control systems (e.g., Git, JIRA, Confluence)
  • Familiarity with cloud-based technologies and DevOps practices
  • Knowledge of audio signal processing and acoustic principles
  • Experience with machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies