Manager, Firmware Application Engineering

Description Synaptics is leading the charge in AI at the Edge, bringing AI closer to end users and transforming how we engage with intelligent connected devices, whether at home, at work, or on the move. As the go-to partner for the world’s most forward-thinking product innovators, Synaptics powers the future with its cutting-edge Synaptics Astra™ AI-Native embedded compute, Veros™ wireless connectivity, and multimodal sensing solutions. We’re making the digital experience smarter, faster, more intuitive, secure, and seamless. From touch, display, and biometrics to AI-driven wireless connectivity, video, vision, audio, speech, and security processing, Synaptics is the force behind the next generation of technology enhancing how we live, work, and play. Overview We are seeking a Manager, Firmware Application Engineering to lead the team supporting Synaptics MCU products. The team works with customers from evaluation to mass production, enabling RTOS-based embedded applications across SDK, firmware, audio, vision, edge AI, and multi-core MCU/DSP/NPU systems. This is a technical people leadership role responsible for team success, customer execution, and capability building of the application engineering organization. The role requires sufficient technical depth to guide architecture, resolve escalations, and support key customer engagements while enabling engineers to own execution. The position reports to the Director, Audio Software Engineering. Responsibilities & Competencies Job Duties
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Firmware Application Engineers, with accountability for team performance and individual growth
• Set team priorities, manage resources, and drive execution across multiple customer programs
• Own technical execution throughout the customer lifecycle, from evaluation and design-in through system integration and mass production
• Lead key customer technical engagements and critical escalations
• Provide technical leadership for RTOS-based embedded platforms with MCU/DSP/NPU
• Guide the team in system-level debugging and root-cause analysis across firmware and hardware
• Work closely with Firmware, Hardware, Algorithm, Validation, Product, and Sales teams to resolve customer issues and deliver customer commitments
• Translate customer requirements and field feedback into product, SDK, tool, documentation, and validation improvements
• Build reusable solutions, best practices, and knowledge sharing to improve team scalability and engineering efficiency
• Support customer visits, technical workshops, on-site debugging, and production escalations as required Competencies
• Strong background in embedded MCU, RTOS, firmware, SDK, or application engineering
• Strong understanding of embedded software architecture and system-level debugging
• Strong C programming background and ability to provide technical guidance on complex embedded systems
• Familiarity with multi-core MCU/DSP/NPU platforms and embedded interfaces
• Familiarity with audio, vision, sensor processing, and/or edge AI applications
• Team builder and strong leader; vision to inspire and excite team, hire and develop talent, and guide performance
• Experience in working collaboratively and leading a diverse, global cross-functional team
• Passionate about building great products and solving customer and business problems
• Analytical and able to make informed decisions based on experience
• Demonstrated ability to use data to improve processes and evaluate options
• Excellent organizational and planning skills with the ability to manage teams working on multiple projects in parallel
• Able to solve problems that require solid understanding of technology and organizational objectives; unafraid to ask questions and explore new ideas
• Excellent verbal and written communication that is clear, concise, and compelling Qualifications (Requirements)
• Bachelor's degree (Master’s preferred) in Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, or a related field or equivalent
• 8 years of experience in embedded firmware, MCU, RTOS, SDK, or embedded application engineering with 2 years of experience of managing a team
• Demonstrated experience leading engineers, technical teams, or complex customer programs; formal people-management experience is strongly preferred
• Strong experience with RTOS-based embedded development, preferably FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar RTOS environments
• Experience with customer-facing engineering, Field Application Engineering, or customer SDK enablement
• Experience supporting OEM/ODM customers from evaluation to mass production is preferred
• Experience with embedded hardware/software bring-up and system-level debugging
• Excellent English verbal and written communication skills
• Travel up to 10% required for customer engagements, technical workshops, debugging, and project support Belief in Diversity Synaptics is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to workforce diversity. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, or genetic information.