About the role#
As a Firmware Intern, you will help develop firmware for custom ASICs designed to run large transformer models efficiently. You will work across the stack, ranging from low-level drivers, hardware interfaces, and system initialization code to integration with runtime libraries and model-execution frameworks. Your work focuses on making hardware operate reliably and at peak performance to enable high-throughput inference and training workloads.
What you'll do#
- Collaborate with hardware, architecture, and software teams to bring up new silicon.
- Validate features and support real-world AI applications.
- Develop firmware for custom ASICs.
- Work across the stack to ensure system reliability.
What you'll need#
- Progress towards a Bachelor, Master, or PhD degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Proficiency in C, C++, or Rust.
- Strong fundamentals in data structures and algorithms.
- Understanding of low-level software engineering.
- Understanding of hardware and software co-design.
- Candidates with experience in Linux internals, kernel development, driver debugging, hardware diagnostics, or CI/CD pipelines are encouraged to apply.
Location & details#
- This is a full-time, paid internship for Summer 2026.
- The role is based on-site in San Jose, California.
- Housing support is provided for those relocating.
- The position does not offer visa sponsorship.
About Etched
Etched operates in the computer hardware manufacturing industry. The company builds frontier inference clusters. Founded in 2022, it maintains its headquarters in San Jose, California. The organization is privately held and employs approximately 496 people.
How to get in at Etched
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