About Fondazione Chips-IT

The Foundation “Italian Center for the Design of Semiconductor Integrated Circuits,” also known as the Chips-IT Foundation, is a nonprofit research and technology organization under the supervision of the Ministries of Industry.

The Foundation is Italy's first RTO (Research and Technology Organization) vertically focused on semiconductor research and stands as a center of excellence in frontier research on semiconductor design, as well as a pivotal center of the Italian semiconductor ecosystem and expertise.

Missions of the Foundation:

• Promote the design and development of integrated circuits
• Strengthen the system of professional training in the field of microelectronics
• Ensure the establishment of a network of universities, research centers and enterprises that fosters innovation and technology transfer in the field

The Chips-IT Foundation is seeking an experienced Software Engineer to support the development and integration of embedded software and modeling frameworks for advanced System-on-Chip (SoC) platforms. The role focuses on system-level modeling, operating system integration (including real-time OS), deployment of AI workloads, and development of parallel programming frameworks for multi-core architectures. The position involves working closely with hardware, verification, and application teams to enable full-stack software support for novel SoC designs. The work can be carried out either in Pavia or in Bologna.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Define and implement verification strategies at IP and SoC levels.
• Develop and maintain UVM-based verification environments, including testbenches and functional coverage.
• Design and execute test plans aligned with design specifications and requirements.
• Debug RTL and simulation issues using advanced tools and techniques.
• Integrate verification components and ensure complete test coverage.
• Contribute to regression infrastructure and manage automated test execution.
• Collaborate closely with RTL designers, DFT engineers, and physical implementation teams.
• Support post-silicon bring-up and validation activities as needed.

• Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in embedded software development or SoC modeling.
• Solid knowledge of C/C++ programming, software architecture, and performance optimization.
• Experience with operating systems, including Linux kernel and real-time OS (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr).
• Hands-on experience with multi-core programming (e.g., OpenMP, pthreads).
• Experience deploying neural networks using frameworks such as TensorFlow Lite, ONNX Runtime, or TVM.
• Knowledge of SystemC, QEMU, or similar modeling tools is a strong plus.
• Familiarity with toolchains for RISC-V or ARM-based embedded platforms.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Competitive compensation and contract type, to be negotiated based on qualifications and experience
• Possibility to enter into a PhD conjugating your job with a research program that will grant you the PhD title.
• Lunch tickets
• Private health care coverage depending on your role and contract
• Structured growth path, with ongoing access to training and updates
• Networking opportunities with industry-leading professionals
• International environment
• Hybrid work policy
• Tax deductions: Candidates from abroad, comprising Italian citizens, who have carried scientific research activity abroad and meet specific requirements, may be entitled to a taxable income deduction up to 90% for a period of 6 to 13 years

In conformità con le normative vigenti, il range retributivo lordo annuo previsto per questa posizione è compreso tra Euro 25.000,00 e 55.000,00. L'ampiezza del range è finalizzata a valutare candidature con diversi livelli di seniority; l'offerta finale sarà strettamente commisurata all'effettiva esperienza e alle competenze del candidato, e sarà integrata dai benefit aziendali previsti per il ruolo.