Roles / Security Firmware Engineer

Security Firmware Engineer

SW-014v1

Embedded Software, Firmware & DriversSoftwareIC3–IC7Individual contributor

Also known as: TEE Firmware Engineer; HSM Firmware Engineer; Trusted Firmware Engineer

See this role on the FPGA lifecycle or on the Firmware and software lifecycle or on the Security lifecycle or on the Vehicle cybersecurity lifecycle or on the SoC lifecycle

Summary

Implements the firmware inside hardware security modules, secure enclaves and trusted execution environments that protects keys, credentials and sensitive computation. Exists because the security value of crypto hardware is only realised through correct, attack-resistant firmware.

A day in the life

Work in progressNo day-in-the-life description has been written for this role yet. If you do this work, we would welcome yours. Suggest a source or a correction

Responsibilities

Lines tagged General are the Hub's general description of this kind of role, used where the role register has no entry yet. They are kept under review and will be refined.

Project

Work done for a product or program.

Develop trusted applications and secure-world firmware for TrustZone, OP-TEE, secure enclaves and automotive HSM cores (EVITA, SHE).
Implement cryptographic services including AES, RSA, ECC, SHA, HMAC, key derivation and true random number generation through hardware accelerators.
Design key management flows covering generation, wrapping, storage, rotation, lifecycle states and secure erase.
Implement secure key storage in OTP, replay-protected memory blocks and on-die non-volatile memory.
Harden firmware against side-channel and fault-injection attacks using constant-time code, masking, redundancy and integrity checks.
Implement attestation, secure provisioning and remote credential injection protocols.
Support certification of the firmware under FIPS 140-3, Common Criteria, SESIP or PSA Certified schemes with evaluation labs.
Define and police the secure/non-secure API boundary with rigorous input validation against confused-deputy attacks.
Respond to vulnerability disclosures, produce patches and drive coordinated disclosure timelines.
Review crypto implementations and protocol designs against current cryptographic guidance including post-quantum migration.

Function

Work that keeps the discipline running: methods, tools, suppliers and people.

Maintain coding standards, build systems and test automation.General
Keep software aligned with operating system, toolchain and standards updates.General
Review code and mentor other engineers.General

Major tasks

Project

Produce and hand over the role's key deliverables
- Secure firmware and trusted application binaries
- Cryptographic service API specification and security guidance
- Key management and lifecycle design documents
- Side-channel and fault-injection hardening evidence
- Certification evidence packages for FIPS or Common Criteria
- Security advisories and patch releases
Develop the softwareGeneral
- Design to the hardware specification
- Write and review the code
- Test on models, emulation or silicon
Release and supportGeneral
- Package and document releases
- Fix customer-reported defects

Function

Maintain the platformGeneral
- Keep build, test and release tools working
- Track toolchain and operating system changes
Raise qualityGeneral
- Run code reviews
- Extend automated tests

Works with

Bootloader and root-of-trust engineers
hardware crypto IP designers
security architects
certification labs
product security incident response teams
key provisioning operations

Typical backgrounds

MS in Computer Science, Cryptography or Electrical Engineering; 4–15 years in embedded security; frequently a research or CTF background in applied attacks.

Demand signal

0 open listings right now
0 Talent Wafer employer inquiries

Counts live listings tagged to this role, and employer interest in candidates from Talent Wafer runs for this role (all runs to date). Hub activity only, not the wider market.

Comp tier (within semis)

5 / 5

Remote feasibility

Medium

Semis core vs. portable

Core semiconductor-only

Geographic hotspots

Munich, Graz, Tel Aviv, San Jose, Cambridge UK, Bangalore, Shanghai, Singapore, Eindhoven, Paris

Certifications / standards training

CISSP or CSSLP; GIAC GREM; PSA Certified and SESIP training; GlobalPlatform TEE certification familiarity

Transfers to (industries)

Payment and banking hardware, smart cards and eSIM, defence cryptography, cloud confidential computing, identity documents, critical infrastructure

Risk if vacant

Security certifications lapse, key-handling flaws ship into silicon lifetimes measured in decades, and a single disclosed vulnerability can strand an entire product family.

Roles / Security Firmware Engineer

Security Firmware Engineer

SW-014v1

Embedded Software, Firmware & DriversSoftwareIC3–IC7Individual contributor

Also known as: TEE Firmware Engineer; HSM Firmware Engineer; Trusted Firmware Engineer

See this role on the FPGA lifecycle or on the Firmware and software lifecycle or on the Security lifecycle or on the Vehicle cybersecurity lifecycle or on the SoC lifecycle

Summary

A day in the life

Work in progressNo day-in-the-life description has been written for this role yet. If you do this work, we would welcome yours. Suggest a source or a correction

Responsibilities

Lines tagged General are the Hub's general description of this kind of role, used where the role register has no entry yet. They are kept under review and will be refined.

Project

Work done for a product or program.

Develop trusted applications and secure-world firmware for TrustZone, OP-TEE, secure enclaves and automotive HSM cores (EVITA, SHE).
Implement cryptographic services including AES, RSA, ECC, SHA, HMAC, key derivation and true random number generation through hardware accelerators.
Design key management flows covering generation, wrapping, storage, rotation, lifecycle states and secure erase.
Implement secure key storage in OTP, replay-protected memory blocks and on-die non-volatile memory.
Harden firmware against side-channel and fault-injection attacks using constant-time code, masking, redundancy and integrity checks.
Implement attestation, secure provisioning and remote credential injection protocols.
Support certification of the firmware under FIPS 140-3, Common Criteria, SESIP or PSA Certified schemes with evaluation labs.
Define and police the secure/non-secure API boundary with rigorous input validation against confused-deputy attacks.
Respond to vulnerability disclosures, produce patches and drive coordinated disclosure timelines.
Review crypto implementations and protocol designs against current cryptographic guidance including post-quantum migration.

Function

Work that keeps the discipline running: methods, tools, suppliers and people.

Maintain coding standards, build systems and test automation.General
Keep software aligned with operating system, toolchain and standards updates.General
Review code and mentor other engineers.General

Major tasks

Project

Produce and hand over the role's key deliverables
- Secure firmware and trusted application binaries
- Cryptographic service API specification and security guidance
- Key management and lifecycle design documents
- Side-channel and fault-injection hardening evidence
- Certification evidence packages for FIPS or Common Criteria
- Security advisories and patch releases
Develop the softwareGeneral
- Design to the hardware specification
- Write and review the code
- Test on models, emulation or silicon
Release and supportGeneral
- Package and document releases
- Fix customer-reported defects

Function

Maintain the platformGeneral
- Keep build, test and release tools working
- Track toolchain and operating system changes
Raise qualityGeneral
- Run code reviews
- Extend automated tests

Works with

Bootloader and root-of-trust engineers
hardware crypto IP designers
security architects
certification labs
product security incident response teams
key provisioning operations

Typical backgrounds

MS in Computer Science, Cryptography or Electrical Engineering; 4–15 years in embedded security; frequently a research or CTF background in applied attacks.

Demand signal

0 open listings right now
0 Talent Wafer employer inquiries

Counts live listings tagged to this role, and employer interest in candidates from Talent Wafer runs for this role (all runs to date). Hub activity only, not the wider market.

Comp tier (within semis)

5 / 5

Remote feasibility

Medium

Semis core vs. portable

Core semiconductor-only

Geographic hotspots

Munich, Graz, Tel Aviv, San Jose, Cambridge UK, Bangalore, Shanghai, Singapore, Eindhoven, Paris

Certifications / standards training

CISSP or CSSLP; GIAC GREM; PSA Certified and SESIP training; GlobalPlatform TEE certification familiarity

Transfers to (industries)

Payment and banking hardware, smart cards and eSIM, defence cryptography, cloud confidential computing, identity documents, critical infrastructure

Risk if vacant

Security certifications lapse, key-handling flaws ship into silicon lifetimes measured in decades, and a single disclosed vulnerability can strand an entire product family.

Security Firmware Engineer

Summary

A day in the life

Responsibilities

Project

Function

Major tasks

Project

Function

Works with

Security Firmware Engineer

Summary

A day in the life

Responsibilities

Project

Function

Major tasks

Project

Function

Works with

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