Freelance Embedded System Software Engineer Jobs in Milpitas, CA

Cerebras Systems builds the world's largest AI chip, 56 times larger than GPUs. This architecture allows Cerebras to deliver industry-leading training and inference speeds; over 10 times faster than GPU-based hyperscale cloud inference services.

This order of magnitude increase in speed is transforming the user experience of AI applications, unlocking real-time iteration and increasing intelligence via additional agentic computation.

Cerebras works with the leading model labs, global enterprises, and cutting-edge AI-native startups. OpenAI recently announced a multi-year partnership with Cerebras, to deploy 750 megawatts of scale, transforming key workloads with ultra high-speed inference.

As part of the EmbeddedSoftware team, you will help build the critical software foundation that powers the Cerebras WaferScaleEngine (WSE)—the world’s largest AI processor. Our team owns a diverse range of embedded and system-level components that enable the WSE to operate reliably at scale, including microcontroller firmware, wafer-level monitoring logic, system administration services, and the Linux platform and BSP layers that keep the entire system running smoothly.

This role exists at the intersection of embedded systems, platform engineering, and distributed system enablement. As our technology and deployments continue to scale, we are expanding the team with versatile engineers to work across multiple layers of the software stack. You will help build administrative services that connect the WSE’s system software to cluster-level orchestration, collaborate closely with hardware and ASIC teams, and contribute to the robustness, visibility, and operability of our next-generation AI systems.

• Develop administrative software that enables communication between system-level software and cluster-level control layers.
• Provide and extend Linux BSP support, ensuring reliability and maintainability of system-level platform components.
• Collaborate across teams to gather requirements, define scope, plan milestones, and deliver high‑quality implementations.
• Work closely with datacenter operations and debug teams to diagnose system-level issues, root‑cause failures, and implement fixes.
• Partner with hardware and ASIC teams to design and implement software that monitors system hardware and wafer-level behaviour.
• Contribute to improving system reliability, observability, and long-term maintainability across layers of the embedded stack.
• Participate in code reviews, design discussions, and cross-team technical planning.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in building production-quality software in C++ or Golang.
• Solid understanding of embedded systems fundamentals or system-hardware interactions.
• Experience working in cross‑functional engineering environments.

• Master’s degree in computer engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• Exposure to distributed systems, cluster-level orchestration, or datacenter environments.
• Familiarity with Linux kernel concepts, device drivers, or BSP layers.
• Experience debugging hardware-software interactions using tools such as logic analyzers, JTAG, or profiling/tracing frameworks.
• Experience contributing to system monitoring, observability tooling, or hardware-level telemetry pipelines.

The base salary range for this position is $175,000 to $275,000 annually. Actual compensation may include bonus and equity, and will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, and qualifications.

People who are serious about software make their own hardware. At Cerebras, we have built a breakthrough architecture that is unlocking new opportunities for the AI industry. With dozens of model releases and rapid growth, we’ve reached an inflection point in our business.

1. Build a breakthrough AI platform beyond the constraints of the GPU.
2. Publish and open source their cutting‑edge AI research.
3. Work on one of the fastest AI supercomputers in the world.
4. Enjoy job stability with startup vitality.
5. Our simple, non-corporate work culture that respects individual beliefs.

Find out more about what it's like to work at Cerebras.

Apply today and become part of the forefront of groundbreaking advancements in AI!

Cerebras Systems is committed to creating an equal and diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We believe inclusive teams build better products and companies. We try every day to build a work environment that empowers people to do their best work through continuous learning, growth and support of those around them.

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