Principal Systems Engineering Architect
Maxlinear
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San Jose, CA · Posted November 7, 2026
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About the job
Responsibilities
MaxLinear is seeking a Principal Systems Engineering Architect to join our Analog Mixed Signal (AMS) group. The AMS team develops a broad portfolio of integrated solutions spanning high speed and embedded connectivity interfaces (bridges, serial transceivers, isolators) and power management, supporting data center, industrial, and embedded platforms. In this role, you will focus on the following:
Drive end-to-end systems definition across silicon architecture, firmware, software drivers, and hardware integration, working closely with design, applications, product management, and customers to deliver differentiated, production ready solutions
Define and own systems level architecture for SoC, connectivity, and interface products, including embedded processor subsystems, USB based connectivity, PCIe based interfaces, memory and networking interfaces, and serial and control protocols (UART, I²C/I3C, SPI, GPIO, and related interfaces)
Lead architectural decisions across hardware/firmware partitioning, bus fabric and system integration, performance, latency, power, security, and scalability trade offs, and register maps, configurability, and extensibility
Define platform level management, security, and telemetry capabilities, including secure boot and hardware root of trust, sideband management buses, and system health monitoring, in collaboration with ecosystem and software partners
Partner with Product Management on product definition, roadmap planning, competitive and system level differentiation
Engage directly with customers to capture system level requirements and support complex technical discussions and escalations
Drive cross functional alignment across analog, digital, firmware, software, package, test, and applications teams
Own system requirements, architecture documents, and design reviews
Guide products through concept, feasibility, silicon bring up, characterization, qualification, and production
Mentor engineers and act as a technical authority within the SoC and connectivity domains
Qualifications
Strong systems level understanding of SoC architecture, including embedded processor subsystems (e.g., Arm), on-chip interconnect, and memory subsystems, as well as USB and PCIe architectures and serial and peripheral interfaces (UART, I²C/I3C, SPI, GPIO)
Experience defining architectures spanning silicon, boot and embedded firmware, drivers, and hardware, including integration of third-party licensed IP
Familiarity with data center server management and platform security concepts (e.g., hardware root of trust, secure boot, sideband management protocols) is a strong plus
Experience working with external design partners and IP vendors on SoC development
Ability to lead technically across multiple disciplines and global teams
Track record of delivering products from architecture definition through high volume production
BS in Electrical Engineering or related + 9 years of experience, or MS + 7 years of experience, or Ph.D. + 4 years of experience
Compensation and Benefits
MaxLinear has a Total Compensation philosophy which includes base salary and annual discretionary bonus eligibility and many positions also include stock-based compensation.
MaxLinear's good faith estimate starting base salary range is: $164,000 to $231,000 Annually
We offer competitive benefits designed to support employee health, welfare, and retirement and some highlights are: health care benefits, 401k savings plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), and paid time off.
The actual starting base salary will be determined by the match to certain role-related criteria such as educational degree(s) or equivalent, relevant work experience, skillset needed for the role, and geographic location; this is not an all-inclusive list as some roles may require unique skills or experience.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against based on race, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.
Company Overview
MaxLinear is a global, NASDAQ-traded company (MXL) where the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well. We are a fabless system-on-chip product company, striving to improve the world’s communication networks for everyone through our highly integrated radio-frequency (RF), analog, digital, and mixed-signal semiconductor solutions for access and connectivity, wired and wireless infrastructure, and industrial and multi-market applications.
We hire the best people in the industry and engage them in some of the most exciting opportunities that connect the world we live in today. Our growth has come from innovative, bold approaches to solving some of the world’s most challenging communication technology problems in the most efficient and effective manner.
MaxLinear began by developing the world’s first high-performance TV tuner chip using standard CMOS process technology. Others said we couldn’t achieve the extremely high-performance requirements using CMOS, but we proved them wrong and achieved enduring global market leadership with our designs. Since then, we’ve developed a full line of products that drive 4G and 5G infrastructure; enable data center, metro and long-haul optical interconnects; bring 10Gbit to the home; power the IoT revolution; and enable robust and reliable communication in harsh industrial environments. Over the years, we’ve expanded through organic growth and through several acquisitions that have perfectly complemented our existing portfolio and enabled us to deliver complete end-to-end solutions in our target markets. One such example was the acquisition of Intel’s Home Gateway Platform Division that added Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Broadband Gateway Processor SoC technology to our connected home portfolio creating a complete and scalable platform of connectivity and access solutions to fully address our customers’ needs.
Our headquarters are in Carlsbad, near San Diego, California. We also have major design centers in Irvine and San Jose, California; Valencia, Spain; Bangalore, India; Munich, Germany; Israel; and Singapore.
We have approximately 1,200 employees, a substantial majority of whom have engineering degrees and include masters and Ph.D. graduates from many of the premiere universities around the world. Our employees thrive on innovation, outstanding execution, outside-the-box thinking, nimbleness, and collaboration. Together, we form a high-energy business team that is focused on building the best and most innovative products on the market.