Principal Wireless Protocol Architect - Engineer

Title: Principal Wireless Protocol Architect/Engineer

Location: United States, San Mateo, CA

Category: Admin (PE)

Job Description:

Why Sony Interactive Entertainment?

Sony Interactive Entertainment isn’t just the Best Place to Play — it’s also the Best Place to Work. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is the company behind the PlayStation brand. As a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, we’re part of a proud legacy of innovation and excellence. SIE is a dynamic technology company, delivering cutting-edge hardware and network services to more than 100 million people and an entertainment leader, home to some of the most beloved and recognizable intellectual properties (IP) in the world. Our role at SIE is to create and nurture the experiences under the PlayStation brand, a name synonymous with entertainment excellence and creativity.

Principal Wireless Protocol Architect/Engineer

We are building a small team of versatile and enthusiastic leaders to create new products for the PlayStation community. Our team recently delivered the new PlayStation Link, PULSE Explore and PULSE Elite products, recently announced the FlexStrike and PULSE Elevate products, and are hard at work on what comes next. We need an experienced and innovative firmware engineer to help build and support our new products and features.

In this role, you will be the technical point of accountability for wireless across accessories: hardware, platform software, audio, security, and product all will route protocol questions to you. You will represent the protocol and the implementation to silicon and ODM partners, evaluate combo-SoC roadmaps, drive vendor firmware defects to resolution, and design so that a supplier change is a port, not a rewrite.

You will write the technical strategy documents that let a Director and a VP make an informed decision. And, grow the technical depth by being the leader that mentors senior engineers toward staff and principal, and raise the design-review bar for the whole org.

Come and play with us!

Responsibilities

In this role, you will lead firmware development for high profile product development efforts. You will be responsible for technical leadership, system architecture, and execution across the firmware domain, working closely with internal teams and external partners.

• Own firmware architecture and design for transport, wireless protocol, firmware and software stacks for embedded devices from concept through production
• Develop and define communication protocols to enable peripheral functionality
• Design, implement, and scale low-latency RF/wireless communication protocols for embedded systems
• Architect structured, modular, and reusable firmware frameworks that scale across multiple platforms and product lines
• Lead and mentor firmware engineers (internal and external partners)
• Ensure firmware designs support cross-platform reuse and long-term scalability
• Troubleshoot complex system-level issues across hardware, firmware, and RF domains

Skills

• Strong in firmware and software architectural patterns
• Strong embedded firmware development experience in C/C++
• Industry authority level experience with RF/wireless systems (e.g., Bluetooth, low-latency audio, or similar technologies)
• Deep understanding of low-latency embedded systems and communication protocol design
• Proven ability to design scalable, reusable, and cross-platform firmware architectures
• Experience with ARM microcontrollers and low-power system design
• Hands-on experience with hardware bring-up and debugging (including RF/system-level issues)
• Experience implementing hardware-in-the-loop and automated testing
• Strong system-level thinking across hardware and software boundaries
• Ability to operate at both high-level system design and low-level implementation
• Proven ability to lead firmware efforts across teams and partners
• Experience with consumer electronics product development from concept through mass production
• Strong problem-solving and debugging skills

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 15+ years of experience in embedded firmware development
• Demonstrated experience leading firmware development for shipped products
• Strong experience in RF/wireless or low-latency embedded systems
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Passion for gaming, digital entertainment, and consumer electronics is a plus

Nice to Have

• Experience with wireless audio or ultra-low latency systems
• Experience working with external development partners or ODMs
• Experience with kernel or driver development (Linux, Windows, or similar)
• Experience scaling engineering processes and mentoring teams

Working Conditions

• Energetic, collaborative and passionate engineers delivering product
• Travel (domestic and international) required. Estimated 15-20%

At SIE, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.

Please note that the base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this role is eligible for SIE’s top-tier benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and coveted employee discounts for Sony products.

The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below.

$209,900 - $314,900 USD

Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.