Why PlayStation?
PlayStation isn’t just the Best Place to Play — it’s also the Best Place to Work. Today, we’re recognized as a global leader in entertainment producing The PlayStation family of products and services including PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®VR, PlayStation®Plus, acclaimed PlayStation software titles from PlayStation Studios, and more.
PlayStation also strives to create an inclusive environment that empowers employees and embraces diversity. We welcome and encourage everyone who has a passion and curiosity for innovation, technology, and play to explore our open positions and join our growing global team.
The PlayStation brand falls under Sony Interactive Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation.
Director, Engineering — System Software & Firmware
Location: San Mateo, CA, USA
Travel: Up to 20% internationalPlayStation is looking for a Director of System Software and Firmware Engineering to head a worldwide team. This group develops core technology for PlayStation hardware, including and beyond the console. The role also manages the roadmap and delivery of PlayStation Link for both first-party hardware and third-party partner products. It requires close collaboration with external technology partners and PlayStation engineering teams globally.
Responsibilities- Lead and grow a global organization accountable for system software and firmware within the PlayStation Product Development organization.
- Own the technical strategy and multi-year roadmap for:
- System Software (device drivers and low-level system utilities/SDKs) across PS5, PlayStation Portal, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
1. Firmware running on SoCs/microcontrollers, typically in minimal/no-OS environments.
- Drive software system architecture, build reviews, and technical decisions that balance performance, power, latency, reliability, security, and manufacturability.
- Deliver end-to-end execution from early prototypes through production and post-launch sustainment, in close partnership with hardware engineering, ecosystem engineering, program management, operations, QA, product, and security.
- Lead the PlayStation Link technology roadmap and delivery, including partner requirements, integration strategy, validation, and ecosystem enablement.
- Establish and maintain strong operating mechanisms (planning, metrics, quality targets, risk management, release readiness, blocking issue).
- Communicate clearly and influence effectively across globally distributed teams and executive collaborators.
- Hire, mentor, and develop engineering leaders; build a culture of accountability, technical excellence, and collaboration.
- 10+ years of engineering experience with deep expertise in system software, embedded systems, firmware, or platform engineering.
- 5+ years of people leadership experience managing managers and/or multi-team internal+external organizations, including hiring and org scaling.
- Demonstrated experience shipping products with tight hardware/software integration from bring-up through high-volume production.
- Proven ability to lead architecture and technical direction without being hands-on coding day-to-day.
- Strong cross-functional leadership skills and experience driving alignment across teams in different locations/time zones.
- Experience collaborating with external partners to deliver coordinated technology and high-quality outcomes.
- Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and executive-level).
- Experience with high-volume consumer electronics (consoles, portables, accessories/peripherals, audio/input devices).
- Familiarity with SoCs, embedded boot flows, secure update concepts, and low-level debugging.
- Cross-platform low-level experience on Linux/BSD/Windows/macOS/iOS/Android (drivers, services, privileged utilities).
- Background in short-range wireless connectivity technologies and/or partner ecosystem certification programs.
- This role is based in San Mateo, California and reports directly to the VP of Product Development (also San Mateo based).
- Up to 20% international travel is encouraged.
- The Director will be encouraged to build and lead a distributed team.
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 color, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, birthing parent or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.
We strive to build an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.
PlayStation is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.
#LI-AT1
Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about how we process your personal information, and your data protection rights.
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. This role also may be eligible for a bonus package. Click here to learn more.
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.
Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.
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.
We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.
PlayStation is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.
Top Skills
PlayStation San Francisco, California, USA Office
400 2nd Street., San Francisco, CA, United States
PlayStation San Mateo, California, USA Office
2207 Bridgepointe Parkway, San Mateo, CA, United States
Similar Jobs
What you need to know about the San Francisco Tech Scene
Key Facts About San Francisco Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 365,500; 13.9% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Google, Apple, Salesforce, Meta
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, fintech, consumer technology, software
- Funding Landscape: $50.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners, Greylock Partners, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins
- Research Centers and Universities: Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of San Francisco; Santa Clara University; Ames Research Center; Center for AI Safety; California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
