Assembly Programmer

Job description

As an Assembly Programmer, you will write, test, and maintain low-level code for embedded systems, hardware devices, and performance-critical applications. You will work closely with hardware engineers and software developers to ensure efficient interaction between software and hardware, often focusing on optimizing system performance, resource utilization, and ensuring real-time functionality. Your role will require a deep understanding of computer architecture, assembly language programming, and debugging skills to support embedded systems, firmware development, and hardware-level applications.

 

Job Responsibilities:

Code Development & Maintenance:

Write, modify, and test assembly language code for specific hardware platforms or applications. This might involve creating device drivers, embedded systems code, or optimizing performance-critical sections of software.

Hardware Interaction:

Understand and utilize assembly language to directly interact with hardware components, including processors, memory, and peripherals. This is crucial for tasks like controlling embedded systems, manipulating hardware registers, or developing low-level drivers.

Performance Optimization:

Leverage assembly language to optimize software performance, especially in situations where speed and efficiency are paramount. This could involve rewriting critical code sections or creating custom algorithms for specific hardware architectures.

Legacy System Support:

Maintain and update legacy systems that were originally written in assembly language. This often involves understanding older hardware architectures and coding styles to ensure continued functionality.

Debugging & Troubleshooting:

Identify and resolve issues in assembly code, often requiring deep understanding of hardware behavior and software interactions.

Collaboration:

Work with other developers, engineers, and system administrators to integrate assembly code into larger software projects or systems.

Documentation:

Document assembly code and related processes to ensure clarity and maintainability for future development and troubleshooting.

 

Qualifications and Skills:

Professional Degree:

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering or a Related Field:

C/C++ Knowledge:

Understanding of higher-level languages like C or C++ can be beneficial for interfacing with assembly code. 

Low-level Programming Concepts:

Familiarity with concepts like memory management, bit manipulation, and direct hardware access.

Analytical Thinking:

Ability to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable steps.

Attention to Detail:

Critical for accurate assembly code writing and debugging.

Problem-solving Skills:

Identifying and resolving issues within the system architecture.

 

Specific Knowledge of IT Industry:

Relevant Work Experience:

Prior experience with assembly language programming, especially on the target hardware platform. 

Previous Experience with Software Development Companies:

Working on projects that require high-performance computing, embedded systems, or legacy system maintenance.

Device Driver Developer:

Experience creating device drivers that allow software to interact with specific hardware devices, often requiring assembly language for low-level hardware control.