Firmware Lifecycle Specialist

Description

Job Type: Full-Time | Location: San Francisco | Department: Network | Reporting to: Associate Director, Network | Work Location Type: #hybrid 

IREN is a leading AI Cloud Service Provider, delivering large-scale GPU clusters for AI training and inference. IREN’s vertically integrated platform is underpinned by its expansive portfolio of grid-connected land and data centers in renewable-rich regions across the U.S. and Canada.  

The Firmware Lifecycle Specialist will lead and scale firmware deployment operations across NVIDIA OEM server platforms within high-performance computing (HPC) and data centre environments. This role is responsible for defining and executing firmware lifecycle strategy, ensuring firmware packages are validated, deployed, and maintained with high quality, reliability, and operational efficiency.
 
As a key technical and operational leader, the Firmware Lifecycle Specialist will drive continuous improvement in firmware deployment automation, standardization, and operational performance across global infrastructure environments. The role partners closely with Firmware Engineering, Platform Engineering, OEM vendors, Operations, and Infrastructure teams to ensure firmware operations support scalable, resilient, and high-performing compute infrastructure.

With 100% renewable energy, we build, own and operate our data centers and take pride in being at the forefront of sustainable solutions for the ever-evolving applications of high-performance compute. We believe that human progress is invaluable, but it should be done in the right way – responsibly, sustainably and having a positive impact on the communities we operate in.    

Responsibilities

Firmware Deployment Strategy & Lifecycle Management

• Define and lead the global firmware deployment strategy across NVIDIA OEM platforms and associated infrastructure environments.
• Own end-to-end firmware lifecycle management, including validation, testing, deployment, maintenance, rollback planning, and upgrade governance.
• Ensure firmware deployment processes meet high standards for reliability, consistency, scalability, and operational readiness.
• Establish deployment standards, operating procedures, and governance frameworks across regions and environments.
• Drive alignment between firmware lifecycle operations and broader infrastructure reliability and performance objectives.

Firmware Deployment Operations & Performance

• Own operational KPIs for firmware deployment performance, including deployment velocity, installation success rates, deployment quality, and operational stability. 
• Lead initiatives to reduce firmware deployment times and improve deployment efficiency across large-scale global infrastructure environments.
• Monitor deployment outcomes, identify operational bottlenecks, and implement corrective actions to improve reliability and consistency.
• Ensure robust reporting and visibility into firmware deployment performance, operational risks, and lifecycle status.
• Support incident management and root-cause analysis related to firmware deployment failures or operational issues.

Automation & Continuous Improvement

• Drive automation initiatives across firmware deployment, validation, compliance checking, and operational workflow.
• Continuously improve firmware deployment tooling, orchestration, and standardisation to support scalable operations.
• Identify opportunities to enhance deployment quality, minimise manual intervention, and improve operational resilience.
• Partner with engineering teams to implement scalable automation frameworks and deployment pipelines.
• Promote best practices for firmware lifecycle management and operational excellence across the organisation.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Vendor Engagement

• Partner closely with Firmware Engineering, Platform Engineering, Infrastructure Operations, and OEM vendors to align deployment standards and release processes.
• Collaborate with OEM and hardware vendors to validate firmware compatibility, deployment readiness, and issue resolution.
• Coordinate firmware rollout planning across engineering, operations, and infrastructure teams to minimise operational disruption.
• Support escalation management and resolution of firmware-related deployment and platform issues.
• Influence infrastructure and platform standards to improve firmware deployment efficiency and operational consistency.

Operational Risk & Reliability Management

• Identify and mitigate operational risks associated with firmware deployment, platform compatibility, and infrastructure stability.
• Develop deployment validation frame