Embedded Application Engineer

Hark • San Jose, CA

103d • $120,000 - $300,000 • Remote

About The Position

We’re looking for an Application Engineer who lives at the intersection of Android application development and embedded systems. This is not a traditional mobile app role. You’ll be building the core application that runs on our hardware device — the software layer that bridges user-facing experiences with the underlying firmware and embedded systems. Think of it as the single app that makes the robot do what it needs to do. You’ve shipped a product before. You know what it takes to go from prototype to production, and you thrive in that process.

Requirements

• Strong communication skills to translate the requirements from XFN teams into designs.
• 5+ years of experience in Android development, with deep experience beyond standard mobile apps — ideally on embedded or custom hardware devices
• Strong understanding of the Android platform at the system level: AOSP, system services, HAL, native libraries, and device drivers
• Hands-on experience with embedded systems, firmware integration, or low-level hardware/software interfaces
• You have shipped a physical product. You know what it takes to get software running reliably on hardware in production — not just in a lab
• Experience with communication protocols common in embedded devices (UART, SPI, I2C, BLE, USB)
• Proficiency in Java/Kotlin for application development and C/C++ for lower-level systems work
• Comfort working in a fast-moving, cross-functional team where you’ll touch hardware, firmware, and product decisions daily

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Android Things, AOSP board bring-up, or custom Android device builds
• Background in robotics, consumer electronics, or IoT hardware
• Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) or hybrid RTOS/Linux environments
• Familiarity with AI/ML model deployment on edge devices
• Hands-on experience analyzing and deconstructing Android device systems at the platform level

Responsibilities

• Own the development of the primary application running on Hark’s hardware device, from architecture through production deployment
• Build and optimize Android-based software that interfaces directly with embedded systems, sensors, and firmware layers
• Work at the crossover between application-level code and firmware — writing software that runs on the device, not in the cloud
• Collaborate closely with hardware, embedded software, and AI teams to deliver a tightly integrated product experience
• Manage the full lifecycle of getting software onto a physical device: flashing, OTA updates, boot sequences, and device provisioning
• Debug across the full android stack — from Android framework issues down to hardware-level communication protocols
• Drive the product from development through manufacturing and into the hands of users

Benefits

• The total compensation package may also include additional components/benefits depending on the specific role. This information will be shared if an employment offer is extended.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed