Embedded Systems Engineer (Linux & HDL)

FIRST RF • Boulder, CO

3d • $100,000 - $250,000

About The Position

FIRST RF is hiring a talented Embedded Systems Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will be a key contributor to the design and development of active RF systems for our next-generation products. You’ll be part of a small, collaborative team who is responsible for developing software, firmware, and gate-ware solutions. For this role you will need to have skillsets in Linux and/or Hardware Description Language (HDL). We’re seeking candidates with a strong desire to a system-level understanding who can evolve to an influence high-level design decisions and internal tooling.

Requirements

• Must have U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
• Proficiency reading electrical schematics
• Proficiency with common test equipment including multi-meters, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers
• Proficiency in a technical programming language such as Python
• Strong hardware background
• Experience with Linux user-space and kernel driver development.
• Proficiency with embedded Linux build systems
• Interest in learning HDL
• A strong HDL skillset with experience implementing DSP blocks and common serial interfaces (e.g., PCIe, SPI, I2C, AXI, Wishbone, Aurora, JESD)
• Experience developing novel IP (e.g., DSP, packetization) and a proficient understanding of signal processing fundamentals is required
• Interest in learning Linux user-space and kernel driver development

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
• Experience with Yocto and Pentalinux
• Familiarity with Xilink, RFSoc, Zynq platforms
• Experience with RF test equipment including phase noise analyzer, spectrum analyzer, network analyzer, and power meters

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and verify FPGA logic using HDL
• Develop embedded software for onboard processors, supporting both bare-metal and embedded Linux environments
• Build, customize, and deploy embedded Linux systems for SoC platforms
• Perform simulation, synthesis, timing analysis, and hardware validation to ensure performance, stability, and timing closure.
• Implement and optimize high-speed communication protocols
• Conduct board bring-up and hardware–software co-debugging, using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, in-system debug cores, and related tools
• Optimize architecture, resource utilization, throughput, and latency to meet stringent performance and reliability requirements
• Participate in full lifecycle development, from system architecture and requirements definition through prototyping, validation, and integration
• Document designs, interfaces, and test procedures, ensuring clear communication across hardware, firmware, and software teams
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineers (embedded, RF, mechanical) to define system requirements and deliver integrated solutions

Benefits

• We offer all employees four weeks of PTO each year, flexible scheduling, hybrid work, tuition reimbursement, up to 6% 401(k) match, and healthcare, dental, and vision plans.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees