Principal Firmware Engineer
About The Position
This is a Principal Firmware Engineer role. While the title includes "software," the work is primarily embedded and firmware-focused: RTOS-based systems, hardware bring-up, driver development, board-level debugging, and close collaboration with electrical and mechanical teams. This is not a role where you'll simply provide technical direction from the sidelines. You'll be designing, coding, debugging, integrating, and solving difficult problems alongside the engineering team. The Principal Firmware Engineer owns embedded software at both the tactical and strategic levels, ensuring systems are architected correctly, risks are identified early, and the broader team is unblocked when challenges arise. This role sets technical direction, improves and documents software processes, establishes best practices, and mentors engineers.
Requirements
- 7+ years of embedded/firmware development experience, including 3+ years in a senior or technical lead role
- BS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field; MS preferred
- Strong C and C++ experience for embedded systems and Python for tooling/testing
- Hands-on RTOS experience such as FreeRTOS, ROS2, Zephyr, or similar
- Experience with STM32, ARM-based MCUs/SoCs, x86, PIC32, or similar
- Experience with I2C, SPI, UART, Ethernet, GPIO, and other low-level interfaces
- Experience with Git, embedded development tools, build systems, and debugging environments
- Experience authoring and reviewing software requirements, specifications, and design documentation
- Experience leading technical and design reviews
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
Nice To Haves
- Experience with maritime systems, robotics, uncrewed systems, or military platforms
- Experience with navigation, localization, sensor fusion, or autonomy systems
- Experience debugging networking stacks and board-level communication issues
- Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, ISO 9001, or CMMI quality frameworks
- Experience working in customer-driven R&D and product development environments
- Proposal development, feasibility studies, or early-stage technical concepts
- AI, machine learning, or computer vision applied to embedded or robotic systems
- Safety-critical or mission-critical software development
- Government or defense-related programs
- Agile, DevOps, or quality management systems
Responsibilities
- Lead the design, development, and optimization of embedded and firmware systems
- Write and review RTOS-based firmware using FreeRTOS, ROS2, Zephyr, or similar
- Architect firmware integrated with custom hardware, sensors, and control systems
- Develop firmware, device drivers, and communication stacks
- Review schematics and PCB layouts to identify firmware impacts and integration risks
- Debug complex software, firmware, and hardware issues using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, and other bench tools
- Build and maintain benchtop development setups ("roadkills") for early firmware development
- Lead technical design reviews, architecture discussions, and roadmap planning
- Act as the technical escalation point when embedded or system-level issues block progress
- Mentor engineers on firmware architecture, debugging, and best practices
- Break down ambiguous problems into executable engineering plans
- Support development workflows, integration, manufacturing, and transition to production
- Communicate technical concepts, tradeoffs, risks, and status to engineering and non-engineering stakeholders
Benefits
- health insurance
- 401(k) match
- paid time off
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
