Senior Embedded/Firmware Engineer (with Linux)

intent

1d • Remote

About The Position

Intent is seeking a Senior Embedded/Firmware Engineer with strong embedded foundations and hands-on embedded Linux experience. The position spans hardware platforms according to project needs, potentially including Cortex-A SoCs, Raspberry Pi-class boards, and Cortex-M microcontrollers. Firmware work is integrated with hardware, mobile, cloud, QA, and product decisions, and involves solving real-world device constraints rather than working only from fully specified tasks.

The role begins on a freelance, time-and-material basis, with payment for hours worked on client projects. The first three months are intended as a mutual evaluation period; a transition to a permanent role with a fixed salary and full benefits is a possibility, not a guarantee. The team is fully remote across Europe, with an office in Warsaw. The team generally operates from 10:00 to 18:00 CET, and occasional evening calls with US-based clients may occur up to approximately 20:00, scheduled in advance.

New engineers complete a structured ramp-up, work alongside the team, receive a technical buddy, and take on progressively larger tasks. The engineer belongs to the Firmware & Hardware chapter for knowledge-sharing and works on a project squad led by a PM for day-to-day delivery. The recruitment process is in English and includes an HR call, a technical meeting, and final feedback within a few days. Interviews are recorded for internal evaluation.

Requirements

• At least 4 years of professional experience in embedded or firmware development.
• Strong hands-on experience with C/C++ for embedded systems.
• Hands-on experience with embedded Linux build systems such as Yocto Project or Buildroot.
• Good understanding of the Linux kernel, device drivers, and device tree.
• CI/CD experience for embedded projects, such as GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or GitLab CI.
• Experience with bootloaders, particularly U-Boot.
• Experience with embedded constraints including timing, memory, peripherals, boot time, and power consumption.
• Ability to debug firmware and hardware-adjacent problems using practical tools such as JTAG/SWD, serial logs, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes.
• Comfort reading schematics, datasheets, technical documentation, and errata.
• Familiarity with embedded interfaces such as UART, SPI, I2C, and GPIO, or similar.
• Proficiency with Bash and/or Python for automation and testing.
• Solid Git skills and comfort collaborating on GitHub using pull requests, code reviews, and shared repositories.
• Good written and spoken English, at least B2 level.
• Ownership, self-reliance, and responsibility for assigned work.
• Clear communication with engineers, PMs, QA, and clients.
• A problem-solving mindset.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with different, including less common, platforms.
• Experience with embedded Linux toolchains, drivers, and user-space applications.
• Experience with ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers and RTOS such as FreeRTOS or Zephyr.
• Bluetooth/BLE experience beyond the basics, including GATT design, pairing and bonding, connection parameters, throughput and power trade-offs, and secure OTA/DFU.
• Networking experience with TCP/IP, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and IoT protocols such as MQTT.
• Multimedia and audio experience with GStreamer, V4L2, ALSA, I2S, codecs, or graphics acceleration.
• Security experience with Secure Boot, OP-TEE, TrustZone, encrypted filesystems, or cryptography.
• Sensor integration experience, including IMU, PPG, or biosignals, and power profiling.
• Experience with containerization on embedded devices, such as Docker.
• A portfolio of personal projects on a GitHub or GitLab profile.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain custom embedded Linux distributions using Yocto or Buildroot.
• Bring up new hardware platforms and work with the hardware team to debug issues from schematics through software.
• Develop and maintain board support packages and bootloaders such as U-Boot; customize the Linux kernel and write or debug drivers, including I2C, SPI, UART, and MIPI-CSI/DSI drivers.
• Write robust, efficient C/C++ code for system services and applications.
• Optimize boot time, memory usage, system performance, and power consumption.
• Implement and maintain system security features such as Secure Boot and encrypted filesystems.
• Debug firmware and hardware-adjacent issues using JTAG/SWD, serial logs, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and vendor tooling.
• Collaborate with hardware, mobile, QA, backend, product, and client-side engineering teams to solve cross-functional device problems.
• Participate in requirements discussions, technical planning, architecture decisions, estimations, and delivery planning.
• Test firmware releases, investigate development and QA issues, and maintain technical documentation.
• Share knowledge and contribute to improved engineering practices within the Firmware & Hardware chapter.

Benefits

• 120–180 PLN/hour net on a B2B basis, depending on experience.
• Truly flexible hours; most of the team works 10:00–18:00 CET, but engineers organize their own day.
• Fully remote work across Europe.
• Access to internal knowledge-sharing, including tech talks, experiments, and side projects.
• A possible transition after the initial freelance period to a permanent contract with a fixed salary and full benefits; this is not guaranteed.
• The job posting states that paid leave and medical benefits are not provided during the freelance period and are available with a permanent contract.

What This Job Offers

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