Staff Firmware Engineer, IOT

ALSO • Palo Alto, CA

3d • $210,000 - $240,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

As a Staff Firmware Engineer at ALSO, you'll own wireless bring-up, IoT features, and over-the-air updates while partnering across hardware, cloud, and mobile teams to build end-to-end connected systems. You'll write mission-critical firmware, optimize for low-power operation, and implement security protocols that keep ALSO's devices safe and reliable. You'll also help shape how the team works — building CI/CD pipelines, championing automation, and collaborating with QA to ship robust, well-tested code.

Requirements

• B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
• 6+ years of experience in firmware development, focused on wireless communications on common silicon, especially Nordic.
• Expert in C programming, ideally familiar with C++, Python, and bash scripting
• Past experience working with wireless technologies (BLE, LTE, GPS, NFC, UWB)
• Proficiency with real time operating system concepts including direct experience with Zephyr RTOS and/or FreeRTOS.
• Hands on experience debugging in real world environments with wireless diagnostics tooling such as wireshark
• Knowledge of basic communication protocol principles - messaging, network, security, compression

Nice To Haves

• Specific experience working with IOT data protocols (e.g. MQTT, HTTP), OTA, wireless regulatory compliance, and cloud APIs a big plus
• Highly collaborative mindset and strong communication skills

Responsibilities

• Firmware development of critical hardware validation, wireless bring-up, and IOT-related features, such as over-the-air updates and telemetry upload, interfacing with existing cloud infrastructure where appropriate
• Partner with HW, UX, cloud, mobile, and other firmware teams to architect end-to-end IOT systems
• Design and implement features, as well as related tests, to deliver mission critical, robust code
• Optimize firmware for low-power operation, extending the battery life of IoT devices and supporting energy-efficient designs. Profile power consumption and identify opportunities for optimization on the submodule as well as system level.
• Implement robust security measures within firmware to safeguard devices against potential threats, ensuring data integrity, authentication, and encryption protocols are in place.
• Develop a robust CI/CD pipeline and advocate for best practices to help grow a high performance team with highly automated tools and testing
• Collaborate with QA teams and leverage metrics to monitor for and debug issues
• Engage effectively with third party firms by delivering clear specifications and requirements and managing execution

Benefits

• Robust health coverage — excellent health, dental, and vision insurance covered up to 100% by ALSO, with FSA & HSA options
• One Medical membership and dedicated insurance advocates
• Rich fertility and family-building benefits with Progyny
• Flexible time off
• 401(k) match

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree