Staff Firmware Engineer
About The Position
As a Staff Firmware Engineer, you will serve as a foundational architect and force multiplier for our new Machine Learning initiatives. While you are a firmware generalist capable of leading hardware bring-up and core system design, you bring a specialized expertise in Machine Learning (Edge AI). You will be the primary bridge between our Data Science organization and hardware execution. Because this is a new technical frontier for Life360, you will be responsible for building the first-ever on-device ML pipelines, ensuring our next-generation of devices can process complex sensor data on the edge while maintaining the extreme battery efficiency and reliability our members expect.
Requirements
- Experience: 10+ years of firmware experience, taking complex consumer hardware from prototype through mass production.
- Firmware Expert: Proficient in C/C++, RTOS (Zephyr/FreeRTOS), and low-level peripheral communication (SPI, I2C, DMA).
- Edge ML: Hands-on experience deploying TinyML models and optimizing inference on Cortex-M or similar architectures.
- Sensor Processing: Deep understanding of sensor data and building the signal processing pipelines required for ML features.
- Optimization: A passion for squeezing maximum performance out of extreme constraints in power consumption and memory footprint.
- Tooling: Proficiency in Python for data analysis, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, and automating firmware pipelines.
- Leadership: Excellent collaboration skills with the ability to influence technical strategy across teams and stakeholders.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
Responsibilities
- Core Systems: Drive the development and maintenance of general firmware architecture across the device portfolio to ensure overall system health and stability.
- ML Architecture: Build the technical framework for on-device inference within resource-constrained firmware stacks.
- 0-to-1 pipeline: Partner with Data Science to design the company's first hardware-optimized data sampling, preprocessing, and inference pipelines.
- Sensor Integration: Drive the integration of new sensors to create the frameworks required for advanced context-awareness and predictive modeling.
- Strategic Alignment: Solve large-scale technical challenges and drive alignment between firmware, hardware, and researchers.
- Mentorship: Provide high-impact mentorship to help the broader firmware organization grow its expertise in embedded ML and sensor fusion.
Benefits
- Competitive pay and benefits
- Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance plans (100% paid for employees)
- 401(k) plan with company matching program
- Mental Wellness Program & Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental well-being
- Flexible PTO, 13 company-wide days off throughout the year
- Winter and Summer Weeklong Synchronized Company Shutdowns
- Learning & Development programs
- Equipment, tools, and reimbursement support for a productive remote environment
- Free Life360 Platinum Membership for your preferred circle
- Free Tile Products
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
251-500 employees
