Lead Embedded Systems Software Engineer

We are looking for a Lead Embedded Software Engineer to own the full path from product requirements to working, tested firmware. You will translate product-level goals into system software architecture, write production code, and lead a team of embedded engineers to ship reliable, high-performance software.

This is a player-coach role. You will write code every day while also guiding the team, reviewing designs, and setting technical direction. You must be as comfortable at a whiteboard as you are at a debugger. You will report to the head of product engineering.

• Translate product requirements into clear system-level software architecture.

• Define software interfaces, data flows, and module boundaries across the embedded stack.

• Make and own key technical decisions. Document them clearly for the team.

• Identify risks early and drive solutions before they become blockers.

• Write, review, and maintain production firmware in C/C++ (and Rust where applicable).

• Develop drivers, middleware, and application logic for sensor-rich embedded platforms.

• Work with Zephyr RTOS across multiple MCU families (STM32, Nordic nRF, ESP32).

• Use West and CMake to manage builds, module dependencies, and board configurations.

• Debug firmware using JTAG, SWD, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes.

• Integrate and validate sensors including IMUs, accelerometers, and gyroscopes.

• Implement and optimize networking stacks - BLE, Thread, and Wi-Fi.

• Design and maintain backend communication protocols for reliable edge-to-cloud data transfer.

• Write automated unit and integration tests before or alongside feature code.

• Build and maintain HIL (hardware-in-the-loop) and SIL (software-in-the-loop) test frameworks.

• Set team standards for test coverage, static analysis, and CI/CD pipelines.

• Perform code reviews with a focus on correctness, safety, and long-term maintainability.

• Lead a small team of embedded engineers. Set clear goals and unblock day-to-day work.

• Mentor engineers through design reviews, pair programming, and direct feedback.

• Collaborate with hardware, systems, and product teams to align on requirements.

• Contribute to hiring - interview candidates and help define the team's technical bar.

• 7+ years of embedded software development experience in production systems.

• Strong C/C++ skills in resource-constrained environments (bare-metal and RTOS).

• Hands-on experience with Zephyr RTOS, including West build system and CMake.

• Deep knowledge of at least one MCU family: STM32, Nordic nRF, or ESP32.

• Experience integrating and characterizing inertial sensors (IMU, accelerometer, gyroscope).

• Solid understanding of wireless protocols - BLE, Thread, and Wi-Fi - including their stack implementations.

• Experience designing and implementing backend communications (MQTT, CoAP, HTTP/REST, or similar).

• Strong skills in writing automated tests for embedded code: unit tests, mocking, HIL/SIL frameworks.

• Proficiency with hardware debug tooling: JTAG, SWD, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes.

• Solid Git workflow practices: branching strategy, code review process, and CI/CD integration.

• Demonstrated ability to lead a technical team while remaining a hands-on contributor.

• Clear communicator. Able to explain complex technical decisions to non-specialist stakeholders.

• Experience with Rust in embedded contexts.

• Familiarity with TinyML or edge ML frameworks (TFLite Micro, Edge Impulse, ONNX Runtime).

• Background in aerospace, satellite, or other safety-critical systems.

• Experience with model optimization techniques such as quantization and pruning.

• Contributions to open-source embedded or RTOS projects.

• On-site, collaborative environment. We build physical hardware - presence matters.

• Small teams with high autonomy. You own your area end-to-end.

• Fast iteration cycles. We prototype, test, and revise quickly.

• Direct feedback culture. We expect candor and respect in equal measure.