Embedded Firmware Engineer

About the role

The Embedded Firmware Engineer (Mid-Level) position at Vatn Systems is aimed at a proactive engineer who enjoys working close to the hardware/software boundary. This role involves designing, building, and maintaining firmware for AUVs, developing system-level software, and collaborating with other engineers to ensure robust embedded solutions.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain efficient, reliable firmware in C and C++ for embedded microcontrollers (bare-metal and RTOS).
• Develop system-level software and services in Go, C, and C++ on embedded Linux boards.
• Bring up new hardware: board bring-up, bootloaders, device drivers, and board support packages.
• Implement and debug communication between subsystems over interfaces such as UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, and Ethernet.
• Integrate sensors, actuators, and peripherals, and implement real-time control and telemetry paths.
• Optimize firmware for performance, memory footprint, and power.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and autonomy engineers to translate system requirements into robust embedded solutions.
• Write and maintain unit and integration tests, and support hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Participate in code reviews, providing and receiving constructive feedback to improve our engineering practices.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and upgrade existing firmware, including on-vehicle and field debugging.

Requirements

• Required Qualifications:
• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field (or equivalent practical experience).
• 3–5 years of professional embedded software/firmware development experience.
• Strong proficiency in C and C++ for embedded microcontrollers (bare-metal and/or RTOS).
• Hands-on experience developing firmware for STM32 microcontrollers (e.g., STM32CubeMX/HAL, LL drivers, or bare-metal register-level programming).
• Experience developing on embedded Linux platforms.
• Solid understanding of hardware/software integration: reading schematics and datasheets, and debugging with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG/SWD.
• Experience with embedded communication protocols (e.g., UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, Ethernet).
• Familiarity with real-time constraints, interrupts, DMA, and low-level memory management.
• Experience writing firmware for power-constrained and/or resource-limited systems (battery power budgets, tight memory/timing footprints).
• Proficiency with version control systems, specifically Git.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• United States Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Able to gain a security clearance.
• Nice-to-Haves:
• Experience with cross-compilation, build systems (e.g., CMake, Make, Yocto/Buildroot), and toolchains for embedded targets.
• Experience developing with Go.
• Experience with serialization protocols like Protobufs, DDS, etc.
• Familiarity with robotics middleware or modern robotics frameworks (e.g., ROS 2).
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines for embedded software and automated hardware testing.
• Knowledge of containerization and deployment on edge devices.
• Experience with maritime sensors, underwater acoustics, or subsea systems.
• Familiarity with functional safety or safety-critical software development practices.

Qualifications

• Required Qualifications:
• Education and Experience:
• Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field degree (or equivalent practical experience).
• 3-5 years of professional embedded software/firmware development experience.
• Technical Skills:
• Proficiency in C and C++ for embedded microcontrollers (bare-metal and/or RTOS).
• STM32 microcontroller experience (e.g., STM32CubeMX/HAL, LL drivers, or bare-metal register-level programming).
• Embedded Linux platform experience.
• Hardware/software integration skills (reading schematics, datasheets, debugging with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG/SWD).
• Embedded communication protocols (UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, Ethernet).
• Real-time constraints, interrupts, DMA, and low-level memory management.
• Firmware optimization for power-constrained and resource-limited systems.
• Version control proficiency (Git).
• Soft Skills:
• Problem-solving skills.
• Teamwork and collaboration.
• Other:
• US Citizenship or Permanent Resident status.
• Ability to obtain a security clearance.

Skills

• C and C++ for embedded microcontrollers (bare-metal and/or RTOS).
• STM32 microcontroller experience (e.g., STM32CubeMX/HAL, LL drivers, or bare-metal register-level programming).
• Embedded Linux platform experience.
• Hardware/software integration skills (reading schematics, datasheets, debugging with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG/SWD).
• Embedded communication protocols (UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, Ethernet).
• Real-time constraints, interrupts, DMA, and low-level memory management.
• Firmware optimization for power-constrained and resource-limited systems.
• Version control proficiency (Git).
• Problem-solving skills.
• Teamwork and collaboration.

Benefits

Vatn Systems offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Health insurance coverage.
• Paid time off.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Flexible work arrangements.
• Employee recognition programs.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $80,000 - $120,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

This is a full-time (Onsite) position based in Bristol, RI.