Embedded Software Engineer III

About The Role

We're looking for an Engineer to support the development of visual perceptual quality software for embedded Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality (AR/VR) devices. You'll modify device firmware, build and maintain test infrastructure, write automated and manual tests, and collaborate closely with engineering teams to ensure display and graphics pipelines meet rigorous perceptual quality standards. This role spans low-level firmware through application-level tooling, requiring strong systems thinking and a quality-first mindset.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and modify device firmware (C/C++) to support visual perceptual quality features across computer vision, graphics, and display pipelines.
• Design, implement, and maintain test infrastructure for evaluating perceptual quality metrics (e.g., latency, quality/accuracy, motion-to-photon).
• Write new tests and maintain existing tests including unit tests, integration tests, manual validation procedures, and CI automation.
• Debug issues across the full software stack—from hardware bring-up and driver-level defects through application-layer rendering, providing both quick workarounds for time-critical issues and long-term solutions.
• Develop optimized firmware and software utilities targeting embedded environments, with portability across processors and platforms.
• Integrate platform-level features where applicable.
• Collaborate with internal teams to improve and tailor existing firmware, device drivers, and applications to project requirements.
• Create clean, well-documented, and testable code; contribute to Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) build scripts and automation pipelines as needed.
• Document designs, tradeoffs, test methodologies, and results for cross-functional stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a relevant field.
• 6+ years of industry experience developing and testing low-level firmware or systems software for embedded platforms.
• 6+ years of solid programming skills in C and C++, with experience writing production firmware and test applications.
• Experience with the full software development lifecycle including requirements gathering, design, implementation, testing, and delivery.
• Experience building reusable test frameworks, harnesses, or infrastructure for hardware-in-the-loop or perceptual quality validation.
• Demonstrated debugging skills across complex software/hardware stacks (graphics, display, or sensor pipelines preferred).
• Experience with Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) and developing multi-threaded or real-time applications.
• Experience with CI/CD development tools and processes.
• Scripting skills using Python or similar languages for developing utilities and test automation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a relevant field.
• Experience with computer vision, graphics and display systems.
• Understanding of visual/perceptual quality metrics and measurement methodologies (e.g., Just Noticeable Difference [JND], Structural Similarity Index Measure [SSIM], flicker thresholds, motion-to-photon latency).
• Experience with AR/VR display technologies and associated performance constraints.
• Android platform experience (Native Development Kit [NDK], Java Native Interface [JNI], Hardware Abstraction Layer [HAL]) or low-level platform integration.
• Familiarity with image/video quality assessment tools or development of custom measurement utilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to work independently and manage priorities.
• Prior FAANG or Big Tech preferred

Location

Redmond, WA [Onsite]

Salary Range

The salary for this position is between $145,600 - $195,520 annually. Factors which may affect pay within this range may include geography/market, skills, education, experience, and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Long-term disability insurance
• Short-term disability insurance
• 5 personal days accrued each calendar year. The Paid time off benefits meet the paid sick and safe time laws that pertains to the City/State
• 10-15 days of paid vacation time
• 6 paid holidays and 1 floating holiday per calendar year
• Ascendion Learning Management System