Embedded Software Engineer– Technical Lead

About the role

This is a hands-on technical leadership role. While the title includes “software,” the work is primarily embedded and firmware-focused: RTOS-based systems, hardware bring-up, driver development, board-level debugging, and close collaboration with electrical and mechanical teams. Some upper-stack or tooling work exists, but the core responsibility is commanding and controlling hardware.

Responsibilities

• Owns embedded software at both the tactical and strategic levels, ensuring systems are architected correctly, risks are identified early, and the broader team is unblocked when challenges arise.
• Set technical direction, streamline and document software processes, establish best practices, and raise the embedded engineering bar across projects.
• Act as the technical escalation point when embedded or system-level issues block progress.
• Mentor and coach engineers on embedded firmware architecture, debugging techniques, and best practices.
• Write and review RTOS-based firmware (FreeRTOS, ROS2, Zephyr), including task design, synchronization, memory management, and timing analysis.
• Debug complex system issues using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, and other bench tools, and determine root cause across software, firmware, and hardware.
• Build and maintain benchtop development setups (“roadkills”) to enable early firmware development prior to final hardware availability.
• Ensure firmware meets real-time performance, reliability, and mission-critical requirements.
• Lead technical design reviews, architecture discussions, and roadmap planning with a focus on system-level risk and feasibility.
• Clearly communicate technical concepts, tradeoffs, risks, and status to both engineering and non-engineering stakeholders.

Requirements and Preferences

• Proven ability in: Leading the design, development, and optimization of embedded and firmware systems for robotics, autonomous, or maritime platforms; streamlining and documenting software processes to accelerate projects and ensure repeatability, while maintaining high-quality standards; architecting and implementing firmware tightly integrated with custom hardware, sensors, and control systems; writing and reviewing RTOS-based firmware (FreeRTOS, ROS2, Zephyr), including task design, synchronization, memory management, and timing analysis; reviewing schematics and PCB layouts to identify firmware impacts, integration risks, and potential design issues early in the development cycle; debugging complex system issues using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, and other bench tools, and determining root cause across software, firmware, and hardware; building and maintaining benchtop development setups (“roadkills”) to enable early firmware development prior to final hardware availability; ensuring firmware meets real-time performance, reliability, and mission-critical requirements; leading technical design reviews, architecture discussions, and roadmap planning with a focus on system-level risk and feasibility; clearly communicating technical concepts, tradeoffs, risks, and status to both engineering and non-engineering stakeholders; acting as the technical escalation point when embedded or system-level issues block progress; mentoring and coaching engineers on embedded firmware architecture, debugging techniques, and best practices; writing high-quality, maintainable, and well-documented firmware and low-level software; developing and maintaining embedded system software, including firmware, device drivers, and communication stacks; performing thorough testing and debugging to ensure system functionality, reliability, and safety; proposing and implementing technical solutions that improve system robustness, debuggability, and performance; breaking down ambiguous or novel problems into executable engineering plans, including scope, risk, and estimates; supporting software configuration management and repeatable development workflows; working across R&D and product environments with an understanding of long-term maintainability and transition to production.
• Experience with: Working in challenging, hands-on, and customer-driven engineering environments; closely collaborating with electrical, mechanical, systems, and product teams; demonstrating proficiency in standard embedded development tools, git version control, build systems, and debugging environments; strong organizational skills and clear written and verbal communications; ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Qualifications

• BS (acceptable) or MS (preferred) in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of experience in embedded/firmware development, including 3+ years in a senior or technical lead role
• Fluency in C and C++ for embedded systems, as well as Python for tooling and testing
• Hands-on experience with RTOS environments (FreeRTOS, ROS2, Zephyr, or similar)
• Experience developing software on embedded targets such as STM32, ARM-based MCUs/SoCs, x86, PIC32, or similar
• Experience with I2C, SPI, UART, Ethernet, GPIO, and low-level hardware interfaces
• Familiarity with cloud and/or other networks/servers for data offload, analysis, and management
• Experience debugging networking stacks and board-level communication issues is a strong plus
• Experience authoring and reviewing software requirements, specifications, and design documentation, and leading effective design reviews
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines for embedded systems
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 and CMMI quality frameworks is desirable
• Experience with maritime systems, robotics, uncrewed systems, or military platforms is highly desirable
• Exposure to navigation, localization, sensor fusion, or autonomy systems is a plus

Bonus Attributes

• Experience contributing to proposal development, feasibility studies, or early technical concepts
• Background or interest in machine learning, computer vision, or AI as applied to embedded or robotic systems
• Familiarity with safety-critical or mission-critical software development practices
• Understanding of Agile methodologies and practical DevOps workflows in embedded environments
• Experience working on government or defense-related programs, including technical documentation and customer interaction
• Experience working within or supporting quality management systems (QMS)