Embedded Software Engineer– Technical Lead
About the role
Boston Engineering is a technology-driven consulting firm specializing in product development, systems engineering, and technology commercialization. The company integrates advanced technologies with practical engineering execution, delivering end-to-end services from concept through commercialization. This role is a hands-on technical leadership position focusing on embedded and firmware systems.
Responsibilities
Owns embedded software at both tactical and strategic levels, ensuring correct architecture, early risk identification, and team unblocking.
Streamlines and documents software processes to accelerate projects and maintain high-quality standards.
Architects and implements firmware tightly integrated with custom hardware, sensors, and control systems.
Writes and reviews RTOS-based firmware, including task design, synchronization, memory management, and timing analysis.
Reviews schematics and PCB layouts to identify firmware impacts, integration risks, and potential design issues early in the development cycle.
Debugs complex system issues using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, and other bench tools, and determines root cause across software, firmware, and hardware.
Builds and maintains benchtop development setups ("roadkills") to enable early firmware development prior to final hardware availability.
Ensures firmware meets real-time performance, reliability, and mission-critical requirements.
Communicates technical concepts, tradeoffs, risks, and status to both engineering and non-engineering stakeholders.
Anticipates and addresses technical bottlenecks that span firmware, hardware, and system integration.
Requirements and Preferences
Proven ability in leading the design, development, and optimization of embedded and firmware systems for robotics, autonomous, or maritime platforms.
Experience in streamlining and documenting software processes to accelerate projects and ensure repeatability, while maintaining high-quality standards.
Experience architecting and implementing firmware tightly integrated with custom hardware, sensors, and control systems.
Experience with FreeRTOS, ROS2, Zephyr, or similar RTOS environments.
Experience developing software on embedded targets such as STM32, ARM-based MCUs/SoCs, x86, PIC32, or similar.
Familiarity with I2C, SPI, UART, Ethernet, GPIO, and low-level hardware interfaces.
Experience with cloud and/or other networks/servers for data offload, analysis, and management.
Experience debugging networking stacks and board-level communication issues.
Experience authoring and reviewing software requirements, specifications, and design documentation, and leading effective design reviews.
Experience with CI/CD pipelines for embedded systems.
Experience with ISO 9001 and CMMI quality frameworks.
Experience with maritime systems, robotics, uncrewed systems, or military platforms.
Experience with machine learning, computer vision, or AI as applied to embedded or robotic systems.
Understanding of safety-critical or mission-critical software development practices.
Experience with 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).
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.
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.
Familiarity with I2C, SPI, UART, Ethernet, GPIO, and low-level hardware interfaces.
Experience with cloud and/or other networks/servers for data offload, analysis, and management.
Experience debugging networking stacks and board-level communication issues.
Experience authoring and reviewing software requirements, specifications, and design documentation, and leading effective design reviews.
Experience with CI/CD pipelines for embedded systems.
Experience with ISO 9001 and CMMI quality frameworks.
Experience with maritime systems, robotics, uncrewed systems, or military platforms.
Experience with machine learning, computer vision, or AI as applied to embedded or robotic systems.
Understanding of safety-critical or mission-critical software development practices.
Experience with 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).
Additional Information
Employment Type: Full-Time
Role Reports to: Director, Software Engineering
Location: Office-based role in Waltham, Massachusetts
Relocation: Not available at this time.
Travel: Minimal
Salary Range: The base salary range for this position is $150,000 to $175,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
A comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, 401(k) match, and paid time off, is also provided.
This role is restricted to US persons (i.e., US citizens, permanent residents, and other protected individuals under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 USC 1324b(a)(3)) due to access to export-controlled technology.
Boston Engineering will require proof of status prior to employment.
Your application will not be considered complete without a submitted writing sample.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.