Principal Firmware Engineer

About the role

Hayward is seeking a Principal Firmware Engineer to provide technical leadership across our next generation of embedded platforms. This role combines deep hands-on firmware development with system architecture, technical leadership, and cross-functional collaboration throughout the entire product lifecycle. You'll lead the design and implementation of firmware that powers connected pumps, heaters, automation systems, sanitization products, and future intelligent devices — from early hardware prototypes through high-volume manufacturing and field deployment. As Hayward continues investing in connected products, intelligent automation, and next-generation embedded platforms, firmware has become a critical driver of innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead firmware architecture — Design scalable, reusable firmware frameworks, HALs, RTOS architecture, and system services used across multiple connected pool product families.
• Build resilient embedded systems — Implement fault detection, watchdog recovery, diagnostics, and power management for continuous outdoor operation.
• Drive hardware bring-up — Partner with EE teams on board bring-up, peripheral integration, driver development, and validation across hardware revisions.
• Debug complex firmware issues — Resolve timing, interrupt, RTOS, communication, and hardware/software issues using JTAG/SWD, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.
• Own connectivity & communication layers — Maintain reliable UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, RS-485, BLE, and Wi-Fi communication between devices and the cloud.
• Design for production — Build bootloaders, secure firmware updates, fault logging, and manufacturing test interfaces for long-term serviceability.
• Provide technical leadership — Mentor engineers, lead architecture and code reviews, and champion CI/CD, testing, and engineering best practices while collaborating cross-functionally with manufacturing, quality, and product teams.

Qualifications

Required Experience

• BS or MS in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline
• 10+ years of embedded firmware development delivering commercial products
• 3+ years providing technical leadership across complex firmware development efforts
• Expert-level C/C++ development for resource-constrained embedded systems
• Experience developing firmware on ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers or similar embedded architectures
• Strong understanding of RTOS concepts, multitasking, synchronization, interrupts, and memory management
• Experience developing and debugging embedded communication protocols including UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, and RS-485
• Experience performing board bring-up, hardware integration, and low-level debugging
• Proficiency using JTAG/SWD debuggers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and embedded diagnostic tools
• Experience designing fault-tolerant embedded software including bootloaders, firmware update mechanisms, diagnostics, watchdog strategies, logging, and recovery systems
• Experience using Git and modern software configuration management workflows

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing firmware for connected or IoT-enabled products
• Experience with BLE, Wi-Fi, or other wireless communication technologies
• Familiarity with embedded cybersecurity and secure boot concepts
• Experience implementing automated testing, static analysis, and firmware CI/CD pipelines
• Experience building reusable firmware platforms supporting multiple product lines
• Experience transitioning products into high-volume manufacturing
• Knowledge of safety standards, EMC compliance, and regulatory requirements for embedded products

Benefits

• Health, Dental and Vision coverage
• 401(k) with 3% match, plus additional contributions
• Wellness Rewards
• FSA options
• PTO
• Free life and disability insurance