Staff Engineer - Firmware

Requirements

Location: This role is based onsite at our office in Pleasanton, CA. Travel: Up to 5%

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership: Provide architectural direction for real-time control systems and lead technical discussions across hardware and firmware teams
• System Architecture: Design system controllers on ARM SoC, including user-space drivers, libraries, and reusable frameworks for quantum system control
• Software Development: Write high-performance, production-quality code in C/C++ and Rust, establishing team-wide best practices and coding standards
• Control Theory & Implementation: Define and implement essential control algorithms, including robust control loops with reliable error handling for precision instruments
• Hardware Collaboration: Lead board testing and hardware bring-up strategies in coordination with hardware engineers
• Mentorship: Guide junior and senior engineers through code reviews, pair programming, and proactive technical coaching
• Process Improvement: Drive the evolution of development processes, tooling, and infrastructure, including CI/CD and automated testing
• Strategic Representation: Act as the primary technical voice for the team during cross-functional reviews and strategic planning sessions

Qualifications

• BS/MS in EE, CE, or CS with 8-12 years of experience, or a PhD with 8+ years of related work experience
• Demonstrated mastery of complex embedded system architecture and designing software systems from the ground up
• Deep understanding of hardware-software interfaces (TCP, UART, MMAP) and low-level system programming
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills using profilers, debuggers, and simulation tools
• Proven ability to lead technical initiatives and influence engineering decisions across multi-disciplinary teams
• Excellent verbal and written skills for articulating complex concepts to diverse audiences
• Must be comfortable working in a laboratory setting

Preferred Qualifications

• Rust Proficiency: Extensive experience developing production Rust systems, including async runtimes, concurrency patterns, and performance optimization
• C++ Hybrid: Experience with embedded Linux alongside a strong understanding of C/C++ systems programming
• Advanced Control Theory: Expert-level knowledge of PID, state-space controllers, and adaptive control algorithms
• DSP & Algorithms: Experience with fixed-point algorithms, digital signal processing (DSP), and digital filter design
• Hardware-Software Co-design: Strong background working with SoC/FPGA devices and Linux kernel/device driver development
• Tooling & Scripting: Proficiency in Python for scientific libraries and developer tool creation
• Lab Equipment Mastery: Hands-on experience using oscilloscopes, function generators, and voltmeters to verify code performance
• DevOps for Embedded: Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and automated testing frameworks tailored for hardware/firmware

Benefits

• Platinum-level family health coverage (medical, dental, vision)
• Health and dependent care
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Employer 401(k) contributions
• 20 days of paid time off / 11 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Fully stocked kitchen

Pay Range

The approximate base salary range for this position is $163,430 to $213,972 per year. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity and benefits.