Lead Embedded Firmware Engineer - Canada (Full Time)
The Very Group15 days ago
Remote, CanadaStaff+
Responsibilities
- Own firmware architecture, technical direction, design decisions, and engineering tradeoffs for connected-device products.
- Develop, maintain, test, and deploy production firmware for ESP32 devices using ESP-IDF.
- Review schematics, bring up hardware, and integrate drivers for sensors, actuators, LEDs, and other peripherals.
- Implement BLE provisioning, Wi-Fi connectivity, secure AWS IoT Core communication over MQTT, and reliable OTA updates with rollback and staged rollouts.
- Debug issues across firmware, hardware, wireless, cloud, provisioning, and interoperability layers from development through production.
- Lead code reviews and establish firmware coding, testing, release, CI/CD, documentation, and technical standards.
- Serve as the primary firmware contact for clients, translating requirements into technical plans, estimates, priorities, and risk mitigation.
- Mentor engineers and collaborate with hardware teams, contract manufacturers, mobile and backend teams, clients, and other cross-functional partners.
- Support factory flashing, device provisioning, EVT/DVT/PVT builds, production readiness, and FCC certification.
Requirements
- 8+ years of professional embedded or firmware engineering experience using C/C++.
- 2+ years in a technical lead role owning firmware architecture, leading code reviews, and mentoring engineers.
- Experience working directly with clients or stakeholders to scope, estimate, and plan firmware work.
- Significant ESP32 and ESP-IDF experience, including RTOS-based development, OTA mechanisms, low-level driver integration, and production deployment.
- Hands-on firmware experience with BLE, Wi-Fi, wireless communication stacks, provisioning flows, and connected-device interoperability.
- Experience connecting devices to cloud IoT platforms such as AWS IoT Core using MQTT over TLS, certificate-based authentication, and device-state synchronization.
- Experience integrating sensors, actuators, RFID readers, accelerometers, motion sensors, LEDs, and pumps.
- Preferred experience leading connected products from concept through mass production and contributing to ESP-IDF or nRF Connect SDK projects.
- Preferred familiarity with Thread, Zigbee, Z-Wave, BLE Mesh, Nordic nRF platforms, embedded security, secure boot, flash encryption, key management, device attestation, and secure firmware updates.
- Preferred experience with JTAG/SWD, logic analyzers, protocol sniffers, firmware CI/CD, automated test harnesses, contract manufacturing, EVT/DVT/PVT builds, FCC certification, Protocol Buffers, and Python scripting.
- Must reside in Canada, have proper work authorization, and be able to travel within the US as needed for client engagements.
Benefits
- Remote role based in Canada with travel within the US as needed for client engagements.
- Base compensation of $164,000 CAD, with up to a 10% annual performance bonus.
- Group RRSP match, with the employer contributing 4% of annual income.
- $150 USD per month cell and internet stipend.
- $600 USD per year home office equipment stipend.
- Extended healthcare, dental, and vision insurance.
- Professional development stipend, loaned MacBook Pro, and annual team retreat.
About The Very Group
The Very Group is a UK online retailer operating the Very and Littlewoods brands, selling fashion, home, electronics, and more to households across the UK and Ireland. It runs its own e-commerce and logistics platforms and offers consumer credit through a dedicated financial services arm. Headquartered in Liverpool, it is privately held and owned by The Carlyle Group.