Lead Embedded Firmware Engineer - US (Full Time)
The Very Group1 day ago
Remote, United StatesStaff+
Base Salary
$175k - $175k/yr
Responsibilities
- Own firmware architecture, technical direction, design decisions, and tradeoffs for connected-device projects.
- Design, develop, maintain, test, and release production firmware for ESP32-based devices using ESP-IDF.
- Perform schematic review, board bring-up, driver integration, and integration of sensors, actuators, LEDs, pumps, RFID readers, and other peripherals.
- Implement BLE provisioning, Wi-Fi connectivity, secure cloud communication with AWS IoT Core over MQTT, device state synchronization, and OTA updates with rollback and staged rollouts.
- Debug issues across firmware, hardware, wireless, network, and cloud layers using tools such as JTAG/SWD, logic analyzers, and protocol sniffers.
- Lead code reviews; establish firmware coding, testing, release, CI/CD, test-tooling, and documentation standards.
- Plan and prioritize firmware work, identify risks and dependencies, and translate client requirements into technical plans and estimates.
- Act as the primary firmware contact for clients and collaborate with hardware, mobile, backend, manufacturing, and cross-functional teams.
- Mentor and guide engineers and make firmware technical decisions throughout the device lifecycle.
- Support factory flashing, device provisioning, EVT/DVT/PVT hardware builds, FCC certification, production readiness, and ongoing maintenance.
Requirements
- 8+ years of professional embedded or firmware engineering experience in C/C++.
- 2+ years in a technical lead role owning firmware architecture decisions, leading code reviews, and mentoring engineers.
- Experience working directly with clients or stakeholders to scope, estimate, and plan firmware work.
- Significant production experience with Espressif ESP32 and ESP-IDF, including RTOS-based development, OTA mechanisms, low-level driver integration, and deployment.
- Hands-on experience with BLE, Wi-Fi, wireless communication stacks, device provisioning, protocol-level debugging, and interoperability challenges.
- 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, and peripherals and translating technical specifications into production-quality firmware.
- 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, nRF Connect SDK, embedded security, secure boot, flash encryption, key management, device attestation, and secure firmware updates.
- Preferred experience with firmware CI/CD, automated test harnesses, contract manufacturing, EVT/DVT/PVT builds, FCC certification, Protocol Buffers, Python scripting, and hardware debug toolchains.
Benefits
- $175,000 USD base compensation, commensurate with experience, plus up to a 10% annual performance bonus.
- Fully remote role for candidates residing within the continental United States; travel within the US may be required for client engagements.
- 401(k) match, comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, and paid parental leave.
- $200/month cell phone and internet stipend and a $600/year home office stipend.
- Professional development stipend, loaned MacBook Pro, and annual team retreat.
- Candidates must have proper work authorization; the company does not sponsor work visas.
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.