Principal Firmware Engineer
Boston Engineering Corporation1 day ago
Waltham, MA, USAStaff+
Base Salary
$150k - $175k/yr
Responsibilities
- Lead the design, development, optimization, integration, and debugging of embedded and firmware systems.
- Write and review RTOS-based firmware using FreeRTOS, ROS2, Zephyr, or similar technologies.
- Architect firmware integrated with custom hardware, sensors, and control systems.
- Develop firmware, device drivers, and communication stacks.
- Review schematics and PCB layouts to identify firmware impacts and integration risks.
- Debug software, firmware, and hardware issues using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, and other bench tools.
- Build and maintain benchtop development setups for early firmware development.
- Lead technical design reviews, architecture discussions, and roadmap planning.
- Serve as the technical escalation point for embedded and system-level issues.
- Mentor engineers on firmware architecture, debugging, and best practices.
- Improve and document software processes, establish best practices, and support code and design reviews.
- Support development workflows, integration, manufacturing, and transition to production.
- Communicate technical concepts, tradeoffs, risks, and status to engineering and non-engineering stakeholders.
Requirements
- 7+ years of embedded or firmware development experience, including 3+ years in a senior or technical lead role.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field; a master's degree is preferred.
- Strong C and C++ experience for embedded systems and Python experience for tooling and testing.
- Hands-on RTOS experience such as FreeRTOS, ROS2, Zephyr, or similar.
- Experience with STM32, ARM-based MCUs or SoCs, x86, PIC32, or similar platforms.
- Experience with I2C, SPI, UART, Ethernet, GPIO, and other low-level interfaces.
- Experience with Git, embedded development tools, build systems, and debugging environments.
- Experience authoring and reviewing software requirements, specifications, and design documentation.
- Experience leading technical and design reviews.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
- Highly desirable experience includes maritime systems, robotics, uncrewed systems, military platforms, navigation, localization, sensor fusion, autonomy systems, networking stacks, board-level communication debugging, CI/CD pipelines, ISO 9001, CMMI quality frameworks, customer-driven R&D, and product development.
- Bonus experience includes proposal development, feasibility studies, early-stage technical concepts, embedded or robotic AI/machine learning or computer vision, safety-critical or mission-critical software, government or defense programs, Agile, DevOps, and quality management systems.
Benefits
- Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, 401(k) match, and paid time off.
- Full-time, office-based position in Waltham, Massachusetts.
- This is an onsite role; candidates must currently reside within commuting distance.
- Relocation assistance is not available.
- Travel is minimal.
About Boston Engineering Corporation
Boston Engineering Corporation provides product design and engineering consulting, taking hardware and software products from concept through connected, production-ready systems for defense, medical device, robotics, and commercial clients. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Waltham, MA, the privately held firm is certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016. Engagements span embedded software, electromechanical systems, and UUV/robotics programs, including early prototyping, system integration, and transfer to manufacturing.