Firmware Engineer

This isn't an opportunity to simply maintain an established firmware platform.

It's an opportunity to help build one.

We are partnering with an exciting, entrepreneurial UK technology start-up developing an innovative, AI-enabled consumer product combining advanced mechanical, electrical and smart technology.

Founded by two ambitious entrepreneurs and recently backed by significant US investment, the business is now moving from product development into production, international growth and scale.

They are looking for a Senior Embedded Software Engineer who wants to join early, take ownership and help shape the technology as the business grows.

The opportunity

You'll own the firmware across two processors at the heart of the product:

Bare-metal C on a safety microcontroller
C++17 on an embedded-Linux module
You'll work across the full embedded stack, from drivers, peripherals and real-time control through to connectivity, OTA updates, telemetry and fleet management.

You'll work closely with electronics and engineering on board bring-up, debugging hardware and software together and taking the product from development into reliable, production-ready hardware.

This is a hands-on role with genuine technical ownership and plenty of opportunity to influence how things are built.

What you'll own

Bare-metal MCU firmware, including registers, interrupts and peripherals
Multithreaded C++17 applications on embedded Linux
Real-time state machines and deterministic timing
Device drivers and standard embedded buses
Board bring-up using schematics, datasheets, scopes, logic analysers and JTAG/SWD
Embedded Linux: systemd, networking, D-Bus, cross-compilation, Yocto and U-Boot
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and power management
Error handling, logging and on-target/remote debugging
OTA updates, telemetry and fleet management
Secure boot, signed updates, encrypted communications and key management
CI, unit testing and disciplined software releases
Firmware architecture and practices suitable for a growing production fleet
Who we're looking for

You'll ideally have 5+ years of embedded software experience, working across two or more processor families.

Your background might be in consumer electronics, robotics, automotive, appliances, IoT, industrial technology or another complex engineered product environment.

You'll bring:

Strong bare-metal C and modern C++ experience
Embedded Linux and multithreaded application development
Experience with real-time systems and constrained hardware
Strong hardware bring-up and debugging skills
Experience with device drivers and embedded buses
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi and power management experience
Experience with Git, CI, unit testing and release processes
An understanding of OTA, telemetry and fleet management
Knowledge of embedded security and production firmware practices
A 2:1 or above degree in electronics, computer science or a related discipline is preferred, with Master's or PhD-level study welcome.

The qualifications and years above are a guide, not a gate. Exceptional candidates who can demonstrate the same level of ability will always be considered.

What you'll know

You'll ideally understand how to build firmware that is reliable, testable, secure and maintainable in production, including:

Embedded Linux, systemd, networking and D-Bus
Yocto and U-Boot
Real-time state machines and deterministic timing
Device drivers and hardware interfaces
OTA updates and fleet management
Secure boot, signed firmware and key management
Logging, diagnostics and remote debugging
Certification-bound development and change control
Renumeration

£60,000 - £75,000 basic salary
10% bonus
BUPA Private Healthcare
Pension
Company phone and additional benefits
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed