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# Lead or Head of Embedded, Firmware/Systems Software Engineer

- **Company:** 1X, LLC
- **Location:** San Carlos, CA, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $200,000.0 - $350,000.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** C++ (Programming Language), Computer Engineering, Linux on Embedded Systems, Firmware, Hardware Interface Design, Software Engineering, System Programming, Information Technology, Software Coding, Industrial Software, Data Pipelines
- **Published:** August 4, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=0b7842f5de5d63df

## About the Role

* Deep technical credibility in firmware, with the judgment to lead architectural decisions in a hands-on engineering environment.
 * Strong systems thinking across hardware, performance-sensitive systems, and integration within embedded devices.
 * Proven ability to simplify complex architectures and make practical tradeoffs that improve reliability without slowing the business down.
 * Strong player-coach leadership style, with the ability to develop senior engineers, create clarity, and hold a high bar while staying close to the technical work.
 * Excellent cross-functional instincts and communication, with a track record of defining & driving roadmaps across multiple technical teams., * 10+ years of experience building complex software systems, including significant experience in firmware or systems software running on physical devices at scale.
 * 3+ years of experience leading senior engineers and/or technical teams in a player-coach, staff-plus, or engineering leadership capacity.
 * Strong experience with embedded Linux, low-level software, hardware interfaces, and systems programming in C++ or similar languages.
 * Proven track record owning architecture for complex products where reliability, scalability, and long-term maintainability are critical.
 * Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field / equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Skills:

 * Experience in robotics, autonomous systems, industrial systems, automotive, or other environments where software must perform reliably on real-world hardware.
 * Experience inheriting and scaling an existing team through a period of company growth, increasing product maturity, or organizational change.
 * Experience working across on-device systems and supporting infrastructure in factory, cloud, or field-service environments.
 * Familiarity with adjacent domains such as data pipelines, developer infrastructure, or security in complex technical organizations.

## Description

* Own the technical and organizational direction of the Embedded team so the firmware running on our hardware is robust, maintainable, and efficient.
 * Build strong cross-functional alignment with hardware and systems/OS so critical dependencies are clear and execution stays unblocked.
 * Deliver a software foundation that supports reliable robot behavior in production, in the factory, and in the field as fleet size and system complexity increases.
 * Coach and grow a highly technical team while writing code for a significant project, setting a high bar for engineering quality, ownership, and technical judgment.


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