Firmware Engineer

This role focuses on designing, developing, and validating bare-metal firmware for microcontroller-based product platforms that power real-world applications used in everyday life. You will help define new software platform architectures, ensure compliance with relevant functional safety and software standards, and contribute to robust, fail-safe designs through rigorous analysis and testing. The position offers the opportunity to see the direct impact of your work in production products while working with a supportive leader who is committed to professional development.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate in the development and specification of new product software platform architectures for microcontroller-based systems.
• Develop product software primarily in C for bare-metal microcontroller platforms, ensuring reliability, performance, and maintainability.
• Gain and maintain a strong understanding of software design-related agency standards relevant to the business, including IEC standards for functional safety of electronic safety-related systems, UL standards for software in programmable components, and EN 230/298 for automatic burner control systems, and apply their requirements to system and functional design.
• Design, simulate, implement, and debug advanced control and signal processing algorithms for embedded applications.
• Use software tools such as compilers, linkers, debuggers, in-circuit emulators, JTAG emulators, bug-tracking systems, and source-code control and build systems to develop, debug, and maintain firmware.
• Utilize hardware tools such as oscilloscopes, digital voltmeters (DVMs), signal generators, signal analyzers, and LabView or similar software to support development, testing, and debugging activities.
• Plan firmware and system designs to support agency approval, platform reuse, testability, and manufacturability, integrating these considerations early in the design process.
• Perform root-cause analysis on failed products and subsystems to identify issues, implement corrective actions, and prevent recurrence.
• Test, debug, and characterize subsystems and full systems, ensuring they meet functional, performance, and safety requirements.
• Develop and debug interrupt handlers and device drivers for embedded microcontrollers, ensuring deterministic and robust behavior.
• Implement and support communication protocols such as Modbus, SPI, I2C, RS-232, and RS-485 within embedded systems.
• Apply fail-safe design principles and perform software Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to enhance functional safety and reliability.
• Leverage software analysis tools to evaluate code quality, performance, and safety-related aspects of firmware.
• Periodically perform repetitive movements associated with hands-on hardware and firmware development tasks., This position is primarily onsite, with some flexibility to work remotely when needed. You will work in a hands-on engineering environment that combines firmware development with close interaction with hardware, including microcontroller-based platforms and electronic test equipment. The role involves regular use of tools such as oscilloscopes, digital voltmeters, signal generators and analyzers, JTAG interfaces, in-circuit emulators, and software platforms like LabView, along with standard embedded development toolchains. The setting supports collaboration with other engineers and offers the opportunity to see products move from concept through development into real-world use.

Modbus RS-232 LabVIEW Firmware Debugging Voltmeter Visionary Emulators Compilers Leadership Innovation Algorithms Bare Metal Reliability Testability Oscilloscope Communication Team Building IEC Standards Failure Causes Device Drivers Detail Oriented Test Automation Problem Solving Control Systems Software Design RS-485 Standard Microcontrollers Functional Safety Software Analysis Signal Generators Signal Processing Circuit Emulation Root Cause Analysis Development Testing Computing Platforms Firmware Development Hardware Abstraction Technology Ecosystems Deterministic Methods New Product Development Artificial Intelligence Communications Protocols Electronic Test Equipment Engineering Design Process Software Quality (SQA/SQC) Bug Tracking And Management Serial Peripheral Interface Real-Time Operating Systems Source Code Control Systems Software Product Management Design Elements And Principles Failure Mode And Effects Analysis Joint Test Action (IEEE Standards), * Bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering or a closely related discipline.

• 5+ years of experience developing bare-metal firmware for microcontroller-based systems.
• 3+ years of experience writing and debugging interrupt handlers and device drivers.
• 3+ years of experience testing, debugging, and characterizing subsystems and complete systems.
• 2+ years of experience working with communication protocols such as Modbus, SPI, I2C, RS-232, and RS-485.
• Strong proficiency in C for embedded, bare-metal firmware development.
• Hands-on experience with embedded microcontroller development using ARM, Silicon Labs, ST, or similar platforms.
• Experience with fail-safe design concepts and their application in embedded systems.
• Experience performing software FMEA to identify and mitigate potential failure modes.
• Proficiency with software tools including compilers, linkers, debuggers, in-circuit emulators, JTAG emulators, bug-tracking systems, and source-code control/build systems.
• Experience using communication interfaces and protocols such as Modbus, SPI, I2C, RS-232, and RS-485 in embedded applications.
• Experience working within or supporting compliance to functional safety and software-related standards such as IEC functional safety standards, UL software standards, and EN 230/298.
• Ability to perform thorough root-cause analysis on failed products and systems.
• Capability to design, simulate, and debug control and signal processing algorithms for embedded systems., * Experience with ARM, Silicon Labs, and ST microcontroller ecosystems and associated development environments.
• Familiarity with functional safety concepts and standards related to electronic safety-related systems.
• Experience with software analysis tools for code quality, performance, or safety assessment.
• Experience developing device drivers and low-level hardware abstraction layers for embedded platforms.
• Exposure to real-time operating systems (RTOS) in embedded environments.
• Experience using JTAG-based debugging and in-circuit emulation tools for low-level troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of Modbus and other industrial communication protocols in control applications.
• Experience with LabView or similar tools for test automation, measurement, and analysis.
• Ability to plan designs with a focus on agency approval, platform reuse, testability, and manufacturability.
• Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and a methodical approach to debugging and validation.
• Interest in working on products that are used in everyday life and in seeing the tangible impact of your engineering work.
• Motivation to grow under a manager who focuses on team development and professional growth.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Derry, NH. Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $125000.00 - $150000.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: * Medical, dental & vision * Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital * 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available * Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) * Short and long-term disability * Health Spending Account (HSA) * Transportation benefits * Employee Assistance Program * Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type

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