Embedded Hardware Engineer

If you like the sound of our Engineering team and help design and implement our embedded products, this team is your home. SparkFun’s Next Embedded Engineer

This role is an important role within SparkFun, identifying and validating key technologies, creating new product ideas and working on the forefront of our idea pipeline.

Working closely with other members of our Engineering team, the successful candidate is responsible for all aspects of product development. Embracing agile ideation and rapid development methodologies, this role takes ideas from incubation, through product design, manufacturing, product release, and post release support

We are looking for a candidate with wide a range of skills and experience including circuit design/engineering, and firmware/software development. Additionally, a proactively positive attitude and technical curiosity are a must to be successful in this role.

If you want to explore new technologies, bring exciting products to reality and help our customers tackle the latest technologies, this role is for you! Essential Job Functions

Design focused with product ownership from prototyping to post release

• Research - Validate new ideas, technologies, and concepts
• Design Schematic, PCB parts, libraries, and PCB layout to implement product ideas
• Develop software/firmware as needed to support new product implementation
• Design for DFx
• Write product documentation, including tutorials and assembly guides, as well as example projects.

Collaboration

• Collaborate with Sourcing to locate, source, and validate product components and materials
• Collaborate with QC and Operations for test and production
• Provide both internal and external support as needed for developed products
• Work as a key member of a cross-functional product development team, collaborating with members of the marketing, operations, and sales teams
• Work closely with the open source hardware and software communities, collaborating with larger products, as well as supporting SparkFun created solutions., Lead enterprise software procurement: analyze cost models, run RFP/RFQ/RFI processes, negotiate and manage large-scale software agreements, select and evaluate suppliers, drive cost savings, oversee supplier performance, and develop strategic category plans aligned with business objectives. Top Skills: Contract Management SolutionsElectronic Procurement SystemsP2P Process Spectrum, Manage lease administration and real estate portfolio data, including lease abstractions, critical date tracking, rent analysis, invoice processing, reconciliation reviews, and vendor/landlord coordination. Produce reports, train lease specialists, draft landlord notices, and support legal and business stakeholders to ensure data integrity and timely payments. Top Skills: CostarLease Administration DatabaseExcelMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordMriVisual LeaseYardi

What you need to know about the Colorado Tech Scene

With a business-friendly climate and research universities like CU Boulder and Colorado State, Colorado has made a name for itself as a startup ecosystem. The state boasts a skilled workforce and high quality of life thanks to its affordable housing, vibrant cultural scene and unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation. Colorado is also home to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, helping cement its status as a hub for renewable energy innovation.

Key Facts About Colorado Tech

• Number of Tech Workers: 260,000; 8.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
• Major Tech Employers: Lockheed Martin, Century Link, Comcast, BAE Systems, Level 3
• Key Industries: Software, artificial intelligence, aerospace, e-commerce, fintech, healthtech
• Funding Landscape: $4.9 billion in VC funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
• Notable Investors: Access Venture Partners, Ridgeline Ventures, Techstars, Blackhorn Ventures
• Research Centers and Universities: Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Denver, Colorado State University, Mesa Laboratory, Space Science Institute, National Center for Atmospheric Research, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Gottlieb Institute

• Experience with hardware and embedded electronics engineering and development processes.
• Experience with PCB schematic capture, PCB layout, design, and troubleshooting
• Experience with embedded software environments, including Arduino and C/C++. Micro Python/Python experience a plus
• Experience with engineering tools and technologies - e.g. multi-meters, oscilloscopes and related digital tools
• Familiarity with DIY projects that involve electronics, microcontrollers and programming.
• Proven ability to develop products quickly and independently
• 4+ years’ experience
• Excellent communication skills

Preferred Qualifications (not required)

• Complex PCB Designs involving BGAs, 4+ layer counts
• Experience with network development and internet-of-things network patterns and protocols
• Experience with rapid prototyping and accelerated product development
• Demonstrate proper community interaction and communication on github or other community
• Experience building projects with an Arduino and other tool-chains such as Keil, MPLAB, Atmel studio, ARM GCC, etc…
• Experience with version control software and methodologies (git, github.com)

Be an Early Applicant In-Office Niwot, CO, USA 75K-90K Annually Mid level In-Office Niwot, CO, USA 75K-90K Annually Mid level Design and develop SparkFun embedded products from concept through production and post-release support. Responsibilities include researching technologies, schematic and PCB design, firmware/software development (Arduino/C/C++), DFx, documentation and tutorials, sourcing and production collaboration, and community/open-source engagement. The summary above was generated by AI About SparkFun, * Competitive salary (salary range for this position is $75,000-$90,000 per year)

• Medical/dental/vision plan
• Matching 401(k)
• Flexible Paid Time Off Policy
• A casual dress code for you
• Dogs - yes, we bring dogs to work
• Full gym with climbing wall. If that’s not your style we offer a monthly gym stipend
• We have a great employee discount and opportunities to create and share content with the SparkFun community
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid time to volunteer
• EcoPass (public transportation pass)
• Summer BBQs, work parties, and more!

Since 2003, SparkFun has been helping turn ideas into reality - whether you’re creating a smart weather station, exploring the frontier of machine learning, building a robot for school or prototyping your first (or tenth) product. No matter your vision or skill level, our open source components, resources and online tutorials are designed to broaden access to innovative technology and make the road to a finished project shorter.

We are an equal opportunity employer that values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. SparkFun offers an abundance of opportunities to learn new skills from other Funions, in addition to many other benefits and perks. About the Engineering Department

SparkFun’s Engineering Department is responsible for the elaboration, design and development of SparkFun’s original products. This includes microprocessor boards, sensor system breakout boards and everything in-between. In our webstore, if the PCB is red, it was produced by the SparkFun Engineering team.

The Engineering department focuses on team collaboration and success, developing users centered products in a highly cooperative, communicative, and transparent manner.