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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Firmware Engineer - **Company:** Hey, Inc. - **Location:** Sterling, VA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Adobe InDesign, Application Layers, Automation of Tests, C++ (Programming Language), Communications Protocols, Datasheets, Software Debugging, Memory Management, Ethernet, Firmware, FreeRTOS, Hardware Design, Python (Programming Language), Real-Time Operating Systems, Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter, Data Logging, Scripting, Serial Peripheral Interface, PIC Microcontroller, Pytest, Bare Metal - **Published:** September 4, 2026 - **Apply:** https://startup.jobs/firmware-engineer-molg-8297550 ## About the Role * 5+ years of professional firmware or embedded systems engineering experience, with a track record of shipping firmware on real hardware. * Expert-level proficiency in C and C++; experience with Python for tooling, test automation, or scripting is a strong plus. * Deep experience with microcontrollers and microprocessors (STM32, ESP32, NXP, TI, or similar); comfortable working with datasheets and reference manuals as primary sources of truth. * Hands-on experience with RTOS development - task scheduling, interrupt handling, memory management, and real-time constraints. * Solid understanding of common embedded communication protocols (CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet) and how to debug them with logic analyzers and oscilloscopes. * Comfortable reading schematics and working directly with hardware - you enjoy getting to the root of hardware/software interaction issues. * Experience writing automated firmware tests, ideally in HIL or SIL environments; familiarity with pytest, Robot Framework, or similar testing tools is a plus. * Strong debugging skills - you can navigate a system from application layer down to the register level when needed. * Excellent communicator with a bias toward documentation and clean, maintainable code. * Ability to work in-person at Molg HQ in Sterling, VA. ## Description Join a talented cross-functional team of software, mechanical, electrical, and robotics engineers to develop and own the firmware that brings Molg's robotic microfactory systems to life. As a Firmware Engineer, you will: * Design, develop, and maintain firmware for embedded systems across Molg's robotic platforms - including motor controllers, sensor interfaces, actuators, and custom PCBs. * Own the full firmware development lifecycle: requirements gathering, architecture design, implementation, testing, and deployment to production hardware. * Write robust, real-time firmware in C/C++ targeting bare-metal and RTOS-based environments (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar). * Develop and maintain drivers for communication protocols including CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, RS-485, and Ethernet to support reliable hardware integration. * Collaborate closely with electrical engineers to bring up new hardware, validate schematics, and debug hardware/firmware interactions at the board level. * Build and maintain hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) test frameworks to validate firmware behavior in automated CI/CD pipelines. * Partner with robotics and software engineers to define clear firmware/software interfaces and ensure reliable communication between embedded systems and higher-level control stacks. * Instrument firmware for observability - logging, telemetry, and diagnostics - to support production monitoring and rapid field debugging. * Contribute to firmware architecture decisions as Molg's system complexity grows, balancing performance, reliability, and maintainability. * Participate in design reviews and bring a hardware-aware perspective to cross-functional technical discussions. You'll have the opportunity to build alongside an incredible team, develop innovative solutions, and grow in a fast-paced environment that values autonomy and impact. ## Related Videos - [pytest: Simple, rapid and fun testing with Python](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/213-pytest-simple-rapid-and-fun-testing-with-python) - [Playing Pong on a shoulder press machine](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100140-playing-pong-on-a-shoulder-press-machine) - [More efficient software for more efficient microchips](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1164-more-efficient-software-for-more-efficient-microchips) - [Building your way to a serverless powered IOT Buzzwire game](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/590-building-your-way-to-a-serverless-powered-iot-buzzwire-game) - [Agent Smith Gets Hardware: Autonomous IoT Hacking From Debug Port to Cloud API](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100258-agent-smith-gets-hardware-autonomous-iot-hacking-from-debug-port-to-cloud-api) - [Automagic Configuration in Python](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/363-automagic-configuration-in-python) ## Related Articles - [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline) - [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers) - [Is Software Engineering Hard?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/448-is-software-engineering-hard) - [What is Software Engineering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/289-what-is-software-engineering) - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [Dev Digest 129 - Now that's what I call private data!](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/468-dev-digest-129-now-that-s-what-i-call-private-data)