> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2710720-firmware-engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2710720-firmware-engineer). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md).

---

# Firmware Engineer

- **Company:** ROBOTIC MINDS LLC
- **Location:** United States
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Board Bringup, Application Layers, Automation of Tests, C++ (Programming Language), Communications Protocols, Computer Engineering, Software Debugging, Linux, EtherCAT, Firmware, FreeRTOS, Design of User Interfaces, Hardware-In-The-Loop Simulation, Joint Test Action (IEEE Standards), Real-Time Operating Systems, Regression Testing, Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter, Data Logging, Scripting, Serial Peripheral Interface, Real Time Systems, Hardware Testing
- **Published:** September 4, 2026
- **Apply:** https://startup.jobs/firmware-engineer-mind-robotics-8294675

## About the Role

* Technical degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent
 * Demonstrated experience (through work, research, or projects) building firmware for real physical systems - robots, motors, power electronics, or similar
 * Deep fluency in C/C++ and/or Rust for embedded targets; comfort reading datasheets and writing drivers
 * Hands-on experience with RTOS environments (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar) - task scheduling, priority management, and real-time guarantees
 * Strong working knowledge of embedded communication protocols: CAN, EtherCAT, I2C, SPI, UART
 * Direct experience configuring microcontroller peripherals (GPIO, ADC, PWM, timers, DMA) and understanding their impact on system timing and performance
 * Experience integrating sensors and actuators at the firmware level - not just using libraries, but understanding the hardware underneath
 * Proven ability to debug across the hardware/software boundary with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG
 * You are comfortable with ambiguity, move fast, and have an "engineering curiosity" that drives you to understand how the entire system works, not just your part

Nice to Have

 * Experience with safety-critical or deterministic real-time systems (IEC 61508, ISO 26262, or similar)
 * Familiarity with field-oriented control (FOC) or other motor control algorithms
 * Experience with Linux-based embedded systems and the boundary between RTOS and application layers
 * Python scripting for test automation, data logging, or hardware validation

## Description

* Write, test, and maintain production-quality firmware in C/C++ or Rust for microcontrollers and embedded processors across the robot
 * Implement and debug embedded communication protocols - CAN, EtherCAT, I2C, SPI, UART - across distributed hardware nodes
 * Configure and manage microcontroller peripherals - GPIO, ADC, PWM, timers, and DMA - to interface with sensors, actuators, and power electronics
 * Integrate sensors (encoders, IMUs, torque sensors, force/torque arrays) into the robot's real-time pipeline
 * Work closely with electrical engineers on board bring-up, pinout definitions, and hardware-software interface design
 * Develop and tune real-time control loops for motors, actuators, and other physical systems under hard timing constraints
 * Build tooling to support firmware validation, regression testing, and hardware-in-the-loop systems
 * Triage and debug complex interactions between firmware, hardware, and higher-level software during development and field deployment


## Related Videos

- [More efficient software for more efficient microchips](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1164-more-efficient-software-for-more-efficient-microchips)
- [Docker network without Docker](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1418-docker-network-without-docker)
- [Playing Pong on a shoulder press machine](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100140-playing-pong-on-a-shoulder-press-machine)
- [Robots are coming into the wild! Full-Stack Robotics Engineers, be ready!](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/479-robots-are-coming-into-the-wild-full-stack-robotics-engineers-be-ready)
- [Docker exec without Docker](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1094-docker-exec-without-docker)
- [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)

## Related Articles

- [How software is steering vehicle technology](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/515-how-software-is-steering-vehicle-technology)
- [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)
- [Top Characteristics of a Software Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/166-top-characteristics-of-a-software-engineer)
- [What is Software Engineering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/289-what-is-software-engineering)
- [Is Software Engineering Hard?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/448-is-software-engineering-hard)
- [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline)