Senior Firmware Engineer - London

About The Role: As a Senior Firmware Engineer on the Core Platform team in London, you will play a critical role in developing the firmware that powers our next generation of humanoid robots. In this position you will work at the intersection of robotics, embedded systems, and real-time control, building the software that enables advanced motion, balance, and interaction with complex environments. You’ll collaborate closely with hardware and systems teams to integrate microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators, while designing robust, high-performance firmware and real-time algorithms.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and debug firmware for humanoid robots, focusing on motion control, stabilization, sensor integration and ethernet based communication.
• Collaborate with hardware teams to design seamless integration of microcontrollers and peripherals.
• Design and implement drivers for motors, sensors, and communication protocols.
• Optimize firmware for performance, reliability, and power efficiency.
• Develop and test real-time control algorithms for robotic movement and balance.
• Lead and mentor junior engineers, conducting code reviews and promoting best practices.
• Ensure robust security and fail-safe mechanisms in embedded systems.
• Maintain technical documentation and manage version control of firmware.

• 6+ years of experience in embedded systems development, preferably in robotics.
• Proficiency in C and C++ for microcontrollers, with experience in RTOS (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr) and bare-metal systems.
• Hands-on experience with ARM Cortex, STM32, or similar platforms.
• Familiarity with communication protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, and Ethernet.
• Strong understanding of control systems, kinematics, and motion algorithms.
• Experience with debugging tools like oscilloscopes and logic analyzers.
• Working knowledge of Git, CI/CD, and Agile methodologies.
• Preferred experience with ROS/ROS 2, machine learning, or computer vision.
• Experience with and/or an interest in using Rust for embedded systems

• Competitive salary plus participation in our Stock Option Plan
• Paid vacation with adjustments based on your location to comply with local labor laws
• Travel opportunities to our Vancouver and Boston offices
• Office perks: free breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and regular team events
• Freedom to influence the product and own key initiatives
• Collaboration with top-tier engineers, researchers, and product experts in AI and robotics
• Startup culture prioritising speed, transparency, and minimal bureaucracy

Humanoid is the first AI and robotics company in the UK, creating the world’s most advanced, reliable, commercially scalable, and safe humanoid robots. Our first humanoid robot HMND 01 is a next-gen labour automation unit, providing highly efficient services across various use cases, starting with industrial applications.

Our Mission: At Humanoid we strive to create the world’s leading, commercially scalable, safe, and advanced humanoid robots that seamlessly integrate into daily life and amplify human capacity.

Vision: In a world where artificial intelligence opens up new horizons, our faith in its potential unveils a new outlook where, together, humans and machines build a new future filled with knowledge, inspiration, and incredible discoveries. The development of a functional humanoid robot underpins an era of abundance and well-being where poverty will disappear, and people will be able to choose what they want to do. We believe that providing a universal basic income will eventually be a true evolution of our civilization.

Solution: As the demands on our built environment rise, labour shortages loom. With the world’s workforce increasingly moving away from undesirable tasks, the manufacturing, construction, and logistics industries critical to our daily lives are left exposed. By deploying our general-purpose humanoid robots in environments deemed hazardous or monotonous, we envision a future where human well-being is safeguarded while closing the gaps in critical global labour needs.