Principal Embedded Software Engineer

SIONYX is seeking a highly experienced and hands-on Embedded Software Engineer V to join our engineering team. This role will be responsible for designing, developing, integrating, testing, debugging, and maintaining embedded software for SIONYX’s advanced imaging products., · Lead the development of complex embedded software solutions and serve as a technical resource for the engineering team.

· Own architecture for the embedded Linux / ARM video pipeline that takes XQE sensor data to a usable color night-vision image.

· Lead sensor bring-up, FPGA/MIPI CSI-2 integration, and the interfaces between image sensor, SoC, and the rest of the camera.

· Design, write, and debug C/C++ for microcontrollers, ARM SoCs, and embedded Linux, using AI coding assistants (Cursor, Claude, and peers) as a normal part of the workflow. Drivers, BSPs, and the application layer when the path from photon to pixel is on you.

· Sit with EE, FPGA, optics, and image-processing on board bring-up. Read the schematic. Use the scope. Close the loop on hardware/software together.

· Set the technical bar: design reviews, code reviews, performance/memory/power/real-time tradeoffs.

· Independently investigate and resolve complex technical issues involving software, firmware, hardware interfaces, and system performance.

· Mentor and develop less-experienced engineers through technical guidance, code reviews, knowledge sharing, and coaching.

· Take products from prototype through production and into the field. When a Nightwave dies on a helm or an Aurora misbehaves in the woods, you help find why.

· Evaluate new SoCs, sensors, and pipeline approaches. Recommend the next move.

· Lead technical projects or significant components of larger projects, coordinating priorities and deliverables with engineering and cross-functional partners.

· Work effectively with hardware, systems, product, manufacturing, and other teams to deliver reliable, high-quality products.

· Manage assigned engineers, including regular one-on-ones, goal setting, feedback, performance management, career development, and workload prioritization.

· Promote disciplined development, testing, documentation, and continuous improvement practices to ensure robust embedded software.

· Identify opportunities to improve development processes, tools, architecture, and team effectiveness.

The Embedded Software Engineer V will serve as both a technical leader and people leader, contributing directly to complex software development while providing mentorship, guidance, and management to other software engineers. The ideal candidate brings strong embedded software expertise, sound engineering judgment, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to develop and motivate a high-performing engineering team.

This is a hands-on leadership role. The successful candidate will balance individual technical contributions with project leadership, mentoring, team development, and people-management responsibilities., · 10+ years shipping embedded software / firmware, including real architecture ownership.

· Expert C/C++ on constrained systems.

· Embedded Linux on ARM, including bring-up, BSP, and debugging a running board.

· Shipped at least one camera, imaging, or real-time video pipeline product (sensor * pipeline * output).

· Comfortable with MIPI CSI-2, I2C, SPI, UART, USB, Ethernet, and reading electrical schematics.

· Board bring-up with JTAG, oscilloscope, logic analyzer. You have found the bug that was actually hardware.

· Can set architecture and explain it clearly to EE, FPGA, and a VP.

· Fluent with modern AI coding assistants (Cursor, Claude, Copilot-class tools). You already use them to move faster on real embedded work, and you can teach that practice to others.

· Demonstrated experience developing software for embedded systems.

· Experience working with microcontrollers, processors, hardware interfaces, and embedded operating systems or real-time operating systems.

· Strong understanding of software development lifecycle, debugging, testing, version control, and code review practices.

· Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex software and system-level issues.

· Experience providing technical leadership, mentoring, or management of other engineers.

· Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

· Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional engineering environment.

· US Citizen or permanent resident.

Preferred:

· CMOS / low-light / NIR / IR imaging, or electro-optical products.

· FPGA * processor integration, Qualcomm or similar mobile/embedded SoC, RTOS (FreeRTOS, Zephyr).

· Bootloaders, secure boot, firmware update, power/thermal on a sealed camera.

· Python (or similar) for test harnesses, HIL, and factory bring-up.

· You hunt, fish, boat, or already use night vision.

· Time in the Goleta IR / camera cluster (FLIR/Teledyne, Moog, Umbra, or similar), marine electronics, drone/FPV firmware, or camera-module houses.

· Experience developing software for safety, quality or reliability-critical products.

· Previous formal people-management experience.

· Experience working in a fast-paced product development environment.

Required Education:

· Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.

Leadership Expectations:

The Embedded Software Engineer V is expected to lead by example and demonstrate:

· Technical excellence and sound engineering judgment.

· Accountability for commitments, decisions, and results.

· Clear and respectful communication.

· A collaborative and team-oriented approach.

· Commitment to developing and supporting other engineers.

· Willingness to provide and receive constructive feedback.

· A focus on continuous improvement and problem solving.

· Alignment with SIONYX’s values and commitment to delivering high-quality products.

Physical Requirements:

· Ability to work in an office and engineering/laboratory environment.

· Ability to sit, stand, walk, and work at a computer for extended periods.

· Must be able to access and navigate the production facility.

· Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times.

· Travel up to 25%. We have locations around the country, including Beverly, MA, Santa Barbara, CA and Whitefish, MT, so you will need to have the ability and willingness to travel, including internationally, * Bachelor’s (Required), * embedded software product: 10 years (Required)

• C++: 5 years (Required)
• Technical Leadership: 5 years (Required)
• people management: 3 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Goleta, CA 93117 (Required)

Salary Range: $190,000 - $240,000

Bonus Potential: 10% - 15%

Pay: $190,000.00 - $240,000.00 per year, * 401(k) 4% Match

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Are you a US Citizen or permanent resident?