Lead Firmware Engineer

Our client is seeking an experienced Lead Firmware Engineer to design, develop, and implement firmware for complex, rugged power systems, with a particular focus on uninterruptible power supply solutions.

This role requires deep expertise in embedded firmware development, real-time operating systems, digital signal processing, control algorithms, and hardware integration. The engineer will troubleshoot and improve existing products, develop new firmware capabilities, and help ensure reliable communication and operation across multi-unit configurations.

The ideal candidate brings strong firmware productization experience along with a background in power electronics, preferably involving uninterruptible power supplies or similar power-conversion systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and implement firmware for rugged uninterruptible power supply systems used in critical applications.
• Identify and resolve technical deficiencies in existing firmware and hardware using appropriate diagnostic tools and troubleshooting methodologies.
• Redesign and optimize finite state machine logic to improve system control, diagnostics, troubleshooting, and maintainability.
• Implement firmware field-upgrade capabilities, including secure communication methods such as AES-256 encryption and CRC validation.
• Model and simulate control algorithms for digital signal processing applications to ensure reliable performance under varying load conditions.
• Develop and enhance communication protocols including CAN bus, RS485, I2C, UART, and SPI.
• Support reliable communication between multiple power-system units operating in master/slave configurations.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers, product managers, and other cross-functional partners to define requirements and document firmware specifications and design processes.
• Create and maintain tools and scripts supporting production processes, including firmware encryption, upgrade-image generation, and automated testing.
• Provide maintenance and support for legacy firmware systems while incorporating improvements as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation including design specifications, user manuals, and troubleshooting guides.
• Provide technical training and mentorship to junior engineers and interns.
• Collaborate with quality assurance, manufacturing, customer support, and other departments to address product issues and improve overall quality.
• Participate in firmware design reviews and code reviews to ensure adherence to coding standards, best practices, and project requirements.
• Research emerging technologies and methodologies that could improve firmware capabilities or development processes.
• Occasionally interact with customers to gather feedback regarding firmware performance and functionality.
• Travel as required to customer or prospect locations, conferences, professional-development events, or networking events.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline required.
• Master's degree in a relevant discipline preferred.
• 5–7 years of professional experience in firmware development or embedded systems engineering.
• Strong proficiency in C and Assembly.
• Strong understanding of real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• Hands-on experience with digital signal processing (DSP) and control algorithms.
• Experience with communication protocols such as CAN bus and RS485.
• Experience with hardware interfacing and embedded-system integration.
• Demonstrated experience with analog and digital circuit design.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex firmware and hardware integration issues.
• Experience managing firmware projects from conception through deployment.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional engineering teams and communicate with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Commitment to staying current with emerging technologies and best practices in firmware development and embedded systems.

Strong candidates will have experience with:

• Embedded development environments such as IAR Embedded Workbench, Keil, or similar tools
• Version control systems including Git, Subversion, or CVS
• Embedded hardware platforms and microcontrollers such as STM32, PIC, and MSP430
• Digital signal processors
• Hardware debugging tools including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and multimeters
• Scripting languages such as Python or Bash
• Unit testing, integration testing, and system-validation tools
• Firmware automation and production-support tooling
• Documentation tools such as Microsoft Office, LaTeX, or Confluence

Preferred Experience:

• Power electronics experience
• Firmware development for uninterruptible power supplies or similar power systems
• Experience taking embedded firmware through robust productization
• Experience with Yocto

Core Competencies:

The successful candidate will be adaptable, accountable, analytical, and comfortable working in a fast-paced engineering environment. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential, along with the ability to manage competing priorities, accept and incorporate feedback, work independently, and collaborate effectively across teams.

This position is ideal for an experienced firmware engineer who enjoys solving difficult hardware/software integration challenges and wants to play a significant role in the continued development of rugged, mission-critical power technology.