Senior Embedded Systems Engineer (Robotics)

TL;DR

Senior Embedded Systems Engineer (Robotics): Own major portions of the embedded firmware stack for general-purpose humanoid robots, from early prototypes through large-scale deployment, with an accent on motor-control firmware, real-time communication, and safety architecture. Focus on designing and validating latency-sensitive driver-level systems, leading hardware bring-up, and building production-grade safety firmware with CI/CD and HIL testing.

Location: Santa Clara (on-site) or ability to relocate quickly

Salary: $180K–$250K base + equity

Company

hirify.global partners with startups and high-growth companies to help them hire sales, GTM, and technical talent.

What you will do

• Own the embedded firmware stack for general-purpose humanoid robots from prototype to production fleets
• Design and optimize motor-control firmware, sensor drivers, hardware abstraction layers, and real-time communication (EtherCAT, CAN, SPI, I2C, UART) on bare-metal and RTOS MCUs (ARM Cortex-M, TI C2000)
• Lead hardware bring-up: implement peripheral drivers, validate PCBs, and debug firmware–hardware issues using JTAG, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers
• Build safety-focused firmware with strong coding standards, CI/CD, HIL tests, and diagnostics/logging for continuous industrial operation
• Collaborate with robotics, controls, and AI teams to integrate firmware with higher-level planning and the Physical AI stack

Requirements

• 5+ years of embedded firmware development in C/C++ with shipped, production hardware and clear ownership of key components
• Strong C/C++ for bare-metal and RTOS, working close to the metal on MCUs such as ARM Cortex-M and TI C2000 (or similar)
• Hands-on motor-control/actuator-control experience (FOC, torque/velocity/position loops) on real hardware
• Driver-level implementation experience with EtherCAT, CAN, SPI, I2C, and UART in latency-sensitive, reliable systems
• Hardware bring-up experience: peripheral drivers, PCB validation, and debugging with JTAG, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers
• Full-time on-site in Santa Clara or ability to relocate quickly

Nice to have

• Track record taking firmware from prototype to production deployment or fleet rollout
• Startup/early-stage experience with end-to-end ownership
• Contributions to applied open-source embedded or robotics projects

Culture & Benefits

• High autonomy in a fast-moving, early-stage environment
• Direct collaboration with founders, the CTO, and PhD-level robotics/AI experts
• Work on real humanoid robots already shipping with manufacturing in Asia and real customers
• Competitive compensation: $180K–$250K base plus meaningful equity
• On-site daily access to robots, labs, and cross-functional experts

Hiring process

• Intro call (culture and background screen)
• Technical screening (C/C++ and embedded fundamentals)
• Day-to-day work screening and technical leadership interview, followed by an offer