Senior Firmware and Embedded Software Engineer

Humanoid; Burnaby; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health benefits

Equity included

Free daily catered lunch

23 days annual leave

Job summary

Humanoid in Vancouver is seeking a Firmware and Embedded Software Engineer to design real-time software for our humanoid robots. You will own embedded software for critical subsystems, including motion control and sensor interfaces, and ensure safe robotic operation.

You’ll collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and robotics engineers to prototype, test, and deploy software powering our platforms, influencing performance, reliability, and responsiveness of our robots.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in embedded software/firmware for robotics
• Strong C/C++ with Python for testing
• RTOS experience and hardware interfaces
• Experience with sensors, actuators, and motor control
• Ability to work in a fast-paced multidisciplinary team

Responsibilities

• Develop embedded software with hard real-time performance and safety
• Integrate sensors, actuators, and control modules
• Write firmware for microcontrollers, FPGAs, ASICs, SoCs
• Implement communication protocols like EtherCAT, CAN, UART, SPI, I2C
• Collaborate with mechanical/electrical engineers for integration
• Perform hardware testing and validation
• Document system architecture and test results
• Own components from concept through testing and deployment

Skills

C/C++

Python

Real-time systems

Embedded software

Hardware integration

Education

Bachelor/Master in EE/CS/Robotics

Tools

EtherCAT

CAN

UART

SPI

I2C

EtherNet

FPGA/SoC debugging

Job description

Here at Humanoid, we believe in a future where robots amplify human potential. That’s why we’ve set out on a mission to build the world’s most capable, commercially-scalable, and safe humanoid robots. We’re bringing that mission to life with HMND‑01 Alpha - our rapidly developed humanoid platform now running in real industrial pilots - and we’re growing the team to take it even further.

About The Role

We are looking for an Firmware and Embedded Software Engineer to design and develop the real-time software systems that control our humanoid robots.

You will own the development of embedded software for critical robotic subsystems, including motion control, sensor interfaces, communication networks, and hardware abstraction layers that enable reliable and safe robotic operation.

This role requires strong fundamentals in embedded programming, distributed hard real-time systems, and hardware-software integration, along with experience building robust software for complex electromechanical systems.

You will collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, and robotics engineers to rapidly prototype, test, and deploy embedded software that powers our robotic platforms.

Your work will directly influence the performance, reliability, and responsiveness of Humanoid’s robots.

What Makes This Role Exciting

• Design and develop embedded systems that control humanoid robots in real time safely
• Solve challenging problems in low-latency motion control, distributed embedded networks, and high-reliability robotic systems with various communication protocols
• Work in a fast-moving hardware environment where software directly interacts with physical machines
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary robotics team spanning mechanical, electrical, controls, and AI
• See your code deployed in real robots operating in real-world environments.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and implement embedded software for robotic systems, emphasizing hard real-time performance and reliability as well as safety
• Integrate and optimize hardware and software components, including sensors, actuators, and communication modules
• Analyze and make recommendations on implementation paths with trade-offs
• Write and debug firmware for microcontrollers, FPGAs, ASICs, and SoCs
• Implement and manage communication protocols such as EtherCAT, CAN, UART, SPI, and I2C
• Collaborate closely with mechanical and electrical engineers to ensure seamless system integration
• Perform hardware testing, validation, and troubleshooting of embedded systems
• Analyze system constraints and resource limitations to optimize performance and efficiency
• Develop low-level drivers and interfaces for sensors, motors, and control electronics
• Maintain clear documentation of system architecture, code, and test results for traceability and maintainability
• Own embedded software components from concept through testing and deployment.

We’re Looking For

• 5+ years of professional experience developing embedded software or firmware for robotics, embedded systems, or real-time hardware platforms
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or a related field
• Strong proficiency in C and C++, with experience using Python for testing or tooling
• Solid understanding of embedded systems architecture and hardware-software interfaces
• Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS)
• Experience working with communication protocols such as EtherNet, EtherCAT, CAN, SPI, UART, or I2C
• Experience integrating sensors, actuators, and motor control systems
• Familiarity with debugging tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and in-circuit debuggers
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced multidisciplinary engineering environment.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience working with robotics frameworks such as ROS or ROS2
• Hands‑on experience with FPGA or SoC development
• Experience developing distributed robotic control systems
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies
• Experience with EtherCAT-based motor drivers and real-time control networks
• Experience developing safety-critical or high-reliability embedded systems.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive extended health benefits starting on your first day, including fully paid medical and dental, virtual care, employee and family assistance, and worldwide emergency medical support.
• Meaningful time off to rest and recharge: 23 days of annual leave (accrued), 15 days of paid sick leave, and paid company holidays.
• Equity included–we believe builders should share in what they build.
• Free daily catered lunch, snacks, and drinks in‑office.
• Collaboration with top‑tier engineers, researchers, and product experts in AI and robotics.
• Freedom to influence the product and own key initiatives.

For this role in Vancouver, the expected base salary range is $140–$180 CAD per year; your placement in that range depends on how your experience maps to our internal leveling.