Senior Firmware Engineer

RBR Ltd.; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology firm specializing in oceanographic instruments is seeking a Senior Firmware Engineer to join their R&D team. The ideal candidate will define and develop embedded firmware applications for advanced oceanographic tools, ensuring robust solutions in a fast-paced environment. Candidates should have a strong foundation in C/C++ programming and extensive experience in firmware architecture and troubleshooting. This position offers competitive benefits, including a flexible work environment and opportunities to impact climate science directly.

Benefits

20 days of vacation plus paid sick days

Benefits from day 1 & RRSP contribution matching

Bonus program

Annual fitness reimbursement program

Greener commuting incentive program

EV reimbursement program

Charitable donation matching

Monthly Friday lunches

Team events and social activities

Collaborative work environment

Qualifications

• 10+ years of engineering experience with at least 7 years in firmware development.
• Hands-on experience with low‑power microcontrollers (STM32/ARM preferred).
• Experience working in an Agile development process.

Responsibilities

• Define and support the design and development of embedded firmware applications.
• Implement best practices in software development methodologies.
• Take ownership of your projects from concept to deployment.

Skills

C programming

C++ programming

Firmware architecture

Troubleshooting with JTAG

Agile development

Communication protocols knowledge

Real-Time Operating Systems

Electronic schematics comprehension

Excellent communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

JTAG tools

Logic analyzers

Oscilloscopes

Jira

Confluence

Job description

Location: Ottawa, Canada (on-site)

Reports to: Firmware & Systems Manager

Role status: Existing role

About RBR: Making waves since 1973

At RBR, we’ve been designing cutting‑edge instruments to measure our blue planet for over 50 years. Built to withstand some of the harshest environments on Earth, our instruments are deployed from the ocean’s deepest trenches to the polar ice caps, capturing essential data on water temperature, salinity, pH, and more. This data empowers researchers in the global fight against climate change, and our technology supports groundbreaking science with partners like Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Woods Hole, the Scripps Institution, and the British Antarctic Survey.

At RBR, we care deeply about our work, each other, the environment, and the global communities we serve. We value teamwork, continuous improvement, and having fun along the way. From Friday lunches to social events, we’re a crew that thrives on taking on complex and exciting challenges that have a meaningful impact on the blue planet! Ready to make waves with us? Apply below!

About the role

Join our talented R&D team as a Senior Firmware Engineer and help shape the future of oceanographic research! At RBR, you’ll work with experts across firmware, systems, electronics, mechanical, software, and sensor engineering—all while contributing to cutting‑edge oceanographic instruments. We’re looking for a proactive problem solver who takes ownership, delivers top‑notch firmware, and thrives in a fast‑paced, innovative environment. If you love creating solutions that empower oceanographers worldwide and enjoy learning and exploring new technologies, we want to hear from you!

What you’ll do

• Define and support the design and development of embedded firmware applications, and will be involved in system architecture decisions and firmware design methodologies.

• Implement and ensure best practices in software development methodologies across the teams.

• Implement and maintain software versioning and revision control.

• Evaluate and balance trade‑offs in system design to meet diverse requirements.

• Take ownership of your projects from concept to deployment, ensuring they stay on schedule.

• Translate design specifications into system designs and implementations, actively leading design and code reviews.

• Share your expertise to enhance software architecture and feature design.

• Work proactively with hardware and software teams to translate requirements into working designs and contribute to improvements in system‑level architecture.

• Contribute to the conceptual development of innovative products and projects.

• Stay up‑to‑date on industry developments in software engineering technologies, processes, and disciplines.

• Help drive a high‑performing and continuous learning culture.

What you bring

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or an equivalent field.

• Preferred 10+ years of engineering experience, including at least 7 years in firmware development, with proficiency in the following areas:

  • Software development in both C and C++.

  • Firmware architecture.

  • Troubleshooting and debugging using JTAG tools, IDE, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes.

  • Knowledge of communication protocols such as RS232, SPI, I2C, I3C, USB, and Bluetooth.

  • Experience with embedded systems test methodologies, continuous integration, and quality management principles.

  • Hands‑on experience with low‑power microcontrollers (STM32/ARM preferred).

  • Proficiency with Real‑Time Operating Systems (RTOS, e.g., Zephyr).

  • Ability to read, comprehend, and annotate electronic schematics, including digital, mixed‑signal, and analog devices.

• Experience working in an Agile development process; familiarity with Jira/Confluence tools would be an asset.

• Strong organizational skills and the capacity to work both independently and as part of a team.

• Adaptability to work in an interrupt‑driven environment, managing multiple projects, and shifting priorities.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Nice to have

• Knowledge of signal‑processing algorithms.

• Experience in Embedded Linux development.

• Proficiency in Bash and Python scripting.

• Familiarity with containerized development environments.

• Experience with Hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) testing.

• Interest in and knowledge of emerging embedded technologies (platforms, languages).

• Knows which end of a soldering iron is the hot one :).

• Can wield a screwdriver.

Current perks at RBR

🌴 20 days of vacation, plus a company‑wide holiday shutdown and paid sick days

🩺 Benefits from day 1 & RRSP contribution matching

💰 Bonus program

🏋🏽 Annual fitness reimbursement program

🚴 Greener commuting incentive program (bike‑to‑work, carpool, or transit passes)

🚗 EV reimbursement program + on‑site charging stations

💝 Charitable donation matching

🌮 Monthly Friday lunches (on us)!

🎉 Team events and social activities

🤝 Collaborative, supportive work environment

🧠 Work alongside passionate experts spanning multiple disciplines

🌊 Direct impact on climate science and ocean research

At RBR, we celebrate and support diversity in our workplace. As an equal‑opportunity employer, we welcome people from all backgrounds and aim to find the most talented person for each role. Accommodations are available upon request at every stage of the selection process.

AI statement: At RBR, we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools during parts of our hiring process. These tools may be used to support note‑taking, scheduling, and/or organizing candidate information. Final hiring decisions are made by our people.