Firmware Engineer

April Quest; Oxford; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A global manufacturer of safety-critical instruments in Oxford is seeking a Firmware Engineer to develop real-time embedded firmware on 32-bit microcontrollers. The ideal candidate should have significant experience with C/C++ and embedded Linux, along with a solid understanding of low-level device programming and hardware interfaces. This hands-on role involves collaboration with hardware and systems teams to ensure reliable product development. Competitive salary and benefits await for the right candidate.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in developing embedded firmware.
• Hands-on with embedded Linux and real-time OS.
• Understanding hardware interfaces and device programming.
• Experience with FPGA systems and optimization.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain embedded firmware for safety-focused products.
• Build real-time firmware on 32-bit microcontrollers.
• Integrate sensors and communication interfaces.
• Write and debug low-level drivers.

Skills

Embedded software development in C/C++

Experience with embedded Linux

Low-level device programming

Real-time data handling

FPGA integration

Tools

RTOS

UART

SPI

I²C

Modbus

Job description

About the Company

We are working with a global manufacturer of safety‑critical electronic instrumentation used in regulated, real‑world environments where reliability and accuracy are essential. I'm hiring a Firmware Engineer to play a key part in the architecture and development of real‑time embedded firmware, working closely with hardware and systems teams to deliver robust, compliant next‑generation products.

About the Firmware Engineer Role

This is a hands‑on firmware role suited to someone with solid low‑level embedded experience who enjoys working close to the hardware, developing and maintaining real‑time firmware on 32‑bit microcontrollers, integrating sensors and communication protocols, and contributing to products from early development through to production alongside hardware and systems engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain embedded firmware in C/C++ for safety‑focused electronic products.
• Build real‑time firmware on 32‑bit microcontrollers in an RTOS environment.
• Integrate sensors and comms interfaces (UART, SPI, I²C, Modbus).
• Write and debug low‑level drivers and hardware abstraction layers.
• Support board bring‑up and troubleshooting with hardware and systems teams.
• Contribute to reliable releases through testing, validation, and good engineering practices.

Essential Requirements

• Significant professional experience developing embedded software in C and C++ for production systems.
• Strong hands‑on experience with embedded Linux and real‑time operating systems.
• Deep understanding of low‑level device programming, hardware interfaces, and real‑time data handling.
• Experience integrating embedded software with FPGA‑based systems, including register‑level communication and performance optimization.
• Proven ability to take ownership of complex technical work and drive it through multiple development phases.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience developing firmware for low‑power or resource‑constrained embedded systems.
• Familiarity with regulatory or compliance‑driven development environments and structured testing practices.

If you feel you are suitable and interested in this role, APPLY NOW with an up‑to‑date CV. We also pay referral fees if you can suggest another suitable person that isn’t already known to us.

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