Lead Firmware Engineer

Octagon Group; Ilfracombe; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Octagon Group in Ilfracombe, Devon, is seeking a Lead Firmware Engineer to own embedded software for high-performance power electronics, including AC/DC and DC/DC converters, and to drive architecture and verification from concept to production.

You will mentor junior engineers, lead firmware projects, and collaborate with hardware teams to ensure safety and reliability.

Qualifications

• 10+ years firmware development in power electronics or industrial control systems.
• Expert knowledge of C/C++ embedded programming with DSPs or ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers.
• Experience taking firmware from concept to production with debugging and testing.
• Strong knowledge of digital power conversion and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead embedded firmware design for AC/DC and DC/DC power supplies.
• Define firmware architecture, requirements and verification strategies (HIL, MATLAB/Simulink).
• Develop and maintain embedded communication protocols (PMBus, CAN, I2C, SPI).
• Provide technical leadership and mentor junior firmware engineers.

Skills

C/C++ embedded

ARM Cortex-M

DSPs

Embedded control systems

Git CI/CD

Oscilloscope debugging

MATLAB/Simulink

Leadership mentoring

Education

Degree in Electronic Engineering

Degree in Computer Science

Tools

Git

CI/CD

Oscilloscope

Logic analyzer

PMBus

CAN

I2C

SPI

Job description

Lead Firmware Engineer - Embedded Power Electronics - Ilfracombe, Devon

A Lead Firmware Engineer job is available in Ilfracombe, Devon, with a leading technology business supplying advanced power solutions to global customers across the industrial, medical and test & measurement sectors.

We are seeking an experienced Lead Firmware Engineer with a strong background in embedded firmware development, digital power electronics and industrial control systems, alongside expert knowledge of C/C++ and ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers or DSPs.

Based in Ilfracombe, Devon, you will lead the design and development of high-performance firmware for AC/DC and DC/DC power supplies, taking technical responsibility for digital control architecture, firmware verification and development from initial concept through to production. This is an excellent opportunity for a senior embedded software engineer looking to take technical ownership of complex power conversion products while providing technical leadership and mentoring to other engineers.

Responsibilities of the Lead Firmware Engineer job in Ilfracombe, Devon

• Leading the design and development of embedded firmware for AC/DC and DC/DC power supplies, including digital control loops such as PID and 3p3z, state machines and power conversion control algorithms.
• Defining firmware architecture, requirements and verification strategies, using HIL testing, MATLAB/Simulink simulation and hands-on debugging with power electronics hardware.
• Developing and maintaining embedded communication protocols, including PMBus, CAN, I2C and SPI, while ensuring firmware meets applicable safety, regulatory and functional safety requirements.
• Providing technical leadership across firmware projects, supporting production launches and field issues, evaluating new MCU/DSP technologies and mentoring junior firmware engineers.

Requirements of the Lead Firmware Engineer job in Ilfracombe, Devon

• Degree-qualified in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science or a related discipline, with typically 10+ years' firmware development experience within power electronics or industrial control systems.
• Expert knowledge of C/C++ embedded programming, with experience using DSPs or ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers and a strong understanding of PWM peripherals, ADC synchronisation and interrupt management.
• Proven experience taking embedded firmware from a blank sheet through to production, with strong diagnostic and fault-finding skills using oscilloscopes and logic analysers, alongside experience with Git, CI/CD and automated testing.
• Strong knowledge of digital power conversion, firmware verification and safety standards, with experience using MATLAB/Simulink for control-loop design and the ability to provide technical leadership and mentorship.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Lead Firmware Engineer to take technical ownership of advanced embedded firmware and digital control systems for power electronics, working across firmware architecture, control algorithms, hardware verification and production within a technically advanced engineering environment in Ilfracombe, Devon