Senior Principal Firmware Engineer, IoT

Brambles; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

CHEP is seeking an experienced Architect/Senior Manager to design, build and test embedded firmware systems for IoT asset tracking devices. You will shape architecture for prototypes and shipping products, ensuring best development practices and smooth collaboration across HW, firmware, and cloud teams.

With 10+ years in embedded software, you will drive cross‑functional reviews, lead external contractors, and advance LPWAN/Cellular IoT solutions while maintaining a strong focus on code quality

Qualifications

• Experience with embedded software design and programming in C/C++ for development, debugging, testing and performance analysis.
• 10+ years of embedded software development experience.
• Experience with embedded/IoT firmware platforms with FreeRTOS or Zephyr or similar OS.
• Experience building software for embedded/IoT systems or custom SoCs.
• B.S. degree in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Translate complex system requirements into design specifications and develop firmware applications for low-power, small-system environments.
• Design, develop, document, and test I/O communication protocols and device drivers for embedded systems.
• Manage and maintain source code repositories, ensuring version control and efficient development practices.
• Develop tracking and sensor telemetry applications for real-time LPWAN or Cellular IoT networks.
• Optimize firmware solutions to enhance network performance, signal quality, and power efficiency.
• Implement and lead improvements in software development methodologies, including unit test strategies.
• Participate in technical design reviews to improve code quality, system architecture, and deployment processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful integration and post-deployment support.

Skills

C/C++ embedded

Embedded firmware

FreeRTOS

Zephyr

IoT firmware

GPS/Wi‑Fi/BLE

Education

B.S. in CS or EE

Tools

FreeRTOS

Zephyr

I2C

SPI

Job description

CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organization on earth via our 347 million pallets, crates and containers. We employ approximately 13,000 people and operate in 60 countries. Through our pioneering and sustainable share-and-reuse business model, the world’s biggest brands trust us to help them transport their goods more efficiently, safely and with less environmental impact.

What does that mean for you? You’ll join an international organization big enough to take you anywhere, and small enough to get you there sooner. You’ll help change how goods get to market and contribute to global sustainability. You’ll be empowered to bring your authentic self to work and be surrounded by diverse and driven professionals. And you can maximize your work-life balance and flexibility through our Hybrid Work Model.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities May Include:

• Translate complex system requirements into design specifications and develop firmware applications for low-power, small-system environments.
• Design, develop, document, and test I/O communication protocols and device drivers for embedded systems.
• Manage and maintain source code repositories, ensuring version control and efficient development practices.
• Develop tracking and sensor telemetry applications for real-time LPWAN or Cellular IoT networks.
• Optimize firmware solutions to enhance network performance, signal quality, and power efficiency.
• Implement and lead improvements in software development methodologies, including unit test strategies.
• Participate in technical design reviews to improve code quality, system architecture, and deployment processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful integration and post-deployment support.

POSITION PURPOSE

As a hands-on Architect/Senior Manager you will architect, design, build and test embedded firmware systems for IoT asset tracking device platforms. In this role, you will participate in the definition of architecture and implementation of designs in both prototype and shipping products as well as demonstrate good development practices and seamless collaboration.

Engineering for device systems spans deep collaboration across engineering disciplines (HW design, Test, Architects, PMs, and Cloud software teams). Our engineers drive concepts into prototypes and prototypes to products.

MAJOR / KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Translate system requirements into design specification. Develop firmware applications within constraints of small, low-power systems operating in a challenging environment
• Manage firmware features and debug for existing products in markets while also developing new products.
• Manage customer features, configuration changes and debugs working with Customer support teams.
• Manage silicon vendors SDKs, IT, Cloud, Security, Cyber stakeholders.
• Develop tracking and sensor telemetry applications for real-time Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) or Cellular IoT networks
• Develop, coordinate and implement improvements in software development methodology and leading practices including requirements definition, specification development, and unit test strategies.
• Participate in technical reviews for design and implementation for deployment and support processes.

MEASURES

• Product prototypes which can be tested, resulting in a minimally viable product to enable our Digital team to gather the data needed to derive the IoT data resulting in intelligence gathering from field.

AUTHORITY / DECISION MAKING

• Working autonomously or having limited access to immediate manager
• Working in a matrix environment

KEY CONTACTS

• Internal: Engineering and Project Management
• External: External vendors, specific to choosing the technology or products that will be used in the engineering of the device

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with embedded software design and programming in C/C++ for development, debugging, testing and performance analysis
• 10-15+ years of experience in embedded software development
• Experience working with embedded/IoT firmware platforms with FreeRTOS or Zephyr or similar OS.
• Experience building software for embedded/IoT systems or custom SoCs
• B.S. degree in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience

Desirable:

• Experience with lab instrumentation for power, performance tuning, SDKs, analysers for debugging IoT systems
• Experience delivering electronics devices in Consumer, IoT, Embedded markets
• Demonstrated expertise in one or several of the following areas - communication protocols (TCP/IP, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi), computer vision, sensors, cellular

EXPERIENCE

• 10+ years of related experience in embedded systems.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Architect/Design of embedded software engineering activities and provide technical leadership and guidance to team members
• Analyze, design, develop, and debug firmware for a wide variety of tracking devices, including GPS, Cellular, Wi‑Fi / BLE
• Be a go-to person to *escalate* the most complex development, performance and evaluation issues that require in-depth knowledge of product-focused firmware development
• Be the go-to guy for head of firmware engineering in the definition and execution of long-term roadmaps in partnership with architects, hardware designers, SW team
• Support all phases of hardware development – including early architecture requirements definition, EVT, DVT, PVT.
• Proven track record in managing engineering teams and external contractors
• Knowledge of communication protocols: I2C, SPI, USART, I2S, PCM.
• Experience with sensors, accelerometers, gyro, GPS, humidity, temperature
• Experience with Wi‑Fi, BLE, and Cellular IoT solutions is a plus.

Remote Type

Hybrid Remote

Skills to succeed in the role

Adaptability, Adaptive Learning, Collaboration, Empathy, Experimentation, Firmware Design, Firmware Development, Taking Initiative, Taking Ownership, Teamwork, Understand Customers

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to developing a diverse workforce in which everyone is treated fairly, with respect, and has the opportunity to contribute to business success while realizing his or her potential. This means harnessing the unique skills and experience that each individual brings and we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.