Principal Firmware Engineer

Compen Embedded; Eindhoven; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A cutting-edge medical technology firm located in Eindhoven is seeking a Principal Firmware Engineer to serve as a hands-on expert and technical consultant for medical device teams. The ideal candidate will lead the development of firmware for Class III devices, ensuring compliance with medical standards. Applicants must have a Master's/PhD in Computer Science and extensive experience in embedded development. This is an on-site role, and candidates are expected to reside in the Netherlands.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in embedded development, ideally in regulated environments.
• Comfortable in a Unix CLI environment with tools like Neovim and Docker.
• Hands-on experience with unit testing and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and development of real-time firmware for Class III medical devices.
• Act as a technical consultant to client teams on firmware design and regulatory expectations.
• Ensure compliance with medical device standards and guide clients on best practices.

Skills

Embedded development

C++

Consulting

Firmware design

Microcontrollers

Unix CLI

Education

Master's/PhD degree in Computer Science

Tools

Neovim

Docker

Job description

Overview

Compen Embedded is an early-stage startup headquartered at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, providing cutting-edge technological solutions to medical device startups driving neuroscience innovation across Europe and the United States. Our mission is to help them overcome firmware challenges and fast-track the delivery of life-changing breakthroughs.

The Role

As a Principal Firmware Engineer in a consulting capacity, you'll serve as a trusted technical advisor and hands-on expert for multiple medical device teams. You'll architect firmware, guide engineering decisions, and step into complex, high-stakes environments where reliability and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable. Your work will directly influence the safety, performance, and success of next-generation medical technologies.

This is an on-site role. To be considered, applicants must currently reside in the Netherlands and hold valid work authorization.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture, design, and development of real-time firmware for Class III medical devices in modern C++
• Act as a technical consultant to multiple client teams, helping them navigate firmware design, risk management, and regulatory expectations
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary (external) teams including hardware, systems engineering, neuroscience, and quality assurance
• Ensure compliance with medical device standards (ISO 13485, IEC 62304, ISO 14971) and guide clients through best practices
• Define and implement verification and validation strategies, including unit tests, integration tests, and traceability
• Diagnose, debug, and resolve complex firmware issues in a structured, reproducible, and client-friendly manner
• Mentor client engineering teams, conduct code reviews, and elevate engineering practices across organizations
• Shape internal consulting methodologies, documentation standards, and long-term technical direction at Compen Embedded

Qualifications

• Care deeply about patient outcomes and doing things the right way, even when nobody's watching
• Hold a Master\'s/PhD degree in Computer Science
• Bring extensive experience in embedded development, ideally within regulated or safety-critical environments
• Have strong consulting instincts: clear communication, expectation-setting, and the ability to build trust quickly
• Are comfortable working across multiple projects and adapting to different engineering cultures and maturity levels
• Have deep familiarity with microcontrollers, low-power design, real-time constraints, and hardware-software integration
• Can read and reason about circuit diagrams across both digital and analog domains
• Have hands-on experience with unit testing, documentation, and working in accordance with FDA/CE guidelines
• Thrive in a Unix CLI environment, wielding tools like Neovim, tmux, and Docker with speed and precision
• Have experience in startups (abroad), regulated environments, or connected medical devices
• Enjoy the autonomy and ownership that come with consulting

Recruitment agencies are kindly requested not to respond to this vacancy.