Embedded Firmware Engineer — Laser Defense Systems

IPG Photonics; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

IPG Defense, a stand-alone business of IPG Photonics, is seeking a mid-level Software/Firmware Engineer to design and implement embedded control software for laser assemblies in harsh environments. You will focus on ARM-based processing, deterministic control, and low-latency communication to enable real-time power modulation, safety interlocks, and mission reliability.

Junior and senior candidates may be considered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer, or Software Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 3-7 years of experience developing embedded systems or real-time firmware; junior and senior candidates considered at the appropriate level.
• Proficiency in C/C++ and experience with STM32 or similar ARM Cortex microcontrollers.
• Strong understanding of RTOS concepts, deterministic timing, and hardware-software integration.
• Experience with embedded communication interfaces (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, or Ethernet).
• Hands-on embedded debugging and board bring-up experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and validate embedded firmware for laser, thermal, and beam-control subsystems.
• Develop deterministic state-machine logic governing interlocks, firing sequences, and subsystem coordination.
• Implement and tune digital control loops, including PID and feed-forward control, and validate loop performance using frequency-response analysis.
• Create and maintain real-time communication links between embedded controllers and higher-level command software.
• Support board bring-up, hardware-software integration, and debugging using lab instruments (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG debuggers).
• Develop unit and integration tests and contribute to version control and continuous-integration practices for firmware.
• Collaborate closely with optical, electrical, and systems engineers to ensure seamless integration across the full directed-energy platform.
• Conduct firmware verification, configuration control, and field testing per MIL-STD requirements.
• Support documentation, cybersecurity, and sustainment of deployed systems.

Skills

C/C++

RTOS concepts

ARM Cortex

STM32

Embedded debugging

Board bring-up

Real-time firmware

SPI/I2C/UART

CAN

Ethernet

Cross-disciplinary communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Computer/Software Engineering

Tools

STM32

ARM Cortex

Job description

IPG Defense, a stand-alone business of IPG Photonics, is seeking a mid-level Software/Firmware Engineer to design and implement embedded control software for laser assemblies in harsh environments. You will focus on ARM-based processing, deterministic control, and low-latency communication to enable real-time power modulation, safety interlocks, and mission reliability.

Junior and senior candidates may be considered.