Embedded Firmware Engineer — Real-time Laser Control

IPG Defense; Huntsville (AL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation time

Sick time

Holidays

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

ESPP

Tuition reimbursement

EAP

Pet insurance

Job summary

IPG Defense in Huntsville, AL is seeking a mid-level Software/Firmware Engineer to design, implement, and test embedded control software for advanced laser defense systems. You will work on ARM-based processing, real-time communication, and power modulation in harsh environments.

Collaborate with optical, electrical, and systems engineers, perform unit and integration tests, and support MIL-STD verification and field testing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer, or Software Engineering.
• 3–7 years of embedded systems or real-time firmware experience.
• Proficiency in C/C++ with STM32/ARM Cortex.
• Strong 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.

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++

STM32/ARM Cortex

RTOS concepts

Deterministic timing

Hardware–software integration

Embedded debugging

SPI I2C UART CAN Ethernet

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer, or Software Engineering

Job description

IPG Defense in Huntsville, AL is seeking a mid-level Software/Firmware Engineer to design, implement, and test embedded control software for advanced laser defense systems. You will work on ARM-based processing, real-time communication, and power modulation in harsh environments.

Collaborate with optical, electrical, and systems engineers, perform unit and integration tests, and support MIL-STD verification and field testing.