Embedded Software Engineer

Socket.dev; West Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Visa sponsorship

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with match

PTO & flexible schedule

Job summary

Ixana, a Purdue University spin-off located in West Lafayette, IN, is hiring for on-site firmware engineers to build ultra-low-power Wi‑R wearables. You will lead bare‑metal bring‑up, develop low‑power firmware stacks, and deliver a production‑ready SDK for Tier‑1 partners.

The role offers a competitive base salary, meaningful equity, relocation and visa support, and a fast-growing, deep‑tech startup environment in a collegial in‑office setting.

Qualifications

• Experience with embedded firmware for wearables, robotics, medical, or IoT devices.
• Strong C/C++ skills and deep experience with low-level MCU debugging.
• Bare metal embedded C experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead bare‑metal bring‑up of Wi‑R SoCs and Cortex‑M/RISC‑V platforms.
• Build and optimize low‑power firmware stacks (I²C, SPI, BLE, DMA, sensor drivers, power domains).
• Architect and deliver a production‑ready firmware SDK used by Tier‑1 hardware partners.
• Debug at the register level using oscilloscopes and JTAG tools.
• Mentor junior developers and contribute to code reviews, toolchain decisions, and quality standards.

Skills

C/C++

Bare-metal firmware

Wearables firmware

Embedded systems

Tools

JTAG

Oscilloscopes

RTOS

Job description

Build ultra-low-power firmware for wearables using Wi‑R tech

On‑site – West Lafayette, IN | Competitive Base + Meaningful Equity

We provide relocation packages and visa transfers (if required) for engineers currently in the San Francisco Bay Area and other U.S. hubs.

About Ixana

Ixana is a Purdue University spinoff pioneering brain‑inspired wearable computing. We've developed Wi‑R, a patented communication tech that's 100x more energy‑efficient than Bluetooth or Wi‑Fi. Join our 60‑person team building the next era of real‑time, AI‑powered human‑computer interaction.

The Wi‑R Revolution

Wi‑R is our patented non‑radiative near‑field communication technology that creates secure "wire‑like wireless" experiences through small E‑field bubbles around your body. This breakthrough enables unprecedented energy efficiency at sub-0.1 nanojoules per bit, making long‑term wearable and implantable devices finally practical.

See Wi‑R in action: Visit ixana.ai for demos of high-speed data streaming through skin contact:
https://vimeo.com/ixana/pairing-contact-transfer

What You’ll Do

• Lead bare‑metal bring‑up of Wi‑R SoCs and Cortex‑M/RISC‑V platforms
• Build and optimize low‑power firmware stacks (I²C, SPI, BLE, DMA, sensor drivers, power domains)
• Architect and deliver a production‑ready firmware SDK used by Tier‑1 hardware partners
• Debug at the register level using oscilloscopes and JTAG tools
• Mentor junior developers and contribute to code reviews, toolchain decisions, and quality standards

What We’re Looking For

Required

• Experience with embedded firmware for wearables, robotics, medical, or IoT devices
• Strong C/C++ skills and deep experience with low‑level MCU debugging
• Bare metal embedded C experience

Preferred

• Experience with RTOS, BLE stack customization, or neural/biometric sensing
• PCB‑level hardware familiarity or embedded Linux experience
• Experience building and shipping SDKs for third‑party use

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $85,000 – $110,000 per annum
• Equity: Early‑stage equity package
• Cash Bonus: 8–30% performance‑based bonus
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• 5 days/week in office with flexible work arrangements and generous PTO
• Relocation support for qualified applicants
• Professional development opportunities and conference attendance
• Patent development and technology leadership opportunities
• Immigration and work visa support (for those already in the U.S. on a valid work permit)

Why Join Us

• Shape the firmware DNA of next‑gen wearables and IoT devices
• Collaborate with world‑class experts and hardware innovators
• Ship to real customers within months, not years
• Join a tight‑knit firmware team within a fast‑scaling deep‑tech startup
• Enjoy high‑impact ownership and full access to R&D labs

Ixana is an equal opportunity employer committed to advancing human‑computer interfaces through innovative low‑power electronics innovation.

Keywords:
Embedded Firmware, Wearables, IoT, Cortex-M, RISC‑V, Low‑Power, RTOS, Bluetooth, SDK Development, Wi‑R, Startup, Equity, West Lafayette IN