Embedded SW Engineer

RogueBeam; Seattle, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Roguebeam, a Seattle-based startup, is seeking an embedded software engineer to build firmware that sequences beamforming and RF front-end control on ARM Cortex‑M devices, and to develop embedded Linux tooling on SoC platforms.

You will collaborate closely with RF, FPGA, DSP and hardware engineers, bring up boards in the lab, and contribute to software architecture, device drivers, tests, and deterministic, latency‑sensitive control interfaces.

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field or equivalent practical experience.
• 2–5 years of professional embedded software development.
• Strong C and working proficiency in C++.
• Hands-on firmware development on ARM Cortex‑M microcontrollers, bare-metal and/or RTOS (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar).
• Solid experience with low-level peripherals and serial interfaces: SPI, I2C, UART, DMA, interrupts, and timers.

Responsibilities

• Develop firmware in C/C++ for ARM Cortex‑M microcontrollers (STM32-class), bare‑metal and RTOS.
• Build MCU–FPGA interface: registers, queues, and time-critical sequencing.
• Develop embedded Linux software on SoC platforms: device drivers, device tree, Yocto/PetaLinux, network interfaces.
• Implement beam steering, calibration, telemetry, and health monitoring.
• Bring up new boards in lab with hardware/FPGA engineers and diagnose issues across hardware/software boundary.
• Write test and production software: automated fixtures, instrument control, calibration scripts.
• Help establish software practices: code review, version control, CI, and documentation.

Skills

C/C++

ARM Cortex-M

Bare-metal/RTOS

Linux

Python

Git

JTAG/SWD debugging

Education

Bachelor's degree in EE/CE/CS

Tools

Yocto/PetaLinux

JTAG/SWD

Job description

About Roguebeam

Roguebeam is a startup developing advanced phased array systems for communications and radar applications. We design and manufacture complete systems in-house—RF, antenna, PCB, ASIC/digital, DSP, and firmware/software—giving our engineers end-to-end ownership of the technology and a direct line of sight from algorithm to deployed system.

We’re early, we’re growing fast, and the people who join us now will shape both the technology and the company.

The Role

As one of our first embedded software engineers, you will write the software that makes our arrays work: firmware that sequences beamformer and RF front-end control with deterministic timing, software on SoC and embedded Linux platforms that connects the array to the outside world, and the tooling we use to bring up, calibrate, and test hardware.

You will work side by side with RF, FPGA, DSP, and hardware engineers, spend real time in the lab, and have a direct hand in shaping the software architecture of our products at a stage where individual contributions carry outsized weight.

What You'll Do

• Develop firmware in C/C++ for ARM Cortex‑M microcontrollers (STM32-class), bare‑metal and RTOS, controlling beamformer ICs and RF front ends over SPI, MIPI RFFE, I2C, and GPIO.

• Build the MCU–FPGA interface: register maps, command queues, and trigger‑driven sequencing where time‑critical switching runs in hardware and firmware preloads and manages it.

• Develop embedded Linux software on SoC FPGA platforms (Zynq/RFSoC-class): device drivers, device tree, Yocto/PetaLinux builds, and networked control and telemetry interfaces.

• Implement beam steering, calibration table management, telemetry, and health monitoring, including temperature, current, and fault handling.

• Bring up new boards in the lab with hardware and FPGA engineers, using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and debuggers to track down problems across the hardware/software boundary.

• Write test and production software: automated test fixtures, instrument control (Python, SCPI/VISA), and scripts supporting calibration and manufacturing test.

• Help establish our software practices — code review, version control, CI, and documentation — as the team grows.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• 2–5 years of professional embedded software development.

• Strong C and working proficiency in C++.

• Hands‑on firmware development on ARM Cortex‑M microcontrollers, bare‑metal and/or with an RTOS (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar).

• Solid experience with low‑level peripherals and serial interfaces: SPI, I2C, UART, DMA, interrupts, and timers.

• Comfort reading schematics and datasheets, and using lab equipment (oscilloscope, logic analyzer, JTAG/SWD debugger) during bring‑up.

• Working knowledge of Linux, Python, and Git.

Preferred Qualifications

• Embedded Linux development: kernel drivers, device tree, Yocto/PetaLinux, U‑Boot.

• Experience with AMD/Xilinx Zynq, RFSoC, or other SoC FPGA platforms; enough Verilog/VHDL to work closely with FPGA engineers.

• Background in RF, phased‑array, radar, or satellite communication systems.

• Experience with MIPI RFFE or other deterministic, latency‑sensitive control interfaces.

• Networking on embedded targets: Ethernet, TCP/UDP, protobuf/gRPC or similar control protocols.

• Instrument automation (PyVISA/SCPI) and production test development.

• Experience working in defense or export‑controlled environments.

Why Roguebeam

This is a rare ground‑floor opportunity. Joining a startup at this stage means your work has a direct, visible effect on whether the company succeeds—and a corresponding upside as we grow. Because we build the entire system in‑house, you’ll see your software running on real phased arrays and deployed in working systems, not handed off and forgotten. You’ll have real ownership and a seat at the table on technical direction.

Additional Information

This position requires access to technology and technical data subject to U.S. export control regulations (ITAR/EAR). Applicants must be U.S. persons (U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, or individuals granted asylum or refugee status) or otherwise eligible to access export‑controlled information without a license.

Roguebeam is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.