Embedded Systems Engineer, Quantum Energy System

Pronoia; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Performance incentives

Relocation assistance

Unlimited PTO

Professional development

Lab access

Job summary

Pronoia Energy, a deep tech startup in Torrance, CA, is seeking an Embedded Systems Engineer to write low-level firmware running on our hardware and experiments. This on-site role emphasizes reliability, safety interlocks, and real-time control as part of a cross-disciplinary team.

You will collaborate with the electrical engineer on bring-up and with the science team to instrument experiments, turning test rigs into dependable systems that power our quantum energy storage platform.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of firmware development for real hardware.
• Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• Strong C and C++ with microcontroller experience.
• Understanding of real-time constraints and safety interlocks.
• Experience debugging hardware-software with instruments in hand.

Responsibilities

• Write and maintain firmware for the control and safety electronics of our cells and test hardware.
• Implement real-time control loops, safety interlocks, and data acquisition.
• Bring up new boards and integrate sensors, measurement, and actuation.
• Partner with the electrical engineer on hardware-software bring-up and with the science team on instrumentation.
• Contribute to troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of hardware-software problems.

Skills

C/C++

Microcontrollers

Real-time systems

Firmware development

Hardware debugging

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field

Tools

Oscilloscope

Logic Analyzer

Job description

Pronoia Energy is a pioneering deep tech startup at the forefront of quantum energy storage innovation. As a lean, mission-driven team, we thrive on rapid prototyping, cross-disciplinary collaboration and solving complex engineering challenges to turn quantum physics into practical, scalable products. Our current focus is on developing our groundbreaking room-temperature macroscopic quantum energy storage technology that promises orders of magnitude greater energy density, faster charging, and higher power delivery as well as being cheaper and safer compared to existing battery technology. This represents a paradigm shift in energy storage with applications spanning consumer electronics, electric vehicles, renewable grids, and beyond.

Role Summary:

To meet our ambitious goals we are hiring an Embedded Systems Engineer to write the low-level software that runs directly on our hardware and makes our experiments and our product do exactly the right thing, every time. This is a hands‑on role in a high‑stakes, high‑reward startup environment where reliability is not optional. In this role you will develop the firmware that controls sensors, measurement, actuation, and safety in real time. Because a battery safety cutoff cannot be a little late, you will work within strict, guaranteed timing limits, building the control and safety logic that keeps energetic hardware behaving predictably. You will partner closely with our electrical engineer on board bring‑up and with the science team on instrumenting experiments, turning our experimental rigs and the product's own control electronics into dependable systems. This role is onsite in Torrance, California.

Key Responsibilities:

• Write and maintain firmware for the control and safety electronics of our cells and test hardware.
• Implement real‑time control loops, safety interlocks, and data acquisition.
• Bring up new boards and integrate sensors, measurement, and actuation.
• Partner with the electrical engineer on hardware‑software bring‑up and with the science team on experimental instrumentation.
• Contribute to troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis of hardware‑software problems.

Required Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience developing firmware that controls real physical hardware (motors, sensors, power stages), not only desktop software.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Strong C and C++ and microcontroller experience.
• A real understanding of real‑time constraints and safety interlocks.
• Experience debugging hardware‑software problems with instruments in hand, such as an oscilloscope or a logic analyzer.
• A self‑starter who is comfortable with ambiguity and rapid pivots in a startup setting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Flight‑software, avionics, or scientific‑instrument firmware background.
• Experience writing control or data‑acquisition software for measurement equipment.
• A reliability mindset shaped by a real field failure and the process changes that followed.
• Prior work in deep tech R&D alongside interdisciplinary teams.

What We Offer:

• Chance to solve one of the world's biggest engineering challenges and pioneer quantum energy storage.
• Competitive salary, equity in a transformative startup, and performance‑based incentives.
• Access to cutting‑edge labs, tools, and resources in a flexible, collaborative work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits: health insurance, unlimited PTO, professional development stipend, and relocation assistance if needed.
• A culture of innovation where your work will accelerate our path to market impact.