ENGINEER, EMBEDDED SYSTEMS (ELECTRONICS)

Roboticsconnected; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Ghost Robotics in Philadelphia, PA, seeks an Embedded Systems Engineer to advance firmware for Q-UGV platforms. You’ll own firmware development for sensing, motor control, battery management, and high-speed communications, mentored by the Senior Embedded Engineer.

You will integrate sensors, optimize interfaces, and ensure real-time performance with RTOS and debugging expertise. This role reports to the Head of Electrical and Firmware Engineering and requires a Bachelor's degree and 1–2 years of

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Computer/Software Engineering or related field.
• 1–2 years of embedded firmware development experience.
• Proficiency in C or C++ for firmware.
• Familiarity with STM32 MCU family or similar.
• Experience debugging embedded systems with revision control.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain firmware for embedded robotic subsystems in C/C++.
• Implement and optimize interfaces (Ethernet, EtherCAT, SPI, I2C).
• Integrate sensors (RGB, thermal/IR, TOF, gas, audio) at firmware level.
• Support RTOS-based development and real-time performance.
• Participate in code reviews and documentation.

Skills

C/C++ firmware

Embedded debugging

STM32/microcontrollers

Git revision control

Mentorship readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in EE/CE/SE/Physics/Math or related

Tools

FreeRTOS

Job description

Description

Ghost Robotics is the industry leader in legged robotic systems that not only help our customers solve complex operational, national security, and technical challenges to save lives, reduce harm and improve outcomes.

We are looking for an Embedded Systems Engineer with a focus on firmware development to help address growing firmware needs across Ghost's Q-UGV platforms. This role is ideal for an engineer with some professional firmware experience who is ready to deepen their skills under the mentorship of our Senior Embedded Engineer while taking meaningful ownership of firmware development work.You will work on low-level firmware for embedded robotic subsystems including sensing, motor control, battery management, and high-speed communication.

This position reports to the Head of Electrical and Firmware Engineering and works closely with a team of interdisciplinary team of firmware, mechanical, electrical, and systems engineers.

What You’ll Do

Firmware Development

• Develop and maintain firmware in C or C++ for embedded robotic subsystems including position sensing, motor control, battery management, and real-time control loops.
• Implement and optimize communication interfaces such as Ethernet, EtherCAT, QSPI, SPI, and I2C.
• Integrate RGB, thermal/IR, TOF, gas, audio, and other task-specific sensors into Ghost's Q-UGV platforms at the firmware layer.
• Support real-time system performance through interrupt scheduling, DMA, and RTOS-based development.
• Contribute to revision-controlled firmware codebases and participate in code reviews.

Debugging and Integration

• Debug firmware issues in a systematic manner, working closely with the Senior Embedded Engineer on root cause analysis.
• Support board bring-up and hardware/software integration from the firmware side, partnering with electronics engineers who own the hardware design.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to integrate embedded subsystems into full robotic platforms.
• Participate in design reviews and contribute to technical documentation.

Requirements

What We’re Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related field.
• 1 to 2 years of professional experience in embedded firmware development. Internship and co-op experience counts toward this.
• Proficiency in firmware development in C or C++.
• Familiarity with the STM32 MCU family or a comparable microcontroller family.
• Demonstrated experience debugging embedded systems in a structured, systematic manner.
• Strong track record with revision control (Git or similar).
• Willingness to work closely with a senior mentor and accept direction while building independent ownership over time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with FreeRTOS or another RTOS.
• Experience with high-speed communication protocols such as Ethernet, EtherCAT, or QSPI, and techniques to manage high data throughput (DMA, interrupt scheduling).
• Familiarity with firmware for brushless DC motor control, battery management systems, or power electronics.
• Robotics, mechatronics, or mobile robotic systems experience.
• Familiarity with reading schematics well enough to collaborate with electronics engineers on hardware integration.

Education

Bachelor's degree required in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related field.

Location

Philadelphia, PA. No remote candidates considered at this time.

Travel

Limited.

Compensation and Benefits

Ghost Robotics offers competitive compensation, full benefits, equity incentives, and a flexible time-off policy. We prioritize results, collaboration, and building world-class systems with a high-performing team.

Additional Requirements

• Must be able to clear standard employment background checks.
• Permanent residency required.
• Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds and work hands-on with hardware systems.

PLEASE NO RECRUITERS OR AGENCIES.