Firmware Engineer

American IT Systems; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

American IT Systems seeks a self-directed firmware engineer to contribute to embedded software for MR platforms. You will work across firmware, systems, hardware, and architecture teams to translate requirements into reliable software, leveraging strong C++ fundamentals and practical embedded development experience.

You will own firmware features, learn existing code and hardware interfaces, and help ensure high-quality software through unit tests, CI, and rigorous design reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 5+ years of professional experience developing embedded or firmware software.
• Strong C++ programming skills, including OO design, memory management, concurrency, debugging, and maintainable production code.
• Hands-on experience with hardware interaction, real-time systems, device interfaces, or resource-constrained embedded platforms.
• Proven ability to learn unfamiliar technologies and codebases independently, break down ambiguous problems, and deliver results with minimal guidance.
• Experience with embedded development and diagnostic tools such as debuggers, emulators, protocol or logic analyzers, and system logs.
• Experience with Linux-based development environments, Git, and build/container workflows.
• Experience with CI, automated testing, and disciplined code reviews.
• Clear written and verbal communication, able to explain technical decisions and collaborate across functions.

Responsibilities

• Own firmware features from requirements through design, implementation, integration, verification, and defect resolution.
• Learn existing code, hardware interfaces, development tools, and system behavior independently.
• Develop maintainable embedded software in modern C++ with sound OO design and proper error handling.
• Collaborate with systems, hardware, FPGA, software, and architecture teams to clarify requirements and resolve cross-functional issues.
• Use debuggers, emulators, analyzers, and logs to isolate complex software/hardware interaction problems.
• Create unit and integration tests, contribute to automated testing, and support CI to improve quality and regression coverage.
• Participate in design and code reviews and provide constructive feedback.
• Estimate, plan, and track work through user stories and communicate risks and blockers.
• Follow quality processes and produce documentation for design traceability and maintenance.
• Work with globally distributed teams and contribute to consistent design and architectural improvements across MR platforms.

Skills

C++ programming

Object‑oriented design

Embedded software

Linux development

Git/version control

CI/CD

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Debuggers

Emulators

Hardware interfaces

FPGA

Job description

Role focus:

Deliver high-quality firmware while independently learning unfamiliar systems, resolving technical ambiguity, and progressing work with minimal day-to-day guidance.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a self-directed firmware engineer to contribute to embedded software development for MR platforms. The engineer will work across firmware, systems, hardware, and architecture teams to translate requirements into reliable software. Success in this role requires strong C++ fundamentals, practical embedded development experience, disciplined engineering practices, and the ability to quickly learn a complex technical environment and make progress with limited supervision.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own assigned firmware features or components from requirements analysis through design, implementation, integration, verification, and defect resolution.
• Independently learn existing code, hardware interfaces, development tools, and system behavior; identify the right technical resources and ask focused questions when needed.
• Develop maintainable embedded software in modern C++ using sound object-oriented design, clear interfaces, and appropriate error handling.
• Collaborate with systems, hardware, FPGA, software, and architecture teams to clarify requirements, evaluate tradeoffs, and resolve cross-functional issues.
• Use debuggers, emulators, analyzers, logs, and other diagnostic methods to isolate complex software and hardware interaction problems.
• Create unit and integration tests, contribute to automated testing, and support continuous integration to improve software quality and regression coverage.
• Participate in design and code reviews; provide constructive feedback and incorporate review input promptly.
• Estimate, plan, and track work through user stories; communicate status, risks, dependencies, and technical blockers early and clearly.
• Follow applicable quality processes and produce clear technical documentation that supports design traceability, testing, and long-term maintenance.
• Work effectively with globally distributed teams and contribute to consistent design and architectural improvements across MR platforms.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent practical experience, in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 5+ years of professional experience developing embedded or firmware software.
• Strong C++ programming skills, including object-oriented design, memory management, concurrency fundamentals, debugging, and writing maintainable production code.
• Hands‑on experience developing software that interacts with hardware, real‑time systems, device interfaces, or resource‑constrained embedded platforms.
• Proven ability to learn unfamiliar technologies and codebases independently, break down ambiguous problems, and deliver results with minimal guidance.
• Experience with embedded development and diagnostic tools such as debuggers, emulators, protocol or logic analyzers, and system logs.
• Experience with Linux-based development environments, source control such as Git, and build or container‑based workflows.
• Experience with continuous integration, automated testing, and disciplined software review practices.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical decisions, raise risks, and collaborate across functions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with a real‑time operating system and multi‑threaded or concurrent software.
• Experience with hardware bring‑up, board‑level debugging, device drivers, communication protocols, or FPGA and firmware integration.
• Experience working in a regulated, safety‑critical, or quality‑controlled product‑development environment.
• Experience working in Agile teams and planning work through user stories and iterative delivery.