Firmware Engineer – Embedded Controls / Sensors

Darkblade Systems; Maryland; On-site; USD 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company matching

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Health Savings Account

Job summary

CIS Secure is seeking a Firmware Engineer – Embedded Controls / Sensors for the REACT program at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. You will develop and modify embedded firmware for advanced hardware systems, interfacing with gimbals, optics, motors, and sensors to enable new capabilities and troubleshoot complex behavior.

The role demands strong C/C++ firmware skills, experience with microcontrollers/SoCs, and familiarity with real-time embedded systems, debugging tools, and hardware interfaces.

Qualifications

• Experience developing or modifying embedded firmware in C/C++ or similar low-level languages.
• Experience with microcontrollers, embedded processors, or SoCs and peripherals.
• Experience interfacing with hardware using SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, PWM, ADC/DAC.
• Firmware development for motors, actuators, sensors, gimbals, or other electromechanical systems.
• Strong understanding of real-time embedded systems, interrupts, timers, memory management and hardware interfaces.
• Ability to read schematics, datasheets, interface control documents, and existing firmware.

Responsibilities

• Design, modify and debug embedded software for processors and microcontrollers.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, software and systems engineers to integrate sensors and control hardware.
• Modify existing firmware and develop new functionality across hardware/firmware boundaries.
• Support program requirements and troubleshoot complex system behavior.

Skills

Embedded C/C++

Microcontrollers/SoCs

Interfaces (SPI/I2C/UART/CAN)

RTOS/Bare-metal

HW/SW debugging

Reading schematics/datasheets

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Tools

STM32

NXP

TI

Microchip

Job description

CIS Secure is seeking a Firmware Engineer – Embedded Controls / Sensors to join our team supporting the REACT program at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland.

The Firmware Engineer will develop and modify embedded firmware for advanced hardware systems supporting critical national security missions. This role works directly with devices such as gimbals, optics, motors, sensors, and other embedded subsystems to implement new capabilities, integrate hardware, and troubleshoot complex system behavior.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Design, modify, and debug low-level software running on embedded processors and microcontrollers.
• Work closely with electrical, mechanical, software, and systems engineers to integrate sensors, actuators, imaging systems, and control hardware.
• Understand and modify existing firmware, develop new functionality, and troubleshoot problems that cross the hardware/firmware boundary.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Experience developing or modifying embedded firmware in C/C++ or similar low-level languages.
• Experience with microcontrollers, embedded processors, or SoCs and associated peripherals.
• Experience interfacing with hardware using SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, PWM, ADC/DAC, or similar interfaces.
• Experience developing firmware for motors, actuators, sensors, optics, gimbals, or other electromechanical systems.
• Strong understanding of real-time embedded systems, interrupts, timers, memory management, and hardware interfaces.
• Experience debugging firmware and hardware using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, debuggers, and other laboratory equipment.
• Ability to read schematics, datasheets, interface control documents, and existing firmware to understand and modify embedded systems.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience developing firmware for gimbals, motor controllers, camera systems, electro-optical systems, or stabilized payloads.
• Experience with motor control, encoders, PID/control loops, position control, or stabilization systems.
• Experience integrating IMUs, cameras, environmental sensors, GNSS receivers, or other sensor systems.
• Experience with embedded Linux, RTOS environments, or bare-metal development.
• Familiarity with STM32, NXP, TI, Microchip, or similar embedded platforms.
• Experience reverse engineering, modifying, or extending existing or undocumented firmware.
• Familiarity with bootloaders, firmware update mechanisms, device drivers, and low-level communications protocols.
• Experience supporting UAS, robotics, autonomous systems, imaging systems, or other embedded platforms.
• Experience rapidly prototyping and testing firmware against physical hardware.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.

CLEARANCE

• Active TS/SCI security clearance required.

Operating Hours and Expectations

• This position anticipates standard operating hours, with flexibility as required to support program and mission requirements.
• This position is based at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland.

Travel

• No regular travel is anticipated for this position.

Benefits

At CIS Secure, we believe in promoting fair and transparent pay practices. We are committed to disclosing the compensation range for transparency and to set clear expectations for all applicants for this posting. This range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base salary for the advertised job, promotion, or transfer opportunity. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. The actual salary offered may vary based on various factors including but not limited to relevant experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, education, geographic location, as well as internal equity, and alignment to market data.

PAY RANGE: The anticipated base salary range for this position is $180,000 - $200,000 annually.

• 401(k) with company matching
• Dental insurance
• Medical insurance
• Health Savings Account option
• Flexible Spending
• Vision insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Ancillary offerings (Hospital Indemnity, Accident, Critical Illness, Pet Insurance)
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday pay

CIS Secure and it's associated companies, Intrepid Solutions and Darkblade Systems, is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other protected class.