Firmware Engineer, Embedded Systems

Valinor; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Development stipends

Unlimited PTO

Company holidays

Fertility benefits

Job summary

Valinor is seeking a Firmware Engineer to develop embedded software powering our connected environmental sensing systems used to keep military facilities safe and livable. You’ll own firmware end-to-end, from drivers and provisioning to OTA updates and field support, collaborating with hardware and software teams on new hardware bring‑ups.

In this hands-on role you’ll ship production-ready firmware across multiple revisions, focus on low‑power operation, device security, and reliable fleet

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 3+ years of firmware or embedded systems experience.
• Strong embedded C/C++ with bare-metal/RTOS and sensor libraries.
• Experience with hardware debugging tools (JTAG, SWD, trace probes, oscilloscopes).
• Experience with SPI, I2C, UART, USB, CAN, or Ethernet.
• IoT firmware experience (WiFi, BLE, LoRaWAN, Zigbee, OTA).
• Low-power/battery devices and embedded security basics.
• Production provisioning, testing, and version control familiarity.
• PCB design familiarity and basic prototyping tools.
• Cross-domain collaboration with hardware/mechanical/software teams.
• Ownership mindset; startup experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop low-level firmware for microcontrollers and create reusable drivers.
• Bring up new hardware, integrate sensors, troubleshoot across hardware/firmware boundaries.
• Collaborate on MCU selection, schematics, and interfaces.
• Develop device connectivity, low-power operation, OTA updates.
• Create device flashing, provisioning, and manufacturing test workflows.
• Own firmware from prototype to production and field support, ensuring security and reliability.

Skills

Firmware development

Embedded C/C++

RTOS experience

Sensor interfaces

OTA updates

Hardware debugging

Electronics knowledge

Ownership mindset

Production tooling

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Tools

JTAG/SWD

Oscilloscope

Logic probes

Multimeter

SPI/I2C/UART

Job description

Valinor is a new type of defense and government tech company focused on solving the problems others don't. Our unique model of centralized go-to-market and decentralized engineering allows us to move with unparalleled efficiency to identify unmet needs, build right-sized solutions, and get products where they matter most - in the hands of users. Unlike others in the space, who focus on the flashy problems, Valinor exists to solve the quiet, unaddressed problems-the small but significant ones that lead to cracks in the country's strength, stability, and security.

Backed by General Catalyst, Founders Fund, and Friends & Family Capital, Valinor was founded in 2024 and has established strategic partnerships with Palantir, Anduril, and Helsing. We are building the dream team, and we want you on it.

About The Role

Valinor Terra is seeking a Firmware Engineer to develop the embedded software powering our connected environmental sensing systems, helping facilities teams keep military barracks safe and livable. You’ll work closely with our electrical engineer to bring up new hardware, integrate sensors and connectivity, and take devices from initial prototypes to reliable, production-ready systems.

This is a hands‑on role for an engineer who enjoys working across hardware and software and wants real ownership on a small team. You’ll own firmware development end‑to‑end, from device drivers and provisioning to firmware updates and field support

What You'll Do

• Develop low-level firmware for microcontrollers, build reusable device drivers, and integrate system‑level features across products and hardware revisions.

• Bring up new hardware, integrate analog and digital sensors, and troubleshoot issues across electrical, firmware, and software boundaries.

• Collaborate with electrical engineering on microcontroller and peripheral selection, schematic reviews, and hardware/firmware interfaces.

• Develop reliable device connectivity, low‑power operation, remote configuration, and over‑the‑air (OTA) firmware updates.

• Build and maintain device flashing, provisioning, and manufacturing test workflows to support repeatable production and deployment.

• Own firmware development from prototype through production and field support, including device security, reliability, and compatibility across hardware revisions.

What We're Looking For

• 3+ years of firmware or embedded systems development experience on microcontrollers and various SoCs as well as a Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

• Strong embedded C/C++ programming skills; experience with bare-metal and RTOS environments and creating custom sensor libraries; and a solid understanding of firmware design and programming best practices.

• Extensive experience using hardware debugging tools including JTAG, SWD, trace probes, and digital logic probes and oscilloscopes.

• Experience with common embedded interfaces and protocols such as SPI, I2C, UART, USB, CAN, or Ethernet

• Experience developing firmware for IoT devices (WiFi, BLE, LoRaWAN, Zigbee, etc.) including OTA updates, remote configuration, and reliable fleet operation.

• Experience with low-power or battery‑operated devices and embedded security principles.

• Familiarity with bringing products into production, including device provisioning, manufacturing testing, or firmware version control and distribution.

• Familiarity with the PCB design process and common electrical prototyping tools such as soldering, reworking, reflowing, and assembly.

• Comfortable with cross‑domain collaboration with hardware, mechanical, and software engineers.

• A builder’s mentality, intellectual curiosity, and comfort taking ownership in a fast‑moving environment. Experience at an early‑stage startup or building independent projects is a plus.

What Valinor Offers

• Competitive salary, equity packages, and benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance - fully covered for employees, 401(k), development stipends, among others.

• Unlimited PTO and two‑week company holiday at the end of every calendar year.

• We are a pro‑mental health and pro‑family company - we actually encourage employees to spend time with themselves and their families. Valinor also provides fertility benefits to those just beginning that journey.

• Fun work environment - we like to laugh and take care of each other, but we also deeply respect the mission in front of us.

This role requires the candidate be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. Active clearance preferred, but not required.

Valinor is an equal‑opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Valinor team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals, who together are disrupting industry norms by creating new pathways towards the future of defense and government technology. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you are someone passionate about working on problems that have a real‑world impact, we’d love to hear from you!