Firmware Engineer II

Nortek Security and Control LLC; Kent (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Nice North America, a subsidiary of Nice S.p.A., seeks a Firmware Engineer II to design, develop, test, and maintain embedded firmware for microcontroller-based gate and door products in Kent, WA. This hands-on role focuses on low-level firmware for bare-metal and RTOS.

You’ll work with electrical engineers during bring-up, debugging, and hardware/firmware integration, contribute to product lifecycle, and participate in design decisions while adhering to UL 325 safety requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering, CS or related field.
• 3–7 years of firmware development for microcontrollers (bare-metal or RTOS).
• Strong proficiency in C for embedded systems and hardware debugging skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain embedded firmware for microcontroller-based systems.
• Develop production-quality firmware in C/C++ for real-time embedded systems (bare metal/RTOS).
• Debug low-level drivers and hardware interfaces directly on microcontrollers (no embedded Linux).
• Collaborate with electrical engineers during schematic review, bring-up, debugging and integration.
• Debug firmware issues at signal level using oscilloscope/logic analyzers/JTAG.
• Participate in firmware architecture discussions and design decisions for new products.
• Use hardware debugging tools to diagnose and resolve issues; document firmware design and interfaces.
• Work within Git-based version control workflows and code reviews.
• Maintain awareness of safety/regulatory requirements (e.g., UL 325).

Skills

C programming

Embedded systems

Hardware debugging

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

Git

Oscilloscope

Logic analyzers

JTAG/SWD

Job description

Embrace a career with purpose at Nice North America, a subsidiary of Nice S.p.A., an Italian multinational leader in Home and Building Automation. Guided by our vision of creating A World Without Barriers, we develop cutting-edge solutions for smart home control, security, door and gate automation, access control, and more to achieve our mission of Simplifying Everyday Movements.

Headquartered in Carlsbad, CA, with several R&D and manufacturing centers and offices throughout the region, Nice is committed to innovation that enhances everyday life. Our team thrives in an environment that fosters continuous learning and professional growth where you’ll collaborate with talented and dynamic individuals every day to create groundbreaking solutions. And, as a global leader, we offer award-winning sales and marketing programs, technical support, and CEU training to the industry’s top partners.

Our commitment extends beyond technology development; we also proudly support the Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. program, helping wounded veterans and their families through specially adapted smart homes. A philanthropic endeavor that truly embodies our corporate mission.

Summary:

AFirmware Engineer IIis responsible forthe design, development, testing, and maintenance of embedded firmware formicrocontroller-basedelectromechanical gate and door products.This is a highly hands-on, hardware-oriented role focused on low-level embedded systems (bare-metal and RTOS), not embedded Linux or application-layer development.The ideal candidate enjoys workingwith hardware, including board bring-up, debugging real circuits, and interacting directly with electrical designs.

You will contributeto products that are released into medium and high-volume manufacturing andbeinvolved throughout the product lifecycle, including architecture discussions, board bring-up, debugging, validation, and field reliability improvements. This role emphasizeslow-level firmware development,technical execution, collaboration, and ownership of firmware components rather thanOS-based development ordirectpeople management.

Salary

is $120,000 to $140,000 depending on experience.

Location:

Kent, WA.(fully onsite)

Primary Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, andmaintainembedded firmware for microcontroller-based systems used invehiculargateoperators.
• Develop production-quality firmware in C/C++ for real-time embedded systems, includingbare metal andRTOS-based applications.
• Implement and debug low-level drivers and hardware interfaces directly on microcontrollers (no embedded Linux).
• Collaborate closely with electrical engineers during schematic review, board bring-up, debugging, and hardware/firmware integration.
• Debug hardware/firmware issues at the signal level (GPIO, SPI, I2C, UART, ADC, PWM,RS485,etc.)
• Participate in firmware architecture discussions and contribute to design decisions for new products and feature enhancements.
• Effectively use hardware debugging tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and debuggers to diagnose and resolve issues.
• Support manufacturing introduction, validation testing, and ongoing product reliability improvements.
• Document firmware design, behavior, and interfaces through codecommits, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Work effectively within Git-based version control workflows, including code reviews and collaborative development.
• Maintain awareness of applicable safety and regulatory requirements (e.g., UL 325) and how theyimpactfirmware design.
• Provide technical support and collaboration with other engineering disciplines and departments as needed.
• Stay current with embedded systems best practices and contribute to continuous improvement of development processes.

Note:This role does not involve embedded Linux, application-layer development, or high-level OS-based driver development

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, ora relatedfield, or equivalent experience.
• 3–7 years of experience developingfirmware on microcontrollers (bare-metal or RTOS)for production hardware.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Software:HighproficiencyinCfor embedded microcontrollers.Experience using higher-level languages (e.g.Python) for testing, scripting, or tooling is a plus.
• Strong understanding of microcontroller peripherals (timers, interrupts, ADC, PWM, communication interfaces)
• Experience with common microcontroller families and IDEs (e.g., ST, Microchip, TI, NXP).
• Experience with RTOS-based firmwarearchitectures.
• Ability to read and understand schematics and basic circuit design.
• Hands-on experience with hardware debugging tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG/SWD debuggers.
• Experience using Git or similar version control systems in a team environment.
• Advantageous to have experience in:BLDC Motor control, Battery and Solar management, standard wired and wireless embedded communication protocols, Embedded Web Servers, low power/standbymodesandExposure to safety-critical or regulated products.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively with electrical, mechanical, and test engineers.
• Comfortable working in a small, collaborative engineering team.

Candidates with primarily embedded Linux, application-layer, or high-level software backgrounds (e.g.,Yocto, kernel drivers, UI/backend systems) are nota fitfor this role.

Physical Requirements:

• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, whichpermitsthe employee to communicate effectively on the telephone and in person.
• Sufficient vision or other powers of observation, with or without reasonable accommodation, whichpermitsthe employee to review documents and file them in a prescribed order and organize documents and materials.
• Sufficient manual dexterity with or without reasonable accommodation, whichpermitsthe employee tofrequentlyoperatea personal computer.
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to work in an office setting and at a keyboard for an extendedperiod of time, considered to be approximately 50%-90% of the workday.

Working Conditions:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative ofthose anemployee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonableaccommodationsmay be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be comfortable working in an office environment to includemoderate noise levels.
• The working area is primarily in an open office setting with reasonable lighting and controlled temperatures.

As thinkers andcreators, we look atthe world with anopen mind,engagingwiththe possibilitiesand broadening ourperspective inaninclusiveway.

Disclaimer:

The above statements reflect the general details considered necessary to decide the principal functions of the jobidentifiedandshall not be construed as a detailed description of all work requirements that may be inherent in the job. Job incumbents are expected to perform other duties necessary for the effective operation of the position, department, orthe business.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.