Firmware Engineer III

Aleron; Leander (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 103,000; Full time

Job summary

Acara Solutions in Leander, TX, seeks a Firmware Engineer to design, develop, test, and integrate embedded flight software for spacecraft. This contract-to-hire role involves collaborating with software and hardware teams to deliver robust firmware in bare-metal or RTOS environments.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in embedded firmware, strong C/C++ skills, and experience with I2C/SPI/UART/CAN/Ethernet. The position offers $65–$75/hr and 40 hours/week, with ITAR/compliance requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering or Computer Science.
• 5+ years of professional embedded firmware development in Linux environments.
• 5+ years of experience with communication protocols (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, USB, Ethernet).

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test embedded firmware for microcontrollers and microprocessors in bare-metal or RTOS environments.
• Architect and implement low-level drivers, communication protocols, and system-level firmware for real-time applications.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to define system architecture and debug hardware/firmware interactions.
• Optimize firmware for power efficiency, performance, and memory constraints in resource-limited embedded systems.
• Participate in code reviews, maintain high-quality code standards, and document firmware designs and processes.
• Contribute to system-level debugging, performance profiling, and validation of embedded systems.
• Optionally, support FPGA integration and custom OS builds using Yocto or Buildroot.

Skills

Embedded firmware (Linux)

C/C++ for embedded

I2C/SPI/UART/CAN/USB/Ethernet

RTOS (FreeRTOS/Zephyr)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering or Computer Science

Master's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

Yocto/Buildroot

CI/CD for embedded firmware

Job description

Description

Job Title: Firmware Engineer

Location: Leander, TX

Employment Type: Contract to Hire (6 months)

Industry: Aerospace & Defense

Compensation: $65.00 - $75.00/hr.

Schedule: 40 hours/week

About the Opportunity

• In this role you will help design, develop, test, and integrate the embedded flight software for the client's spacecraft.
• You will work in a group of software engineers through all stages of spacecraft software development processes and collaborate with other engineering teams.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Supportive, team-driven culture that values collaboration, transparency, and accountability.
• Opportunity to grow your career with a global workforce solutions leader serving multiple industries.
• People-first environment that encourages employees to bring their authentic selves to work.
• Strong focus on partnership, innovation, and delivering meaningful results for clients and candidates.

Why This Opportunity is Exciting

• This role offers the chance to join a company that prioritizes both people and performance-where your contributions directly impact client success while giving you room to grow and develop professionally.

About Acara Solutions

• Acara is a premier recruiting and workforce solutions provider-we help companies compete for talent. With a legacy of experience in various industries worldwide, we partner with clients, listen to their needs, and customize visionary talent solutions that drive desired business outcomes. We leverage decades of experience to deliver contingent staffing, direct placement, executive search, and workforce services worldwide.

What You'll Do

• Design, develop, and test embedded firmware for microcontrollers and microprocessors in bare-metal or RTOS environments.
• Architect and implement low-level drivers, communication protocols (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, etc.), and system-level firmware for real-time applications.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to define system architecture, debug hardware/firmware interactions, and ensure seamless integration.
• Optimize firmware for power efficiency, performance, and memory constraints in resource-limited embedded systems.
• Participate in code reviews, maintain high-quality code standards, and document firmware designs and processes.
• Contribute to system-level debugging, performance profiling, and validation of embedded systems.
• Optionally, support FPGA integration, including firmware interfacing with FPGA designs, or contribute to custom OS builds using tools like Yocto or Buildroot.

Job Requirements

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering or Computer Science.
• 5+ years of professional experience in embedded firmware development in Linux environments.
• 5+ years of experience with communication protocols (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, USB, Ethernet, etc.) and real-time system constraints.

What Sets You Apart

• Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering or Computer Science.
• Proven track record of delivering real-world industry projects involving embedded firmware developed as bare-metal or RTOS applications (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar).
• Strong programming skills in C/C++ for embedded systems, with experience in assembly language.
• Familiarity with debugging tools (JTAG, SWD, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers) and embedded development environments.
• Experience developing C++ applications for embedded systems.
• Proficiency in CI/CD workflow development for embedded firmware projects (e.g., Teamcity, GitLab CI, or similar).
• Experience with FPGA development, including firmware integration with FPGA designs.
• Familiarity with custom OS builds using Yocto, Buildroot, or similar embedded Linux build systems.

Additional Information

• Upon offer of employment, the individual will be subject to a background check and drug screen
• In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the necessary employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
• Under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), all employees assigned to this client must provide documentation verifying their status as a 'U.S. Person', as defined in ITAR clause 120.15. A U.S. Person is a protected individual under the anti-discrimination provisions of U.S. immigration laws.

Aleron companies (Acara Solutions, Aleron Shared Resources, Broadleaf Results, Lume Strategies, TalentRise, Viaduct) are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Race/Color/Gender/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Veteran.

Applicants for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position does not meet the employment requirements for individuals with F-1 OPT STEM work authorization status.