Firmware Engineer - San Francisco

Plaud; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare (vision/dental)

401(k) with company match

Unlimited PTO

New parent leave

Hybrid in-office schedule

Laptop & workstation provided

Offsites & snacks

Job summary

Plaud Inc. is hiring a skilled embedded firmware engineer to build firmware for AI wearable prototypes and enable communication between MCU, sensors, and wireless modules.

You will bring up new hardware, debug firmware, and validate system functionality while collaborating with hardware engineers to deliver fully integrated devices. The role offers hybrid work and competitive compensation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field with 5+ years of embedded firmware development experience.
• Strong programming skills in C/C++ for embedded systems with MCU platforms and RTOS.
• Experience with hardware bring-up using schematic/PCB tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop embedded firmware for AI wearable prototypes and enable communication between MCU, sensors, and wireless modules.
• Bring up new hardware platforms, debug firmware, and validate system functionality.
• Collaborate with electrical and mechanical engineers for integrated prototypes.
• Optimize firmware for low power and prepare architecture for handoff to Shenzhen team.

Skills

Embedded firmware

C/C++

MCU platforms

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Computer or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Keil

IAR Embedded Workbench

VS Code

Job description

About Plaud Inc.

Plaud is building the world's most trusted AI work companion for professionals to elevate productivity and performance through note-taking solutions, loved by over 1,500,000 users worldwide since 2023. With a mission to amplify human intelligence, Plaud is building the next-generation intelligence infrastructure and interfaces to capture, extract, and utilize what you say, hear, see, and think. Plaud Inc. is a Delaware-incorporated, San Francisco-based company pushing the boundary of human–AI intelligence through a hardware–software combination. With SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO27001, ISO27701, and EN18031 compliance, Plaud is committed to the highest standards of data security and privacy protection. To learn more about Plaud, please visit https://www.Plaud.ai and follow along on Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Why You Should Join Us

Plaud is building the next generation intelligence infrastructure and interfaces to capture, extract, and utilize intelligence from what people say, hear, see, and think. Plaud is a bootstrapped, skyrocketing, profitable company with a $250M revenue run rate achieved in just three years. Define the next-gen paradigm for human‑AI interaction. Gain exposure to cutting‑edge AI for Pro tools and play a direct role in our global expansion. Work with passionate teammates who value innovation, collaboration, and customer success. Grow your career in a culture that champions continuous learning and fast career development. Market‑competitive compensation, global exposure, and a vibrant, creativity‑fueled work atmosphere.

What You Will Do

• Develop embedded firmware for AI wearable prototypes, enabling communication between MCU, sensors, wireless modules, and other hardware components.
• Bring up new hardware platforms, perform firmware debugging, and validate system functionality.
• Collaborate closely with electrical and mechanical engineers to build fully integrated prototype devices.
• Implement and optimize firmware for low-power operation, device control, and basic system functions.
• Support rapid prototype iteration and prepare firmware architecture for handoff to the Shenzhen engineering team.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field with 5+ years of embedded firmware development experience.
• Strong programming skills in C/C++ for embedded systems, with experience on MCU platforms and RTOS environments.
• Proficiency with development and debugging tools such as Keil, IAR Embedded Workbench, VS Code, or Eclipse, and familiarity with JTAG/SWD debuggers and logic analyzers.
• Experience working closely with hardware teams using schematic/PCB tools such as Altium Designer, Cadence, or KiCad for hardware bring‑up and debugging.
• Experience with low‑power systems, sensors, and wireless protocols (Bluetooth/BLE, Wi‑Fi) used in wearable or IoT devices.

What We Offer

• Founding Team: Opportunity to join the founding team of this new initiative, with meaningful ownership and impact on a fast-growing startup.
• Competitive Compensation: $150K‑$200K base salary+performance bonus+Equity.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Top‑tier healthcare for employees and dependents, including dental and vision, and a generous employer subsidy.
• Retirement Planning: 401(k) plan for full time employees with company matching.
• Paid Time Off: Unlimited PTO, plus 13 paid holidays.
• New Parent Leave: 12 weeks of paid time off to spend time with your new family, regardless of gender.
• Hybrid Office: Minimum of 3x in office per week.
• Gear: New hires are equipped with their choice of new top‑of‑the‑line laptops and workstation setups.
• Perks: Best office equipment. Annual offsites. Free office drinks and snacks.

Plaud is and will continue to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.