Firmware Engineer, Staff

Redwire; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 145,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Matching 401(k)

Paid PTO

Paid holidays

Medical, vision, and dental insurance

Disability insurance

HSA and FSA options

Critical Care Plan

Accident Care Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

Redwire Defense Tech in Ann Arbor, MI seeks a Staff Firmware Engineer with extensive experience in bare metal embedded firmware for power systems. You will lead end-to-end firmware development, from requirements to testing, contributing across hardware, firmware, and software layers to deliver robust, high-performance systems.

The role emphasizes bootloaders, drivers, CAN/SPI/UART/I2C, and thorough testing.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of embedded firmware experience in safety/mission-critical environments.
• BS in Electrical or Computer Engineering or related field.
• Experience delivering greenfield/brownfield firmware projects.
• Experience driving hardware-software integration.

Responsibilities

• Lead embedded firmware features for power systems ensuring reliability and safety.
• Own subsystem firmware architecture including bootloaders, interrupts, and drivers.
• Board bring-up on new hardware; validate interfaces, timing, power sequencing.
• Integrate sensors, HMIs, and control interfaces into product architecture.
• Develop and optimize CAN, SPI, UART, I2C communication layers.
• Create and execute test plans; conduct HIL/SIL validation.
• Mentor junior engineers through code reviews and architecture discussions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional leads in design reviews and requirements decomposition.
• Work with other disciplines to ensure cohesive system designs.
• Identify innovative solutions to enhance system functionality.
• Prepare documentation for firmware designs, tests, and manuals.

Skills

C/C++ for embedded systems

ARM Cortex-M

Bare metal firmware

Hardware integration

Communication protocols (CANSPIUARTI2C

Debugging with scopes/LA

Leadership/mentoring

Requirements analysis

Systems thinking

Technical communication

Education

BS in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Tools

Code Composer Studio

Git

Job description

Description

WORK LOCATION: Ann Arbor, MI

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

SALARY RANGE: The anticipated salary range for this role is $145,000 to $195,000 annually. This range reflects a good faith estimate based on the targeted level for the role and typical compensation benchmarks across U.S. locations. Actual compensation may vary depending on the selected candidate’s qualifications, experience, geographical location, and internal alignment.

Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Firmware Engineer to join our innovative team. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in greenfield/brownfield bare metal firmware development for complex systems such as batteries, fuel cells, UAVs, complex consumer electronics, or automobiles. This role requires a deep understanding of firmware development principles, hardware integration principles, excellent problem-solving skills and tenacity, and the ability to champion projects from concept through completion.

As a Staff Firmware Engineer in the Energy Systems group in Ann Arbor, you will play a critical role in developing firmware for our cutting-edge power systems products. You will engage in the entire firmware development lifecycle, from requirements gathering and analysis to design, implementation, and testing. Your expertise will be essential in creating robust and reliable firmware that ensures the optimal performance of our systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and champion the development of embedded firmware features for power systems products, ensuring reliability, safety, and maintainability.
• Own subsystem-level firmware architecture, including bootloaders, interrupt architecture, and communication driver development.
• Perform board bring-up on new hardware, validating digital/analog interfaces, timing, power sequencing, and hardware interactions.
• Lead integration of sensors, peripheral devices, HMIs, power systems, and control interfaces into the product architecture.
• Develop and optimize communication layers (CAN, SPI, UART, I2C) for robustness under operational constraints.
• Develop test plans and conduct rigorous testing to validate firmware performance and compliance with industry standards and perform Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), System Integration Lab (SIL), and bench validation activities.
• Mentor junior engineers through code reviews, architecture discussions, and technical coaching.
• Serve as a technical interface to cross-functional leads, participating in design reviews and requirement decomposition.
• Work closely with other engineering disciplines to ensure cohesive and integrated system designs.
• Identify and implement innovative solutions to enhance system functionality and performance.
• Prepare and maintain detailed documentation for firmware designs, test procedures, and user manuals.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional experience developing embedded firmware in safety-critical or mission-critical environments.
• BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or related field is required
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and test greenfield/brownfield firmware.
• Experience driving system integration across hardware, firmware, and software layers.
• Expert-level proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems.
• Extensive experience developing firmware for ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers (STM32, TM4C, etc.) and Digital Signal Processors (TMS320, etc.), including startup code, interrupt handling, peripheral configuration, and memory management.
• Proven experience with a deep understanding of communication protocols (UART, SPI, I²C, CAN, Ethernet).
• Strong experience with bare metal software architecture and development.
• Demonstrated experience developing bootloaders, application firmware, and communication driver development for ARM-based microcontrollers.
• Expert-level experience working with IDEs (such as Code Composer Studio), build configurations, and debugging build errors and warnings.
• Ability to read schematics, understand PCB layout implications, and collaborate closely with electrical engineering.
• Able to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to engineering teams, leadership, customers, and other stakeholders.
• Expert-level debugging ability using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and advanced test equipment.
• Experience with Git based revision control, peer review, and release features.
• Flexibility to travel to suppliers or customer locations as required.
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Preferred Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of firmware development principles, including design, development, testing, and maintenance.
• Prior experience with defense contracts
• Proven ability to lead clean-sheet embedded system development efforts, establishing firmware architecture, technical requirements, communication frameworks, and verification strategies from concept through production release.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor and guide junior engineers.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and build strong working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Self-directed and results-oriented, with a demonstrated ability to independently execute complex projects, overcome technical challenges, and clearly document outcomes and recommendations.

Redwire Defense Tech Benefits

• Matching 401(k)
• Paid PTO
• Paid holidays
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance
• Group Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• HSA and FSA Options
• Critical Care Plan
• Accident Care Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Clearance Requirements

This position may require access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). To comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants will be asked to provide specific documentation to verify a US person’s status under the ITAR and the EAR.

Work Environment And Physical Requirements

The work environment may involve a standard office setting while also incorporating elements of a production area. Employees will use standard office equipment, including computers, and must demonstrate stamina to sit or stand while maintaining attention to detail despite potential interruptions. The role may require occasional activities such as walking, climbing, stooping, crouching, and bending. Vision is necessary for reading printed materials and a computer screen, while hearing and speech are essential for effective communication both in person and over the telephone. Additionally, the position may necessitate travel by air or automobile. Employees may be required to use personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, safety shoes, and shop coats, to ensure safety in the production environment. Employees may be able to lift up to 30 pounds as needed.

REDWIRE DEFENSE TECH IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Redwire Defense Tech is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Human Resources. Continued employment remains on an “At-Will” basis.