Firmware Engineering Intern

Notre Dame; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Notre Dame is seeking an embedded firmware engineer to design, implement, and test C/C++ firmware for bare-metal, RTOS, and embedded Linux platforms in Austin. You will work closely with hardware teams to develop drivers, interfaces, and low-level system behavior.

The role emphasizes reading schematics, datasheets, and debugging with oscilloscopes and logic analyzers to ensure reliable, deterministic performance in real-time environments.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of C/C++ and embedded systems concepts.
• Experience with microcontrollers, RTOS, or sensor integration.
• Ability to read schematics and datasheets; good debugging skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and test firmware in C/C++ for bare-metal, RTOS, and embedded Linux.
• Develop device drivers and low-level interfaces; debug hardware-software interactions.
• Contribute to telemetry, fault detection, and reliable communications for fleet.
• Ship code with reliability, determinism, and safety under timing constraints.
• Collaborate across hardware, power electronics, and software teams to solve integration issues.

Skills

C/C++

Embedded systems

Computer architecture

Tools

Oscilloscope

Logic analyzer

Job description

Your Role

• Build core firmware by designing, implementing, and testing firmware in C/C++ on bare-metal, RTOS, and embedded Linux systems across the fleet.
• Work close to hardware by developing and debugging device drivers, communication interfaces, and low-level system behavior; read schematics and interpret datasheets.
• Contribute to fleet-critical systems that keep thousands of homes running, including high-rate telemetry, automated fault detection and response, reliable communications, fast commissioning, and grid-balancing control loops.
• Ship code under real-world constraints ensuring reliability, determinism, and safety with attention to timing and simplicity.
• Collaborate across domains with hardware, power electronics, and platform software engineers to solve integration problems and deliver robust end-to-end behavior.

About You

• Solid understanding of C/C++, embedded systems concepts, and basic computer architecture.
• Experience from coursework, side projects, or prior internships involving microcontrollers, RTOS, sensor integration, robotics, power electronics, or other embedded systems.
• Interest in real system behavior including timing diagrams, interrupts, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and debugging hardware.
• Clear, concise communicator who thrives in fast-paced, collaborative environments.
• Curious, self-directed builder's mindset focused on solving meaningful problems.