Firmware Engineering Lead

Echo Neurotechnologies; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

401(k) with matching

Competitive compensation

Job summary

Echo Neurotechnologies in San Francisco is seeking an experienced Firmware Engineering Lead to architect and execute firmware for next‑generation implantable medical devices. Initially as sole firmware architect, you will hands‑on bring‑up and real‑time control, then grow a team and shape the technical roadmap.

You will collaborate with electrical, mechanical, quality, and regulatory teams to ensure power, safety, and compliance budgets are met.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of embedded firmware experience in C/C++, spanning medical device lifecycle and regulatory release.
• Experience with bare‑metal/RTOS firmware on constrained MCUs and real‑time control.
• Knowledge of IEC 62304, ISO 13485, ISO 14971, and FDA regulations.
• Proven track record as a technical lead or engineering manager.
• Strong cross‑functional communication in a fast‑paced hardware environment.

Responsibilities

• Architect, implement, and debug low‑power firmware for active implantable devices.
• Lead the firmware roadmap and supervise a growing team of engineers.
• Introduce CI/CD, code reviews, and modular architecture practices.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, quality, and regulatory teams on safety and compliance budgets.
• Produce technical docs and verification suites to support regulatory submissions.

Skills

Embedded firmware

C/C++

Medical device lifecycle

RTOS/bare-metal

SPI I2C UART BLE

Regulatory compliance

Mentorship & leadership

Cross-functional comms

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering/CS

Tools

CI/CD pipelines

Python

HIL testing

Job description

Echo Neurotechnologies is an exciting new startup in the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) space, driving innovation through advanced hardware engineering and AI solutions. Our mission is to deliver cutting‑edge technologies that restore autonomy to people living with disabilities and improve their quality of life.

Team Culture

Join a small, dedicated team of knowledgeable and motivated professionals. Our early‑stage environment offers the opportunity to take ownership of broad decisions with significant and long‑lasting impact. We emphasize continuous learning and growth, fostering cross‑functional collaboration where your contributions are vital to our success.

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Firmware Engineering Lead to drive the firmware architecture and execution for next‑generation implantable medical devices. In this role, you will initially operate as the sole firmware architect as an individual contributor, taking ownership of hands‑on bring‑up, real‑time control, and low‑power architecture. As the platform matures, you will expand and lead a dedicated team of firmware engineers, shaping both the technical roadmap and day‑to‑day execution. Your work will help translate research‑validated neurotechnology into dependable, commercially ready product features.

Role Responsibilities

• Firmware Architecture & IC Execution: Architect, implement, and debug low‑power MCU/SoC firmware for active implantable devices, handling real‑time sensing, actuation, and wireless data streaming.
• Mentorship & Process: Introduce engineering best practices—including CI/CD pipelines, code reviews, and modular architecture—while coaching and mentoring engineers through regular feedback and technical guidance.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with electrical, mechanical, quality, and regulatory teams to ensure system designs meet strict power, thermal, safety, and compliance budgets.
• Team Growth & Leadership: Build and scale a high‑performing firmware team from the ground up, transitioning into a direct line management role to lead technical strategy, resource planning, and day‑to‑day execution.
• Quality & Regulatory Compliance: Produce rigorous technical documentation, firmware specifications, and verification suites to support regulatory submissions for safety‑critical medical software.

Role Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of embedded firmware experience in C/C++, spanning the full medical device lifecycle—from early proof‑of‑concept and evaluation kits through architecture design, regulatory release, and post‑launch support.
• Deep experience developing bare‑metal or RTOS firmware on resource‑constrained microcontrollers, including hands‑on hardware bring‑up, low‑power optimization, and standard digital interfaces (SPI, I2C, UART, BLE).
• Direct experience working within medical device design controls, risk management, and quality systems, with strong knowledge of relevant standards (IEC 62304, ISO 13485, ISO 14971, and FDA regulations).
• Demonstrated track record as a technical lead, task owner, or engineering manager with the skills and passion to mentor and scale a team.
• Strong cross‑functional communication skills and comfort driving results in an early‑stage, fast‑paced hardware development environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience developing firmware for active implantable medical devices or ultra‑low‑power body‑worn sensors.
• Experience setting up hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) testing, automated regression frameworks, and firmware CI/CD pipelines.
• Expert proficiency in Python for developing and maintaining tooling.
• Prior experience shaping engineering roadmaps and managing direct reports.

$170,000 - $220,000 USD

What We Offer

An opportunity to work on exciting, cutting‑edge projects to transform patients’ lives in a highly collaborative work environment.

Competitive compensation, including stock options.

401(k) program with matching contributions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Echo Neurotechnologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Confidentiality

All applications will be treated confidentially. Applicants may be asked to sign an NDA after the initial stages of the interview process.