Firmware Engineering Manager

Mill; San Bruno (CA); On-site; USD 245,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Mill is seeking a Firmware Engineering Manager in California to lead a small team of firmware engineers while contributing as an individual contributor on critical MCU/wireless work. You will collaborate with cloud, mobile, product, and hardware teams to deliver integrated connectivity features.

Applicants should have 5+ years in embedded systems, strong C skills, and proven leadership in technical settings. This full-time on-site role in San Bruno offers growth and impact.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in embedded systems development with leadership or tech lead experience.
• Strong C programming and memory management knowhow.
• Experience interfacing with hardware via GPIO, I2C, SPI, UART.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a firmware team with career development and performance feedback.
• Design and implement firmware for MCU platforms with wireless connectivity.
• Develop communication stacks and integrate with cloud services and apps.
• Review code and ensure robust, secure, and production-ready firmware.

Skills

Embedded systems

C programming

Networking

Version control

CI/CD

Debugging tools

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Wireshark

Debuggers

Multimeters

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Job description

We're seeking a Firmware Engineering Manager to lead the design, development, and implementation of low-level firmware for our next-generation connected product, while remaining hands‑on as an individual contributor. You'll manage and grow a small team of firmware engineers while personally contributing to critical design and implementation work, working closely with cloud services, mobile app, product, and hardware teams to integrate connectivity features seamlessly.

Key Responsibilities

People & Team Leadership

• Manage, mentor, and grow a team of firmware engineers, providing technical guidance, career development, and regular performance feedback.
• Set team priorities and roadmaps in partnership with product and hardware leadership, balancing technical debt, new feature work, and production readiness.
• Recruit and interview firmware engineering candidates as the team scales.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture that encourages knowledge‑sharing and technical growth.

Technical & Individual Contribution

• Personally design and implement robust firmware on MCU platforms, ensuring support for wireless connectivity, data upload, OTA updates, sensor integration, and other core functionalities.
• Develop and optimize communication stacks for wireless protocols, ensuring reliable pairing, network configuration, and data exchange.
• Write efficient low‑level code that integrates with hardware peripherals (e.g., RF modules, sensors) using standard interfaces such as GPIO, I2C, SPI, and UART.
• Apply best practices for error handling and performance optimization to support robust connectivity features.
• Work closely with cross‑functional teams to rigorously debug, test, and troubleshoot firmware, ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and security.
• Engage actively with multidisciplinary teams, sharing insights and aligning on system‑level requirements to drive cohesive project success.
• Drive the team's contributions to deployment readiness for large‑scale production.
• Review code from team members and peers to maintain best practices in style, accuracy, and efficiency.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience, with 5+ years in embedded systems development.
• Prior experience leading, managing, or mentoring engineers, or demonstrated readiness to step into a management role (e.g., tech lead experience).
• Deep understanding of computer networking and firmware for data‑intensive applications.
• Strong expertise in C programming for embedded systems, with a solid grasp of memory management and real‑time operating system principles.
• Proficiency in hardware‑software interfacing, including protocols like GPIO, I2C, SPI, and JTAG.
• Proficiency with troubleshooting tools (debuggers, Wireshark) and measurement equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers).
• Demonstrated expertise in debugging and rigorous testing to quickly identify and resolve complex issues.
• Familiarity with version control, CI, and build systems.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to foster a collaborative, team‑oriented environment.

Preferred Skills

• Hands‑on experience with connectivity modules (Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth) and RTOS (FreeRTOS preferred).
• Experience with Jetson Linux platform and ESP32 microcontrollers.
• Working knowledge of cloud computing protocols (e.g., MQTT) and platforms like AWS (AWS CDK is a plus).
• Experience with cellular connectivity.

The estimated base salary range for this position is $245-$280K, which does not include the value of benefits or a potential equity grant. A wide range of factors are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to skill sets, market conditions, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and business and organizational needs.