Firmware / Software Engineer

Optical Zonu Corp.; California (MO); On-site; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Optical Zonu Corp. in the United States is seeking a Firmware or Embedded Software Engineer to join our small engineering team.

You will design, implement, test, and maintain embedded firmware for RF-over-fiber products, collaborating with hardware, production, and software peers. You will work on both new development and continuation engineering, write Python tools, review code, and produce thorough documentation to ensure reliable, maintainable systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or related discipline.
• Strong proficiency in the C programming language.
• Experience with microcontrollers, embedded hardware, and PC applications.
• Ability to write maintainable, well-documented code and understand schematics.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, test, and maintain embedded firmware in C.
• Continue engineering on existing products, troubleshoot and add features.
• Debug firmware, software, and system integration problems.
• Develop Python tools, test apps, and manufacturing utilities.
• Support manufacturing with test platforms and production software.
• Participate in architecture discussions to promote modularity and reliability.
• Document firmware designs, tests, and tooling.

Skills

C programming

Embedded software

Debugging complex systems

Schematic comprehension

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related

Tools

GIT

JIRA

Python

Job description

Optical Zonu Corp. is a leader in the RF-Over-Fiber telecommunication market, developing whole system solutions. We have a modest engineering team that designs, manufactures, assembles, and tests these systems in house.

We are seeking a Firmware or Embedded Software Engineer to join our small engineering team. This role will work closely with other firmware engineers, electrical engineers, and production personnel, to develop, maintain, test, and support RF-over-fiber telecommunication products through their lifecycle.

The ideal candidate combines strong software engineering fundamentals with practical hardware programming experience, delivering practical results while maintaining engineering rigor. They understand how to build maintainable, testable, and reliable software, working directly with electronic hardware. This position involves both new product development and continuation engineering of existing products, requiring curiosity, adaptability, and the ability to work effectively with legacy codebases of varying maturity levels.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, test, and maintain embedded firmware primarily in C
• Perform continuation engineering on existing products, including troubleshooting, feature enhancements, defect resolution, and lifecycle support
• Investigate, debug, and resolve firmware, software, and system-integration problems using appropriate tools and methodologies
• Develop supporting tools, test applications, and manufacturing utilities in Python
• Support manufacturing and production teams by developing and maintaining test platforms, diagnostic tools, and production software
• Speak to and participate in architecture and software design discussions that promote maintainability, modularity, and reliability
• Participate in code reviews, provide constructive feedback, improve code quality, and elevation of engineering practices
• Produce clear documentation, test and validation procedures, and technical design information, and of the firmware and software tools

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or related discipline
• Strong proficiency in the C Programming language
• Strong experience developing software for microcontrollers, embedded hardware, and PC-applications
• Strong understanding of software engineering principles, including:
• Abstraction, Decoupling and Cohesion
• Design Patterns and Structures
• UML and Software Documentation
• Optimizations for Microcontrollers
• Experience debugging complex software and firmware systems
• Refactoring legacy systems while preserving functionality and reliability
• Ability to understand electronic schematics and principles
• Hands-on experience using laboratory equipment, such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, or similar tools
• Writing Clean, Readable, and Well-Documented Code
• Strong written communication skills and commitment to producing well-documented, supportable deliverables
• Ability and adaptability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary engineering environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing embedded systems and real-time firmware: PIC32M, PIC18F, Freescale, and SiLabs MCUs
• Experience writing Python utility applications, automation tools, or test software
• Experience interfacing with I2C, UART, SPI, USB, ADCs, DACs, sensors, and communication peripherals
• Experience working with legacy production and inherited codebases
• Experience with instrumentation, data acquisition, or laboratory automation
• Familiarity with manufacturing test systems, automated testing, or production support
• Exposure to telecommunications, optical communications, or RF systems, digital and analog control loops
• Experience developing test fixtures, hardware validation tools, or engineering utilities
• Hardware Experience is a plus: Schematic Development, Circuit Troubleshooting
• Experience working with version control systems (GIT) and collaborative development workflows (JIRA)
• Annual Salary: $100K to $160K