Lead Firmware Engineer, Embedded Photonics Validation

Xscape Photonics Inc; California; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Xscape Photonics Inc is seeking a skilled Firmware Engineer to lead validation and test firmware for our optical communication hardware. You will bring-up, characterize, and qualify new devices, working closely with production firmware and hardware teams.

You will develop robust firmware for microcontroller platforms, interfacing to lasers, modulators, and photodetectors, and implement deterministic timing and testing strategies to ensure product readiness.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years in embedded firmware development.
• Experience with real-time systems (bare-metal or RTOS).
• Proficiency with C/C++ for microcontroller firmware.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement validation firmware for MCU-based platforms driving lasers, modulators, photodetectors, and control electronics to bring up and qualify hardware.
• Implement control methods prototyped in Python as embedded firmware and verify behavior on hardware.
• Interface with precision ADC/DAC channels for laser control, temperature control, and diagnostics.
• Develop bootloaders, firmware update mechanisms, and telemetry for manufacturing and field support.
• Configure sensors and peripherals over I2C, SPI, UART, and GPIO; support debug of PCBs and evaluation boards.
• Document failure modes, wind down bring-up activities, and prepare handoff materials for productization.

Skills

Embedded firmware

C/C++

Real-time systems

Microcontrollers

I2C/SPI/UART

GPIO

Hardware debugging

Education

BS/MS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering

Tools

Git

Python

Job description

Xscape Photonics Inc is seeking a skilled Firmware Engineer to lead validation and test firmware for our optical communication hardware. You will bring-up, characterize, and qualify new devices, working closely with production firmware and hardware teams.

You will develop robust firmware for microcontroller platforms, interfacing to lasers, modulators, and photodetectors, and implement deterministic timing and testing strategies to ensure product readiness.