Lead Firmware Quality Engineer

Samsara; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Lead Firmware Quality Engineer to shape the future of physical operations. This hybrid role combines leadership with hands-on testing for MCU-based devices, ensuring high-quality embedded software. You will guide a team of quality engineers, develop comprehensive test plans, and enhance testing infrastructure while collaborating closely with development and hardware teams. If you're passionate about making an impact in industries that drive our world and thrive in a collaborative environment, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Competitive Compensation

Flexible Work Environment

Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

Benefits Package

Qualifications

• 6+ years in embedded systems or firmware testing.
• 2+ years in a leadership role.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of quality engineers, setting priorities and fostering accountability.
• Develop and execute test plans, automation, and system validation.
• Enhance test infrastructure and CI/CD pipelines.

Skills

Embedded Systems Testing

Leadership

RTOS Firmware

Python

CI/CD

Git

Automation Frameworks

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Tools

Zephyr

FreeRTOS

SQL

Hardware Debugging Tools

Job description

Join to apply for the Lead Firmware Quality Engineer role at Samsara.

Who We Are
Samsara (NYSE: IOT) is the pioneer of the Connected Operations Cloud, a platform that enables organizations dependent on physical operations to harness Internet of Things (IoT) data for actionable insights and operational improvements. We aim to enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability in industries like agriculture, construction, transportation, and manufacturing, which constitute over 40% of global GDP.

Working at Samsara means shaping the future of physical operations and developing innovative products such as Video-Based Safety, Vehicle Telematics, and Equipment Monitoring. As a publicly traded company, we offer autonomy and support to make a meaningful impact.

About the role

We seek a Firmware Test Lead to own quality strategy and execution for MCU-based devices. This role combines hands-on testing with team leadership, guiding firmware QA engineers and collaborating with firmware development, hardware, and product teams to ensure high-quality embedded software.

Your leadership will be vital in scaling QA infrastructure, automation, and validation processes, especially for devices operating in challenging environments with RTOS firmware and complex connectivity stacks.

This is a hybrid position

requiring 3 days/week in San Francisco, CA, and 2 days remote.

You should apply if:

• You want to impact industries that run our world, ensuring safety and operational continuity.
• You want to build scalable solutions for millions of IoT devices.
• You are committed to continuous learning and growth.
• You value close customer engagement and feedback.
• You are a collaborative team player.

In this role, you will:

• Lead a team of quality engineers, setting priorities and fostering accountability.
• Develop and execute test plans, automation, and system validation.
• Collaborate with development and hardware teams to ensure comprehensive test coverage.
• Enhance test infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, and reporting.
• Promote quality throughout the development lifecycle.
• Build automated test frameworks and environments.
• Support field validation, logs analysis, and issue triage.
• Embed Samsara’s cultural principles across global teams.

Minimum requirements

• 6+ years in embedded systems or firmware testing.
• 2+ years in a leadership role.
• Experience with RTOS firmware (Zephyr, FreeRTOS).
• Proficiency in Python.
• Knowledge of CI/CD, Git, and automation frameworks.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.

Preferred qualifications

• Embedded C and SQL experience.
• Knowledge of cellular, GPS, BLE, WiFi, CAN technologies.
• Experience with hardware debugging tools.

Samsara offers competitive compensation, benefits, and a flexible work environment. We are committed to diversity and inclusion, providing accommodations as needed.