Member of Technical Staff: Firmware, Embedded, and Functional Safety

Walden Robotics; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Company equity

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Flexible PTO

Daily lunch

Job summary

Walden Robotics is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to design, implement, debug, and optimize real-time embedded software for robotic systems, including custom and COTS actuators, sensors, and safety-critical subsystems.

You will collaborate with electrical, mechanical, controls, and software teams to bring up hardware, integrate capabilities, and mature prototypes into reliable production systems. This hands-on role emphasizes robust C/C++ firmware for demanding robotic products.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional embedded software experience.
• Strong C/C++ skills for bare-metal and RTOS-based embedded systems.
• Deep understanding of microcontrollers, onboard computers, sensors, cameras, actuators, motor controllers, and fieldbus communication.
• Hands-On Debugging: experience with board bring-up, device drivers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, debuggers, and hardware/software integration.
• Real-Time Systems: experience with control loops, timing-sensitive communication, fault handling, and safety monitoring.
• Collaboration: ability to work across hardware, controls, and software teams in a fast-moving engineering environment.

Responsibilities

• Write and maintain C/C++ embedded software for motor controllers, sensors, and subsystems.
• Bring up new boards, write device drivers, validate peripherals, and debug issues.
• Develop bare-metal and RTOS-based software for control loops and safety monitoring.
• Implement interfaces such as EtherCAT, Ethernet, CAN/CAN-FD, RS-485, SPI, I2C, UART.
• Build diagnostics, logging, and test utilities to improve reliability and observability.
• Collaborate with hardware, controls, and software teams to integrate capabilities.
• Mentor and contribute to design decisions while staying hands-on.

Skills

C/C++

Embedded software

RTOS

Debugging

Hardware bring-up

Tools

CI/CD pipelines

Device drivers

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Job description

Position Summary

We are seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to develop the low-level software that powers our robotic systems. In this role, you will design, implement, debug, and optimize real-time embedded software for custom and COTS actuators, sensors, communication interfaces, and safety-critical subsystems.

We are seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to develop the low-level software that powers our robotic systems. In this role, you will design, implement, debug, and optimize real-time embedded software for custom and COTS actuators, sensors, communication interfaces, and safety-critical subsystems.

You will work closely with electrical, mechanical, controls, and software teams to bring up new hardware, integrate embedded capabilities into the broader robot stack, and mature prototypes into reliable production systems. This role is highly hands-on and best suited for someone who enjoys working close to hardware, solving complex debugging problems, and writing robust C/C++ firmware for real robotic products.

Core Responsibilities

• Embedded Software Development: Implement and maintain C/C++ embedded software and firmware for motor controllers, sensors, power management systems, and other robotic subsystems.
• Hardware Bring-Up & Debugging: Bring up new boards, write and test device drivers, validate peripherals, and debug hardware/software issues using lab equipment.
• Real-Time Systems: Develop bare-metal and RTOS-based software for control loops, safety monitoring, timing-sensitive communication, and resource-constrained hardware.
• Communication & Integration: Implement and validate interfaces such as EtherCAT, Ethernet, CAN/CAN-FD, RS-485, SPI, I2C, and UART.
• Firmware Tooling & Quality: Build diagnostics, logging, test utilities, and automated workflows that improve firmware reliability, observability, and development speed.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with electrical, mechanical, controls, and software engineers to define interfaces, troubleshoot system issues, and integrate new robotic capabilities.
• Senior Technical Contribution: Contribute to design tradeoffs, code reviews, planning, and mentoring while remaining hands-on in implementation and debugging.

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 3+ years of professional embedded software experience, including shipping robust robotics-related products.
• Technical Proficiency: Strong C/C++ skills for bare-metal and RTOS-based embedded systems.
• Hardware Knowledge: Deep understanding of microcontrollers, onboard computers, sensors, cameras, actuators, motor controllers, and fieldbus communication.
• Hands-On Debugging: Experience with board bring-up, device drivers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, debuggers, and hardware/software integration.
• Real-Time Systems: Experience with control loops, timing-sensitive communication, fault handling, and safety monitoring.
• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively across hardware, controls, and software teams in a fast-moving engineering environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with robotic systems, preferably humanoid robots, manipulation robots, mobile robots, or other complex mechatronic systems.
• Experience with designing and delivering software for functional safety
• Familiarity with industrial safety standards such as IEC 61508
• Experience with EtherCAT, Ethernet, CAN/CAN-FD, RS-485, or other industrial/robotics communication protocols.
• Experience with motor control, power systems, sensor integration, safety systems, or distributed embedded systems.
• Experience with firmware test infrastructure, CI/CD, diagnostics, logging, OTA updates, or production validation workflows.

Walden Robotics offers a competitive total compensation program, including salary, annual cash bonus, company equity, company-subsidized insurance programs, 401(k) with company match, flexible PTO, daily lunch, and other benefits. The pay ranges noted on our posts are for salary only.

Walden Robotics is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.

Walden Robotics participates in E-Verify. If you receive an offer of employment from Walden, you will need to go through the E-Verify process of digital verification of your employment authorization documents as provided on the Form I-9. Participation in E-Verify does not limit your right to work and verification will only be completed after you become

At Walden Robotics, we envision a world where general-purpose robots dramatically improve the quality of life for all people—supporting us at home, at work, in factories, on farms, and beyond. To accomplish this, we are building a team of exceptional professionals who combine world-class technical skills with creative vision, grounded in humility and collaboration.