Principal Firmware Engineer

Hayward Holdings, Inc.; North Kingstown (RI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental and Vision coverage

401(k) with 3% match, plus additional

Company-paid benefits

Job summary

Hayward Holdings Inc. is seeking a Principal Firmware Engineer to provide technical leadership across embedded platforms and drive the design of scalable firmware frameworks for connected pool products.

You will lead cross-functional collaboration from prototypes to high-volume manufacturing and field deployment. You will mentor engineers, own bootloaders, secure updates, diagnostics, and power-management strategies, while ensuring robust UART/SPI/I2C/CAN/RS-485 and wireless connectivity to the

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline
• 10+ years of embedded firmware development delivering commercial products
• 3+ years providing technical leadership across complex firmware development efforts
• Expert-level C/C++ development for resource-constrained embedded systems
• Experience developing firmware on ARM Cortex‑M microcontrollers or similar embedded architectures
• Strong understanding of RTOS concepts, multitasking, synchronization, interrupts, and memory management
• Experience developing and debugging embedded communication protocols including UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, and RS-485
• Experience performing board bring‑up, hardware integration, and low-level debugging
• Proficiency using JTAG/SWD debuggers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and embedded diagnostic tools
• Experience designing fault‑tolerant embedded software including bootloaders, firmware update mechanisms, diagnostics, watchdog strategies, logging, and recovery systems
• Experience using Git and modern software configuration management workflows

Responsibilities

• Lead firmware architecture — Design scalable, reusable firmware frameworks, HALs, RTOS architecture, and system services used across multiple connected pool product families
• Build resilient embedded systems — Implement fault detection, watchdog recovery, diagnostics, and power management for continuous outdoor operation
• Drive hardware bring-up — Partner with EE teams on board bring-up, peripheral integration, driver development, and validation across hardware revisions
• Debug complex firmware issues — Resolve timing, interrupt, RTOS, communication, and hardware/software issues using JTAG/SWD, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers
• Own connectivity & communication layers — Maintain reliable UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, RS-485, BLE, and Wi-Fi communication between devices and the cloud
• Design for production — Build bootloaders, secure firmware updates, fault logging, and manufacturing test interfaces for long-term serviceability
• Provide technical leadership — Mentor engineers, lead architecture and code reviews, and champion CI/CD, testing, and engineering best practices while collaborating cross-functionally with manufacturing, quality, and product teams

Skills

C/C++

ARM Cortex‑M

RTOS concepts

Git

Education

BS/MS in Computer Engineering/CS/EE

Tools

JTAG/SWD

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Job description

Hayward Holdings Inc. (NYSE \"HAYW\") is the largest manufacturer of residential swimming pool equipment in the world, with a significant presence in the commercial pool market that is continuously growing. Hayward designs, manufactures, and markets a full line of residential and commercial pool and spa equipment including pumps, filters, heating, cleaners, salt chlorinators, automation, lighting, safety, flow control and energy solutions at our company owned facilities. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hayward also has facilities in Tennessee, Arizona, and Rhode Island as well as Canada, Spain, France, Australia, and China.

About the Role

Hayward is seeking a Principal Firmware Engineer to provide technical leadership across our next generation of embedded platforms. This role combines deep hands-on firmware development with system architecture, technical leadership, and cross-functional collaboration throughout the entire product lifecycle.

You’ll lead the design and implementation of firmware that powers connected pumps, heaters, automation systems, sanitization products, and future intelligent devices — from early hardware prototypes through high-volume manufacturing and field deployment.

As Hayward continues investing in connected products, intelligent automation, and next-generation embedded platforms, firmware has become a critical driver of innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead firmware architecture — Design scalable, reusable firmware frameworks, HALs, RTOS architecture, and system services used across multiple connected pool product families.
• Build resilient embedded systems — Implement fault detection, watchdog recovery, diagnostics, and power management for continuous outdoor operation.
• Drive hardware bring-up — Partner with EE teams on board bring-up, peripheral integration, driver development, and validation across hardware revisions.
• Debug complex firmware issues — Resolve timing, interrupt, RTOS, communication, and hardware/software issues using JTAG/SWD, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.
• Own connectivity & communication layers — Maintain reliable UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, RS-485, BLE, and Wi-Fi communication between devices and the cloud.
• Design for production — Build bootloaders, secure firmware updates, fault logging, and manufacturing test interfaces for long-term serviceability.
• Provide technical leadership — Mentor engineers, lead architecture and code reviews, and champion CI/CD, testing, and engineering best practices while collaborating cross-functionally with manufacturing, quality, and product teams.

Qualifications

Required Experience

• BS or MS in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline
• 10+ years of embedded firmware development delivering commercial products
• 3+ years providing technical leadership across complex firmware development efforts
• Expert-level C/C++ development for resource-constrained embedded systems
• Experience developing firmware on ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers or similar embedded architectures
• Strong understanding of RTOS concepts, multitasking, synchronization, interrupts, and memory management
• Experience developing and debugging embedded communication protocols including UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, and RS-485
• Experience performing board bring‑up, hardware integration, and low-level debugging
• Proficiency using JTAG/SWD debuggers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and embedded diagnostic tools
• Experience designing fault‑tolerant embedded software including bootloaders, firmware update mechanisms, diagnostics, watchdog strategies, logging, and recovery systems
• Experience using Git and modern software configuration management workflows

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing firmware for connected or IoT-enabled products
• Experience with BLE, Wi-Fi, or other wireless communication technologies
• Familiarity with embedded cybersecurity and secure boot concepts
• Experience implementing automated testing, static analysis, and firmware CI/CD pipelines
• Experience building reusable firmware platforms supporting multiple product lines
• Experience transitioning products into high-volume manufacturing
• Knowledge of safety standards, EMC compliance, and regulatory requirements for embedded products

Perks and Benefits

• Health, Dental and Vision coverage
• 401(k) with 3% match, plus additional contributions