Principal Firmware Engineer, Asset Tracking - Santa Clara (Hybrid)

CHEP; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 213,000; Full time

Job summary

CHEP in Santa Clara seeks a Principal Firmware Engineer to drive firmware for tracking devices and IoT sensors. You will architect, implement, and optimize embedded software across hardware and cloud teams to enable secure, low-power, high-performance device platforms.

With 8-12 years in embedded development, you will mentor the firmware team, set standards, and deliver features that meet customer needs while ensuring robust testing and clear documentation in a fast-paced Digitals environment.

Qualifications

• 8-12 years of embedded software development experience.
• Experience with embedded firmware platforms (FreeRTOS/Zephyr or similar).
• Experience delivering electronics devices in Consumer, IoT, Embedded markets.

Responsibilities

• Define and own technical features for firmware, optimizing for performance, power, and security.
• Develop and debug embedded C/C++ code for microcontrollers, microprocessors, and SoCs.
• Collaborate with hardware teams to bring up new hardware and ensure smooth firmware interaction.

Skills

Embedded C/C++

Embedded systems

Leadership

Requirements & testing

Sensor & communication protocols

I2C/SPI/USART/I2S/PCM

Wi-Fi / BLE / Cellular IoT

Problem solving

Education

B.S. or M.S in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering

Tools

FreeRTOS

Zephyr

Job description

By combining state-of-the-art data science techniques, cutting-edge Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, and Software as a Service, we enable a more connected, intelligent and efficient supply chain. We’re creating value from massive, connected data. Our unmatched insights illuminate more than 300,000 supply chains, more than a million customers and partners, and over 300 million physical assets that are constantly on the move around the world.

CHEP is a Brambles / BXB Digital company, the global leader in supply chain logistic solutions operating through the CHEP brand. Brambles Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and has its headquarters in Sydney, Australia. Operating in more than 60 countries, with its largest operations in North America and Western Europe, we employ more than 14,500 people and owns over 550 million pallets, crates and containers through a network of approximately 850 service centres.

POSITION PURPOSE

Our Digital group is enabling the future by using data and insights to power smarter, more sustainable supply chains. A key part of this strategy is the development of the tracking device platforms that will enable these data and insights to be collected – and the Firmware team is at the heart of this transformation.

In this role, you will demonstrate good development practices and seamless collaboration across multiple teams in Digital and beyond. Engineering for device systems spans deep collaboration across engineering disciplines (Hardware design, Test, Architects, Technical Project Management, and Cloud software teams). Our engineers drive concepts into prototypes and prototypes to products.

The Principal Firmware Engineer provides thought leadership in execution for corporate projects but also is a strong voice of the customer. We expect this individual to represent Customer configuration, firmware modifications, feature development and work closely with Customer Success leadership to ensure we have a customer first approach and our solutions delight our customers.

This will include setting up custom configuration database, define modification levers, if needed, create a software UI/UX for customers working closely with customer-facing teams. This could also include some customer visits, representing the company at customer sites and translating business requirements into features for internal development to deliver.

The role also has the responsibility for building and strengthening the firmware engineering team and its capabilities.

SCOPE

• Work closely with team design efforts for Firmware Projects.
• This includes all Digital device portfolio projects (Ultra, Scout, Pulse), Engineering POC, Cloud side implementation for device management and device administration which contribute to all of Asset Digitization programs including Continuous Diagnostics, Targeted Diagnostics, Serialization+ & Digital Commercial Services
• Responsible for customer configuration management which will be done working closely with the commercial/sales team as well as Customer Success team.

MAJOR / KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Architecture & Design: Define and own the technical features for firmware, optimizing for performance, power, and security.
• Development & Debugging: Write and debug complex embedded C/C++ code for microcontrollers, microprocessors, and SoCs.
• System Integration: Collaborate with hardware teams to bring up new hardware, interpret schematics, and ensure smooth hardware/firmware interaction.
• Technical Leadership: Establish best practices for code quality, documentation, and automated testing.
• Problem Solving: Resolve complex, system-level issues that span across firmware, hardware, and software interfaces
• Develop tracking and sensor telemetry applications for real-time Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) or Cellular IoT networks
• Develop, coordinate and implement improvements in software development methodology and leading practices including requirements definition, specification development, and unit test strategies.
• Be a strong voice of customer for customer features, configuration changes and debugs working with Customer support teams.
• Develop tracking and sensor telemetry applications for real-time Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) or Cellular IoT networks

MEASURES

• Product prototypes which can be tested, resulting in a minimally viable product to enable the Digital team to gather the data needed to derive the IOT data resulting in intelligence that can be monetized.

AUTHORITY / DECISION MAKING

• Working autonomously or having limited access to immediate manager
• Working in a matrix environment

KEY CONTACTS

Internal:Engineering, Project Management, Cloud, Technology Services, Hardware Design, Field testing, Manufacturing, DCS leadership, S+ leadership team

External: External vendors, specifically, choose the technology or products that will be used in the engineering of the device and External customers

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with embedded software design and programming in C/C++ for development, debugging, testing and performance analysis
• 8-12 years of experience in embedded software development
• Experience working with embedded/IOT firmware platforms with FreeRTOS or Zephyr or similar OS.
• Experience building software for embedded/IOT systems or custom SoCs
• Experience leading complex features or projects across multiple teams
• B.S. or M.S degree in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience
• Experience with lab instrumentation for power, performance tuning, SDKs, analyzers for debugging IOT systems
• Experience delivering electronics devices in Consumer, IOT, Embedded markets
• Demonstrated expertise in one or several of the following areas - communication protocols (TCP/IP, Bluetooth, Wifi), computer vision, sensors, cellular

EXPERIENCE

• 8/12 years of related experience in embedded systems.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Play a critical role in the definition and execution of firmware projects
• Analyze, design, develop, and debug firmware for a wide variety of tracking devices, including GPS, Cellular, Wi-Fi/Ble
• Be a go-to person for complex development, performance and evaluation issues that require in-depth knowledge of product-focused firmware development
• Align long-term vision with short term priorities
• Knowledge of communication protocols: I2C, SPI, USART, I2S, PCM.
• Experience with sensors, accelerometers, gyro, GPS, humidity, temperature
• Experience with Wi-Fi, BLE, and Cellular IoT solutions is a plus.

The salary range for this position is $155,000 to $213,000 / year. Salary ranges provided take into account a wide variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications, geographic differentials and other business and organizational needs. Therefore, actual amounts offered may be higher or lower than the range provided. If you have questions, please speak to your Talent Acquisition Partner about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.” Dependent on the position offered, other forms of compensation may be part of a total offering beyond medical & retirement benefits and may include other monetary incentives or business benefits.