Real-Time Embedded Firmware Engineer – Optics Instruments

Advancedphotonix; Chino (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Luna Innovations in Chino, CA is seeking a Firmware Engineer II (potentially Senior) to write embedded firmware that controls precision optical components, drives high-speed data acquisition, and enables communication with host software.

You will collaborate with hardware, optical, and software engineers to bring up new boards and turn instrument designs into reliable products, with hands-on debugging and strong emphasis on hardware–firmware integration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• 3+ years of professional embedded firmware development experience, ideally for instruments, test equipment, or other hardware products.
• Proficiency in embedded C/C++ programming.
• Experience with Git and version control.
• Experience with microcontroller or ARM-based systems, including bare-metal firmware or real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• Experience developing firmware for hardware interfaces, data acquisition, and real-time control, including timing-sensitive operations and hardware–firmware integration.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and hardware datasheets.
• Hands-on experience with PCB bring-up, hardware troubleshooting, and firmware debugging using laboratory test equipment, including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG debuggers.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Responsibilities

• Firmware Architecture & Design: Design, develop, and maintain firmware for embedded systems, including bare-metal and real-time platforms.
• Embedded Hardware Integration: Interpret electrical schematics and IC datasheets to understand hardware functionality, develop firmware interfaces, and support embedded system integration.
• Real-Time Control & Data Streaming: Develop real-time firmware for precise timing, closed-loop control, high-speed data acquisition, data processing, and streaming between embedded hardware and host systems.
• Board Bring-Up & Debug: Bring up new boards in the lab with the hardware team and troubleshoot firmware and hardware issues.
• Hardware–Software Interface: Integrate communication protocols and command interfaces between embedded instruments and host applications, working closely with hardware and software teams.
• Documentation & Testing: Create and maintain firmware requirements, design documents, test plans, and release procedures.

Skills

Embedded C/C++

Git

RTOS

ARM/MCU

Hardware bring-up

Debugging

Schematic reading

Communication protocols

FPGA Verilog/VHDL

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Tools

Verilog/VHDL

JTAG

Oscilloscope

Job description

Luna Innovations in Chino, CA is seeking a Firmware Engineer II (potentially Senior) to write embedded firmware that controls precision optical components, drives high-speed data acquisition, and enables communication with host software.

You will collaborate with hardware, optical, and software engineers to bring up new boards and turn instrument designs into reliable products, with hands-on debugging and strong emphasis on hardware–firmware integration.