ROLE Embedded Software Engineer - Real-Time Embedded Build core systems for a robust, safe, and deterministic platform

Maven Robotics, Inc.; San Francisco, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Maven Robotics, Inc. is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer focused on Real-Time Embedded systems in San Francisco. You will develop foundational software that keeps robot hardware alive, building core systems for robust, safe, and deterministic operation.

You will adapt safety-certifiable RTOSes, co-design with hardware engineers, and drive device drivers for peripherals like EtherCAT and SPI. This role requires strong C/assembly skills and a hands-on approach in a fast-paced startup

Qualifications

• Must have MS in computer engineering, computer science or related discipline.
• Experience with safety-certifiable RTOSes (e.g. PX5, ThreadX, SafeRTOS).
• Expertise in OS fundamentals, including real-time scheduling and memory management.
• Strong understanding of ARM 64 hardware architecture.
• Experience with multicore SoCs, interprocess/intercore communications and atomic operations.
• Production experience with communication protocols (Ethernet, EtherCAT, CAN).
• Proficiency in low level programming (C, assembly).
• Understanding of bootloaders, hardware abstraction layers and BSPs.
• Hands-on with oscilloscopes, debuggers and high speed tracing techniques.

Responsibilities

• Adapt and integrate a safety certifiable RTOS and drivers for robotic hardware.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to design, develop, and optimize safety-critical systems.
• Develop and adapt device drivers for hardware peripherals (e.g. GPIO, EtherCAT, SPI).
• Build tools to monitor, verify and optimize real time system performance.
• Contribute to a deterministic build and test environment for efficient development.
• Collaborate with functional safety engineers to meet safety standards and audit traceability.
• Develop robust OTA updates, calibration management and software deployment strategies.
• Solve complex challenges with a multi-disciplinary team.

Skills

Real-time systems

Self-starter

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Education

MS in computer engineering or computer science

Tools

PX5 RTOS

ThreadX

SafeRTOS

ARM 64

EtherCAT

C

Assembly

Job description

Embedded Software Engineer - Real-Time Embedded

LOCATION:

Role Description

We are looking to recruit an exceptionalEmbedded Software Engineer - Real-Time Embeddedto develop the foundational software that keeps our robot hardware alive, building the core systems that provide a platform for robust, safe, and deterministic operation.

In this role you will:

• Adapt and integrate a safety certifiable Real Time Operating System (RTOS) and associated drivers for purpose built robotic control hardware.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to design, develop, and optimize high performance safety-critical systems.
• Develop and adapt device drivers for hardware peripherals (e.g. GPIO, EtherCAT, SPI).
• Build tools to monitor, verify and optimize real time system performance, ensuring deterministic behavior.
• Contribute to a deterministic and reproducible build and test environment for efficient development.
• Collaborate with functional safety engineers to ensure compliance with relevant safety standards and support audit and traceability requirements.
• Develop robust solutions for over-the-air (OTA) updates, calibration management and software deployment strategies.
• Solve complex, real-world challenges alongside a multi-disciplinary team

Qualifications

Must-have:

• MS in computer engineering, computer science or a related discipline.
• Experience with safety-certifiable RTOSes (e.g. PX5, ThreadX, SafeRTOS).
• Expertise in OS fundamentals, including real-time scheduling and memory management.
• Strong understanding of ARM 64 hardware architecture.
• Experience with multicore SoCs, interprocess/intercore communications and atomic operations.
• Production experience with communication protocols (e.g. Ethernet, EtherCAT, CAN)
• Proficiency in low level programming (C, assembly)
• Understanding of bootloaders, hardware abstraction layers and board support packages (BSPs).
• Hands‑on experience with development tools including oscilloscopes, hardware debuggers and high speed tracing techniques (e.g. HSSTP).
• Understanding of toolchains (compilers, linkers, debuggers, static analysis tools)
• Familiarity with functional safety (FuSa) concepts, MISRA compliance and related standards.
• Self-starter attitude with strong ability to identify problems, prioritize them, then plan and execute working solutions.
• Enthusiasm for working in a fast paced startup environment and eagerness to support the team on a variety of topics.

Nice-to-have:

• Knowledge of ARM SIMD/NEON architecture extensions.
• Proficiency in additional programming languages (e.g. C++, Python, Rust, Golang).
• Experience with multi-language build systems (e.g. Bazel, Bob).
• Familiarity with ROS 2 middleware and alternatives (Eg. FastDDS, CycloneDDS, Zenoh).
• Experience with Docker, and related containerization tools.