Senior Embedded Engineer

Obvio Inc.; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Early-stage equity

Ownership in a fast-moving startup

Job summary

A cutting-edge technology startup in California is seeking a Senior Embedded Engineer to lead the development and optimization of software powering AI-enabled traffic enforcement cameras. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in embedded software development, particularly with C/C++, and a strong background in camera systems and real-time programming. This role offers competitive compensation, equity, and a chance to contribute to life-saving technology.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of embedded software development experience with C/C++ in production.
• Deep expertise in embedded systems including real-time programming and memory management.
• Proven experience with camera systems and computer vision applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead embedded software architecture for AI camera systems.
• Drive performance optimization of C++ code for resource-constrained environments.
• Design and implement robust embedded systems that operate reliably across diverse conditions.

Skills

Embedded software development

C/C++ programming

Image processing

System-level optimization

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Embedded debugging tools

Testing methodologies

Job description

Each year, more than 7,500 pedestrians are killed by drivers in the U.S.—a number that has increased by 70% over the past decade. Despite growing awareness, most cities still struggle to curb dangerous driving. “Vision Zero” efforts across the country are falling short.

Obvio AI exists to change that.

We deploy solar-powered, AI-assisted cameras to enforce traffic laws where pedestrians are most vulnerable—automating enforcement in ways that police departments or traditional systems cannot. Our approach has already led to a dramatic reduction in reckless driving and improved safety for pedestrians, drivers, and law enforcement alike.

Founded by the team behind Motive’s AI dashcam, Obvio is backed by Bain Capital Ventures and Khosla Ventures. We recently raised a $22M Series A and are working with some of the most forward-thinking cities in the country. With meaningful revenue, a massive market, and strong policy momentum, we’re building the intelligence layer for safer streets globally.

About the Role

We're seeking a Senior Embedded Engineer to lead the development and optimization of software that powers our AI-enabled traffic enforcement cameras. These systems operate in challenging outdoor environments, processing video in real-time while managing strict power and performance constraints. You'll drive technical architecture decisions, mentor team members, and work across hardware, AI, and backend teams to build reliable, efficient embedded systems that detect violations with precision and transmit critical data seamlessly.

What You’ll Do

• Lead embedded software architecture for AI camera systems, designing scalable solutions for sensor integration, image processing, and real-time inference pipelines
• Drive performance optimization of C++ code for resource-constrained environments, establishing standards for balancing detection accuracy with power consumption and processing speed
• Design and implement robust embedded systems that operate reliably across diverse weather conditions and deployment scenarios at scale
• Own integration strategy with camera sensors, communication modules, and power management systems using standard embedded protocols
• Collaborate closely with AI teams to architect and optimize computer vision model deployment on edge hardware
• Establish testing frameworks and debugging tools for embedded systems validation and comprehensive field troubleshooting
• Lead system architecture decisions and establish embedded development best practices across the engineering organization
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership on complex embedded systems challenges

What We’re Looking For

• 10+ years of embedded software development experience with C/C++ in production environments, with demonstrated technical leadership
• Deep expertise in embedded systems, including real-time programming, memory management, hardware interfaces, and system-level optimization
• Proven experience with camera systems, image processing, or computer vision applications in production deployments
• Advanced knowledge of embedded debugging tools, testing methodologies, and performance optimization techniques
• Strong understanding of power management, thermal considerations, and environmental constraints in embedded design, with experience making architectural trade-offs
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical initiatives and communicate complex concepts to diverse stakeholders
• Experience mentoring engineers and establishing technical standards within a team

Bonus Points

• Extensive experience with edge AI inference, embedded Linux, real-time operating systems, or outdoor/industrial embedded deployments
• Background in safety-critical or automotive systems

Why Obvio

• Your work will help save lives and improve road safety
• Series A of $22M led by Bain Capital
• Fast-moving startup environment with meaningful ownership
• Competitive compensation and early-stage equity

Obvio is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. Obvio considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. Obvio is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.