Senior Embedded Firmware Engineer

Atoms; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 182,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k)

Equity

Sick Time

Paid Holidays

Team lunch

Job summary

Atoms in San Francisco is seeking a Senior Embedded Firmware Engineer to craft low-level software for autonomous transport systems. You will implement time-critical code interfacing with actuators, sensors, and drive-by-wire systems, bridging hardware and software to bring up custom microcontrollers with safety-critical execution.

The role requires strong C/Python skills in Linux, reading schematics, collaborating across hardware/software teams, and contributing to firmware from ground up,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of professional embedded systems and real-time control experience.
• Strong C and Python programming in Linux with ARM32 toolchains (GCC).
• Production-grade firmware experience interfacing with physical mechanical systems.

Responsibilities

• Read and interpret complex electrical schematics and hardware datasheets.
• Collaborate with hardware and software engineers to define hardware specifications.
• Develop firmware for custom boards from scratch based on schematics and requirements.
• Extend and enhance existing firmware to support new features and capabilities.
• Interface with third-party vehicle communications systems.
• Develop firmware for drive-by-wire retrofit systems on new platforms.
• Support installations and troubleshoot hardware/firmware issues.
• Build test infrastructure for QC of boards and harnesses.

Skills

Embedded systems

Real-time control

C programming

Python

Linux development

ARM32 toolchains

CAN bus

RTOS

Hardware debugging

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Electrical/Computer Eng

Tools

GCC

Linux

CANalyzer

JTAG

Job description

Atoms is building the machines that power the next era of progress.

Over the last decade, software has transformed the digital world. But the physical world, where food is made, minerals are mined, goods are moved, and industries are run, remains far less intelligent, far less efficient, and far more constrained. We’re changing that.

Atoms builds Physical AI— real-world robots for the industries that move civilization forward, starting with food, mining, and transport. Our systems are designed to understand, predict, and control the real world with precision, turning complex physical operations into something more reliable, more scalable, and more productive.

This work requires more than robotics. It requires deep integration across hardware, software, AI, operations, manufacturing, and real estate. We don’t just build machines in a lab. We deploy them into real environments, operate them, learn from them, and improve them until they work at scale.

We are roboticists, engineers, operators, and builders. We believe the next great technology companies will not only transform information, but the physical systems that shape everyday life.

If you want to work on hard problems with real-world impact, join us.

What you’ll do

We are seeking an Senior Embedded Firmware Engineer to develop the low-level software that commands our next‑generation autonomous transport vehicles. In this role, you will write the time‑critical code that interfaces directly with physical actuators, sensors, and drive‑by‑wire systems. You will work across hardware and robotics layers to bring up custom microcontrollers and ensure ultra‑reliable, safety‑critical execution on urban streets.

• Read and interpret complex electrical schematics and understand the physical functionality of custom‑built PCBs
• Collaborate with electrical and software engineers to develop comprehensive specifications for new hardware
• Develop firmware for custom boards from the ground up based on schematic designs and functional requirements
• Extend and enhance existing firmware codebases to support new features and capabilities
• Examine, document, and develop interfaces for existing third‑party vehicle communications systems
• Implement firmware for drive‑by‑wire retrofit systems on new vehicle platforms
• Support installations and troubleshoot hardware and firmware issues
• Develop test infrastructure for QC for boards and harnesses

What we’re looking for

• Required Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of non‑internship professional embedded systems and real‑time control applications experience
• Strong programming proficiency in C and Python within Linux development environments and ARM32 toolchains (such as GCC).
• Proven experience writing production‑grade firmware that directly interfaces with physical mechanical systems, motors, or robotic hardware.
• Expert ability to read, interpret, and troubleshoot complex electrical schematics and hardware datasheets.
• Deep hands‑on experience debugging embedded systems, vehicle wiring harnesses, or physical hardware communication lines (CAN bus).
• Prior experience developing for safety‑critical embedded systems, real‑time operating systems (RTOS), or autonomous vehicle applications.
• Ability to thrive in an ambiguous, fast‑paced startup environment and collaborate effectively across hardware and software boundaries.

At Atoms, you’ll work on one of the defining challenges of our time - bringing automation into the physical world to drive real, lasting impact. We exist to uncover valuable unknown truths and turn them into progress, which means constantly pushing beyond what’s known and building what doesn’t yet exist. The work is ambitious and often challenging, but it’s grounded in a shared sense of purpose and a team committed to seeing it through together. Our work only matters if it serves others, and we know that meaningful progress depends on the trust of the people we serve and the strength of our team—so we invest in both, creating an environment where you can do your best work and grow.

What else you need to know

This role is based in our San Franciscooffice. Atoms is a company driven by invention and continuous change - we are constantly reimagining our industries, building new products, and refining how we operate. We do our best work together. That’s why all of our office‑based teams work onsite, five days a week.

The base salary range for this role is $182,000 - $230,000 per year.

Actual compensation will be determined on an individual basis and may vary depending on experience, skills, and qualifications.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package. You may also be eligible for equity awards.

Benefits Summary (USA Full-Time Exempt Employees):

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account / Health Savings Account Options
• 401(k)
• Equity
• Sick Time, Unlimited Flexible Time Off, and Paid Holidays
• Team lunch in our SoMa office every Tuesday and Thursday

Ready to join us as we serve those who serve others?

#LI-Onsite

As set forth in Atoms’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.