Senior Embedded IoT Architect & Tech Leader

Protingent; Bend (OR); On-site; USD 168,000 - 183,000; Full time

Job summary

Protingent Staffing seeks a Lead Software Architect to drive software architecture across embedded firmware, application software, and platform-level systems in alignment with hardware roadmaps. The role combines leadership with hands-on coding and release governance.

You will own security, manage external partners, mentor a small internal team, and work closely with Hardware/EE, Product, and Implementation teams to deliver a cohesive software roadmap with AI-assisted tooling to boost output.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience as a software architect or senior technical lead across embedded/firmware and application-level software.
• Track record of defining and documenting software architecture for connected/IoT hardware products, not just greenfield app development.
• Direct experience with firmware planning and definition, and a working fluency in how software architecture decisions constrain — and are constrained by — hardware and firmware realities.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity, building process and structure.
• Experience directing or managing an external/outsourced software development partner; holding a vendor accountable to specs, architecture standards, timelines, and quality.
• Strong collaborative instincts and communication skills; this role requires taking input from and coordinating closely with hardware/EE peers and navigating disagreement constructively.
• 7+ years of software engineering experience, including in an architect or senior technical leadership capacity.
• Production-level experience with a systems language. Go is preferred, but strong C or C++ experience is also acceptable.
• Experience in IoT, embedded systems, or connected hardware products strongly preferred; audio-specific experience is a nice-to-have, not a requirement.
• Direct experience managing or mentoring a small team (2-5 people) is expected.

Responsibilities

• Architect software across embedded firmware, application software, and platform-level systems.
• Own release process - versioning, code freeze discipline, release candidates, firmware bundle creation, and the change-order process that gates production releases.
• Own security posture - vulnerability management, credential and certificate custody, and the security posture of a product deployed in K-12 schools, including responding to the security reviews our district customers conduct.
• Lead external development partner, holding outsourced work accountable to architecture, quality, and timeline standards, and making calls on what should stay outsourced versus brought in-house.
• Build and lead a small internal software team, starting with yourself and growing to include additional engineers.
• Collaborate with Hardware and EE teams, including firmware planning/definition, to ensure software decisions align with hardware.
• Collaborate with Product Management and Implementation teams, incorporating voice-of-the-customer input and testing support into the software roadmap.
• Hands-on technical work- this is not a pure management role today. You'll be writing code, reviewing architecture, and making direct design decisions in the first year.
• Use of AI-assisted development tooling to amplify the output of a lean team without sacrificing quality or architectural integrity.

Skills

Embedded/firmware

Go

C/C++

IoT

Leadership

Vendor mgmt

Team mentoring

Hardware collaboration

Job description

Protingent Staffing seeks a Lead Software Architect to drive software architecture across embedded firmware, application software, and platform-level systems in alignment with hardware roadmaps. The role combines leadership with hands-on coding and release governance.

You will own security, manage external partners, mentor a small internal team, and work closely with Hardware/EE, Product, and Implementation teams to deliver a cohesive software roadmap with AI-assisted tooling to boost output.