Senior Embedded Safety Systems Architect

Boston Dynamics, Inc.; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

Boston Dynamics is seeking a Senior Staff Systems Engineer, Embedded Safety to lead the systems engineering method for MCU/MPU-based embedded systems and safety-critical firmware on the Safer Robotics Team. You will bridge hardware constraints, firmware, and test validation while collaborating with Safety Firmware and Staff Firmware Test Engineers.

The role requires 7+ years in related fields, fluency with Git, Jira, Jama, and Linux, and strong C/C++ and Python skills.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in systems engineering, embedded software/firmware development, or firmware validation for complex mechatronic or safety-critical robotic systems.
• Fluent command of software engineering tools, including Git version control, Linux environments, Jira, and Jama.
• Proficiency in C/C++ for embedded firmware as well as Python (including pytest ecosystems) to effectively engage with both firmware development and test automation tooling.
• Deep familiarity with relevant safety standards (e.g., IEC 61508, ISO 26262, or IEC 62304) and experience compiling data to support safety claims.
• Strong ability to read electrical schematics, datasheets, and low-level protocol payloads (SPI, I2C, CAN, UART, Ethernet) to ensure hardware intent matches firmware behavior.
• Demonstrated experience acting as a technical liaison between firmware development teams and product development teams.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication, cross-functional collaboration, and conflict resolution skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional systems engineering initiatives to establish embedded system architectures, firmware requirements, and technical development plans for safe autonomous robotic platforms.
• Solicit stakeholder needs and derive, author, and parameterize clear system, firmware, and low-level software requirements.
• Establish and maintain end-to-end requirements-to-verification traceability pipelines across tools such as Jama, Jira, Git, and automated test frameworks.
• Partner closely with Safety Firmware Engineers to define requirements for functional safety features, diagnostic logic and interfaces for low-level communication protocols (SPI, I2C, CAN, UART, Ethernet).
• Collaborate directly with Firmware Test Engineers to translate safety goals and system requirements into verifiable HIL/SIL test plans, fault injection coverage, and CI/CD automated test suites.
• Guide cross-functional teams through structured safety and risk analyses—including HARA, FMEA, and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)—to systematically identify edge cases in timing, communication, and fault handling.
• Compile requirements, analysis, and verification evidence required to support a comprehensive safety case for autonomous robotic systems.

Skills

C/C++

Python

Embedded systems

Safety standards

Schematic reading

Cross-functional liaison

Communication

Tools

Git

Linux

Jira

Jama

Job description

Boston Dynamics is seeking a Senior Staff Systems Engineer, Embedded Safety to lead the systems engineering method for MCU/MPU-based embedded systems and safety-critical firmware on the Safer Robotics Team. You will bridge hardware constraints, firmware, and test validation while collaborating with Safety Firmware and Staff Firmware Test Engineers.

The role requires 7+ years in related fields, fluency with Git, Jira, Jama, and Linux, and strong C/C++ and Python skills.