Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Stic; Los Angeles, California (CA, MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days off per year (15 PTO / 11 hols

401(k)

Job summary

Stic is seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to own the firmware for the Stic Vision v3.0, a compact edge AI device deployed on vehicles. You will drive the low-level software stack including vision, wireless, and sensor fusion, enabling real-time analytics at the edge without vehicle-level integration.

You will work across hardware, computer vision, and cloud teams to ensure robust, power-efficient firmware and scalable field deployment in real-world automotive environments.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of professional embedded software engineering experience.
• Strong proficiency in C, C++ for embedded systems and RTOS.
• Hands-on BLE firmware development and low-level memory management.
• Experience with SPI/I2C/UART and wireless stacks.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain embedded firmware in C/C++ for microcontrollers and wireless modules powering the Stic Vision v3.0.
• Own OpenMV-based computer vision firmware for person detection, vehicle counting, facial sentiment analysis, and demographic measurement.
• Implement BLE communication stacks and RSSI-based logic.
• Integrate LTE/5G, GNSS, IMU, camera, and sensor interfaces into a unified firmware architecture.
• Build low-power firmware architectures with sleep states and duty cycling.
• Define device-to-cloud and device-to-phone communication protocols.
• Support OTA update pipelines, field diagnostics, and reliability improvements.
• Collaborate with hardware, computer vision, and cloud teams for full-stack integration.
• Contribute to board bring-up, debugging, and system validation across EVT/DVT/PVT cycles.

Skills

C

C++

Embedded systems

BLE firmware

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering or CS

Tools

OpenMV

nRF

STM32

JTAG

Job description

Stic is modernizing out-of-home, one of advertising's oldest formats. Billboards and transit ads have always sold impressions on faith. Stic replaces faith by turning everyday vehicles into GPS-tracked, mobile media. Brands get proof instead of best guesses. Drivers earn passive income on miles they're already driving.

Stic Vision is how it works. An edge AI device small enough to live inside a decal, streaming informative analytics with no vehicle-level integration required.

The global out-of-home advertising market is worth roughly $40 billion a year. Stic is building the measurement layer that legacy OOH never had.

Stic is trusted by brands like TikTok, Dunkin Donuts, e.l.f., and PacSun. The traction is already showing up in results: a SXSW campaign for TikTok Radio put 44 vehicles on the road in Austin and generated 3.9 million tracked impressions. That's real, revenue-generating proof in a category still mostly sold on assumptions.

Stic is lean by design. People joining now build the playbook rather than inheriting one. This means fast execution, without the layers of process that slow down bigger companies.

About You

As a Senior Embedded Software Engineer at Stic, you will own the firmware and low-level software stack for the Stic Vision v3.0. A sticker-form-factor edge AI device that deploys on any vehicle, any window, any surface, delivering machine vision, real-time analytics, and AI inference at the edge without any vehicle-level integration.

This role sits at the intersection of hardware and intelligence: you will write the firmware that drives computer vision, wireless communication, and sensor fusion on a compact, low-power device operating in real-world automotive environments.

Stic's mission is to bring edge AI sensing to the 1.4 billion legacy vehicles that autonomous platforms cannot reach. This role is foundational to that mission. The firmware you write is what turns a manufacturable sticker into a living sensor node.

Why This Role Matters

This role is the backbone of Stic's transition from prototype to a fully integrated, proprietary hardware and intelligence platform. The firmware you write directly powers data capture, edge intelligence, and real-world deployment at scale across the largest untapped sensor network on the planet: the existing vehicle fleet.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and maintain embedded firmware in C/C++ for microcontrollers and wireless modules powering the Stic Vision v3.0
• Own OpenMV-based computer vision firmware for person detection, vehicle counting, facial sentiment analysis, and demographic measurement
• Implement BLE communication stacks — advertising, scanning, data payloads, and RSSI-based logic
• Integrate cellular (LTE/5G), GNSS, IMU, camera, and sensor interfaces into a unified firmware architecture
• Build low-power firmware architectures including sleep states, duty cycling, and battery optimization for field-deployed devices
• Define and implement device-to-cloud and device-to-phone communication protocols
• Support OTA update pipelines, field diagnostics, and reliability improvements
• Collaborate with hardware, computer vision, and cloud teams to ensure seamless full-stack integration
• Contribute to board bring-up, hardware/firmware debugging, and system validation across EVT/DVT/PVT cycles

What You Have to Have

• 3-5+ years of professional embedded software engineering experience
• Strong proficiency in C, micropython and C++ for embedded systems
• Hands‑on experience with BLE firmware development (advertising, scanning, payload design, RSSI logic)
• Experience with real‑time operating systems (RTOS), interrupt handling, and low‑level memory management
• Familiarity with communication protocols including SPI, I2C, UART, and wireless stacks
• Proficiency with debugging tools including JTAG, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent experience

What You Should Ideally Have

• Experience with OpenMV or similar embedded computer vision / ML-enabled camera modules
• Familiarity with nRF, STM32, Snapdragon, NVIDIA Jetson, ESP32, or similar platforms
• Experience with LTE/5G module integration and GNSS systems
• Background in edge AI inference, sensor fusion, or on‑device ML
• Exposure to EVT/DVT/PVT processes and scaling hardware from prototype to production
• Experience in IoT, automotive, or rugged field‑deployed systems
• Join a well‑funded early‑stage company disrupting traditional advertising with patent pending technology
• 26 days off per year (15 PTO / 11 holidays) prorated for any partial year of employment
• 401(k)

Stic is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Use of Artificial Intelligence and Automated Tools in Recruiting

Stic uses artificial intelligence and automated tools in parts of our recruiting process. These tools may help organize and review applications, transcribe or summarize interviews, and assist our team in assessing job‑related qualifications. Artificial intelligence does not make hiring decisions. A member of our team reviews candidate materials and makes every screening, interview, and hiring decision.

We do not use these tools to evaluate candidates on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or California law.

Reasonable Accommodations & Alternative Process

Stic is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs in our job application and interview procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, wish to request an alternative to any AI‑assisted step in our recruiting process, or have questions about how these tools are used, please contact us at [e-mail]. Requesting an accommodation or alternative will not negatively impact your application or candidacy.

Privacy Notice at Collection

Personal information we collect includes identifiers, biometric information, internet activity, geolocation data, audio, electronic, video, or image information, professional or employment‑related information, and inferences drawn from the above information. We do not sell your personal information. We may share your personal information with service providers who assist with payment processing, data analytics, campaign management, and technology infrastructure, and with brand partners to the extent necessary to demonstrate campaign performance. We do not share your personal information for cross‑context behavioral advertising.