Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Socket.dev; North Reading (MA); On-site; USD 168,000 - 227,000; Full time

Job summary

Amazon is seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to design and implement advanced robotic systems at scale. You will own end-to-end features, work across cross-functional teams, and help balance performance with reliability in dynamic environments.

The role requires deep expertise in embedded C/C++, RTOS and Linux kernel development, plus mentoring responsibilities and a track record of delivering robust software in complex hardware platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related fields.
• 5+ years of professional software development experience in embedded environments.
• Experience with RTOS firmware development (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr, RT Linux).

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain novel robotic systems, contributing to architectural design and cross-team collaboration.
• Own features end-to-end from design through validation and field support.
• Mentor and contribute in design reviews to drive reliable, scalable solutions.

Skills

Embedded development

RTOS firmware

Linux kernel

Mentor / tech lead

Debugging skills

Networking & security

C/C++

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering

Master's degree or above

Tools

FreeRTOS

Zephyr

RT Linux

Linux kernel modules

Job description

Amazon is seeking talented engineers to help develop the next generation of advanced robotics systems that will transform automation at Amazon's scale. We're building revolutionary robotic systems that combine AI, sophisticated control systems, and advanced mechanical design to create adaptable automation solutions capable of working safely alongside humans in dynamic environments. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of robotics and automation at an unprecedented scale, working with world‑class teams pushing the boundaries of what's possible in robotic manipulation, locomotion, and human‑robot interaction.

If you are passionate about safety and performance and have an interest in robotics systems, then we would like to talk to you about becoming part of an organization with global impact on millions of customers.

Key job responsibilities

• - Develop and maintain novel robotic systems, contributing to the architectural design of complex systems and collaborating with peers and other teams to find solutions to challenging problems.
• - Take end-to-end ownership of features — from design through validation, launch, and the issues that surface in the field.
• - Engage and challenge ideas constructively in design reviews, and once the team decides, commit fully to the team's decision and help make it succeed.
• - Contribute valuable feedback during peer reviews, effectively communicate with technical leadership, and develop new and innovative solutions in a high-paced R&D environment that balance performance and reliability.
• - Ramp quickly across unfamiliar domains — networking and WiFi, security, navigation, obstacle detection, motor control, functional‑safety‑related control, and diverse sensors — and go deep where the problem demands it.

A day in the life

As a Senior Embedded Software Engineer, you'll work with cross‑functional teams to design, develop, test, and debug modern robotic systems. Your day spans design discussions and brainstorming novel approaches to the hardest robotics problems, implementing new product concepts and features, and shifting between bbare-metal/real‑time OS (RTOS) code code and Linux kernel‑level work as the problem demands. Testing ranges from writing automated tests that validate new features to hands‑on bench and live testing to reproduce and root‑cause failures — whether they surface in the firmware, in the kernel, or in the board itself.

Basic Qualifications

• - 5+ years of programming with at least one software programming language experience
• - 5+ years of non‑internship professional software development experience
• - 5+ years of leading design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
• - Experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team
• - Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related fields
• - Experience in embedded development in C/C++
• - Knowledge of computer architecture, operating systems, and parallel computing
• - Experience with hardware/software integration and real‑time systems
• - Experience identifying bugs in architecture, algorithms, functionality, and performance with strong overall debugging skills
• - Proficient in RTOS firmware development (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr, RT Linux, Micrium) and/or hands‑on Embedded Linux experience, including Linux kernel module and device‑driver development on multicore systems

Preferred Qualifications

• - 5+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience
• - Master's degree or above in computer science, computer engineering, or related field, or Master’s degree
• - 6+ years of robotics system components and controls experience
• - Strong proficiency in C/C++ required; Rust or Python a plus.
• - Experience on both sides of the stack – firmware development for RTOS and Linux kernel/drivers
• - Experience developing firmware for closed-loop feedback control algorithms with hard real‑time system constraints or firmware for digital signal processing
• - Experience with DSP and/or FPGA‑based development
• - Experience with Embedded Linux platform bring‑up
• - Comfortable assembling embedded Linux images with a build system such as Yocto or Buildroot
• - Performed low‑level board bring‑up, developed HAL code, BSPs, device trees, or bootloaders for custom hardware, including interrupt/ISR handling, and debugged bare‑metal firmware over JTAG.
• - Worked on multi‑processor board designs e.g. MCUs, MPUs, GPUs, NPUs, DSPs, FPGAs, coordinating over Inter‑Processor Comms (IPC), DMA, shared memory, or on‑chip fabric.
• - Experience with real‑time fieldbus/motion protocols such as EtherCAT, CAN, or similar.
• - Exposure to networking, communications systems, and data security
• - Understanding of RF and wireless communications, especially 802.11
• - Hands‑on development with sensors such as cameras, radar, lidar, IMU, 3D ToF, or other vision/perception systems
• - Experience with functional safety and developing safety‑certified systems, especially with IEC 61508
• - Shipped embedded software in a demanding physical‑product domain – robotics, industrial automation, automotive, medical, or comparable
• - Experience handling and analyzing large data sets and with AWS

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign‑on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.

USA, MA, N.Reading - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually