Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Newlight; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in California is seeking an Embedded Controls Engineer Lead to architect, implement, and validate real-time ECU controlling hydrogen-diesel combustion at sea. This role involves leading embedded engineers, overseeing firmware development, and ensuring compliance with safety standards. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in embedded systems and a passion for clean maritime technology. This position is on-site and offers a unique opportunity to impact emissions reduction.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience delivering real-time embedded control systems in production environments.
• Expertise in timers, input capture synchronization, PWM/valve control, DMA pipelines.
• Solid understanding of safety-critical IO handling and diagnostic architecture.
• Expertise in timers, input capture synchronization, PWM/valve control, DMA pipelines, and ADC management.
• Demonstrated low-latency driver development in bare-metal C on STM32-class MCUs.
• Strong control-system fundamentals applied to high-speed actuation loops.

Responsibilities

• Own the embedded firmware roadmap and architecture.
• Lead and mentor embedded engineers.
• Validate performance with SIL/HIL, test benches, and full-scale engines.
• Develop the engine synchronization layer: crank/cam capture, missing-tooth detection, real-time crank-angle resolution, deterministic PWM/valve scheduling.
• Build high-integrity data paths: ADC+DMA streaming pipelines, digital filtering, calibration, fixed-point math, and diagnostic thresholds.
• Integrate FreeRTOS or CMSIS-RTOS v2: priorities, ISRs, latency budgeting, inter-task messaging, watchdogs, timing analysis.
• Architect fault-tolerant state machines and real-time safety logic with deterministic fallback behaviors.
• Validate performance with SIL/HIL, test benches, and full-scale engines; analyze timing, jitter, and actuator response.
• Support vessel integration, commissioning, and troubleshooting during early deployments.
• Contribute domain input to combustion optimization and injection strategies.
• Author & maintain technical documentation including control specs, schematics, timing diagrams, and validation protocols.
• Ensure compliance with maritime class safety rules; drive reliability and change-control processes.

Skills

Real-time embedded control systems

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Control-system fundamentals

CAN-FD, Ethernet

Hardware/software integration

Diagnostics & safety

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics

Tools

C programming

FreeRTOS

Python/MATLAB

Job description

Embedded Controls Engineer Lead – Newlight

Location: On-site

Team: Embedded Systems & Real-Time Control

Newlight is developing the world’s first scalable retrofit solution enabling hydrogen-assisted combustion for the existing global fleet. We combine advanced hardware and embedded control to deliver immediate emissions and fuel-cost reduction — without replacing engines.

We are seeking an Embedded Controls Engineer Lead to architect, implement, and validate the real-time ECU controlling hydrogen-diesel combustion at sea. You will own the firmware stack and embedded technologies powering our hydrogen-injection unit, and help build the team shaping its future.

What You Will Be Doing

• Own the embedded firmware roadmap and architecture across bootloader, BSP, HAL/LL, drivers, RTOS tasks, synchronization, and safety states.
• Lead and mentor embedded engineers across code reviews, design reviews, planning, and hiring for scaling execution.
• Implement bare-metal drivers in C for timers/ETR, input capture, GPIO, multi-channel ADC, DMA (circular/linked), UART/SPI/I²C, CAN-FD, and Ethernet.
• Develop the engine synchronization layer: crank/cam capture, missing-tooth detection, real-time crank-angle resolution, deterministic PWM/valve scheduling.
• Build high-integrity data paths: ADC+DMA streaming pipelines, digital filtering, calibration, fixed-point math, and diagnostic thresholds.
• Integrate FreeRTOS or CMSIS-RTOS v2: priorities, ISRs, latency budgeting, inter-task messaging, watchdogs, timing analysis.
• Architect fault-tolerant state machines and real-time safety logic with deterministic fallback behaviors.
• Validate performance with SIL/HIL, test benches, and full-scale engines; analyze timing, jitter, and actuator response.
• Support vessel integration, commissioning, and troubleshooting during early deployments.
• Contribute domain input to combustion optimization and injection strategies.
• Author & maintain technical documentation including control specs, schematics, timing diagrams, and validation protocols.
• Ensure compliance with maritime class safety rules; drive reliability and change-control processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, or equivalent.
• 5+ years experience delivering real-time embedded control systems in production environments.
• Expertise in timers, input capture synchronization, PWM/valve control, DMA pipelines, and ADC management.
• Demonstrated low-latency driver development in bare-metal C on STM32-class MCUs.
• Strong control-system fundamentals applied to high-speed actuation loops.
• Experience with CAN-FD and industrial comms interfaces.
• Solid understanding of safety-critical IO handling and diagnostic architecture.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills; ability to thrive in hands-on, fast-iteration environments.
• On-site presence required for integrated engine test cycles and cross-functional collaboration.

Nice to Have

• Experience with 2-stroke and marine engine controls.
• Hydrogen or hybrid powertrain experience.
• Python/MATLAB tooling for DAQ, HIL/SIL or control tuning workflows.
• Security-aware firmware development (boot encryption, CRC/keys).
• Passion for accelerating clean, affordable maritime decarbonization.

Why Join Newlight?

• Own critical firmware controlling hydrogen injection on real engines at sea — your work directly reduces emissions worldwide.
• Build and scale our embedded team and system architecture from pilot to fleet deployments.
• Work in a highly skilled, mission-driven environment where innovation and safety go hand-in-hand.
• Grow into technical leadership roles as the systems and engineering organization scale.

To Apply:

• Send your resume and a brief message on why you want to build this future to [e-mail]