Senior Embedded Software & Firmware Engineer

Arxlight; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Arxlight is seeking an Embedded Software & Firmware Engineer in Oakland, California to develop the low-level software for next-generation drones focused on security and safety applications. The role involves designing hardware drivers, optimizing Linux kernels for embedded systems, and developing firmware for flight controllers. Candidates should have a strong background in embedded systems, expertise in C/C++, and experience with NVIDIA Jetson technology. This position offers a unique opportunity in a rapidly growing tech startup.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in embedded systems.
• Expert in C and C++ programming.
• Hands-on experience with NVIDIA Jetson and Linux-based systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement low-level drivers to interface with sensors.
• Develop real-time embedded software for flight control units.
• Lead setup and provisioning of NVIDIA Jetson modules.

Skills

C

C++

NVIDIA Jetson ecosystem

Real-Time Operating Systems

scripting (Bash, Python)

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science

Tools

JTAG

SWD

logic analyzers

CMake

Job description

Company Overview We are a rapidly growing technology startup focused on delivering next-generation drones for security and safety applications. Our company vertically integrates hardware and software to create leading edge capabilities in the UAV space, with a focus on saving lives.

As an Embedded Software & Firmware Engineer, you will develop the low-level software that powers our flight systems. You will be responsible for writing hardware drivers, configuring and provisioning the Jetson Orin NX compute modules, and developing the core firmware for our flight controllers.

Key Responsibilities

• Driver Development: Design and implement robust low-level drivers (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, Ethernet) to interface with mission-critical sensors and actuators.
• Compute Provisioning: Lead the setup, flashing, and provisioning of NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX modules, including JetPack optimization and secure boot configurations.
• Flight Controller Firmware: Develop and maintain real-time embedded software for flight control units, ensuring deterministic performance and low-latency execution.
• System Bring-up: Perform hardware-software integration and "first-light" testing on custom PCBAs, utilizing logic analyzers and oscilloscopes to debug timing issues.
• Edge Linux Optimization: Customize Linux kernels and Device Trees to optimize resource allocation for high-performance robotics applications.
• Automation & CI/CD: Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines for embedded targets, automating build, test, and deployment workflows for firmware and edge software.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science with 4+ YOE
• Embedded Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in C and C++ for resource-constrained environments and bare-metal programming.
• Edge Compute: Hands-on experience with the NVIDIA Jetson ecosystem (Orin/Xavier) and Linux-based embedded systems.
• RTOS Experience: Strong background in Real-Time Operating Systems such as FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar deterministic kernels.
• Protocol Proficiency: Deep understanding of serial communication protocols, hardware abstraction layers (HAL), and memory-mapped I/O.

Preferred Skills

• Proficiency with hardware debugging tools such as JTAG, SWD, and logic analyzers.
• Experience in scripting (Bash, Python) for environment setup and deployment.
• Knowledge of build systems like CMake and cross-compilation toolchains

Experience in high-reliability industries (Aerospace, Defense, or Automotive).