Senior Engineer, FPGA

Picarro; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

401K

Paid Time Off

On-site Health & Wellness programs

Job summary

Picarro is seeking a Senior Firmware Engineer based in Santa Clara, CA, focused on the design, development, and debugging of embedded firmware for complex hardware systems. The role involves collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to enhance product development from concept through production.

The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience in embedded firmware development, strong C/C++ skills, and experience in hardware debugging. Picarro offers a competitive salary range of $180K to $200K and a variety of benefits including medical, dental, and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of embedded firmware development experience required.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems.
• Experience with RTOS-based development.
• Hand-on experience with hardware debugging.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop embedded and C++ in RTOS environments.
• Lead board bring-up activities and support new hardware development.
• Perform testing and verification of firmware code.
• Debug and resolve integration issues using lab instruments.

Skills

Embedded firmware development

C and C++ programming

RTOS development

Low-level programming

Digital communication protocols

Troubleshooting

Hardware debugging

Python

Tools

Oscilloscope

Logic analyzer

FPGA

Job description

Location

Santa Clara, CA (primarily onsite)

Group

Analyzer Product Group (APG), Engineering

Position Overview

As a Senior Firmware Engineer, you will design, develop, and debug embedded firmware for complex hardware systems. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including hardware, systems, and software engineers, to support board bring‑up, system integration, and product development from concept through production.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop embedded and C++ in RTOS environments
• Lead board bring‑up activities and support new hardware development
• Develop low‑level firmware, including BSP, drivers, and hardware abstraction layers
• Architect system‑level integration across hardware interfaces, sensing components, and communication protocols
• Configure devices using datasheets and technical documentation
• Perform testing and verification of firmware code
• Debug and resolve firmware and hardware/software integration issues using lab instruments (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers)
• Implement and validate digital communication protocols, including I2C, SPI, PCIe, and SERDES
• Support system architecture design related to hardware interfaces and connectivity
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, integrating software and electronics

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of embedded firmware development experience
• Strong proficiency in C and C++ for embedded systems
• Experience with RTOS-based development
• FPGA experience
• Hands‑on experience with board bring‑up and hardware debugging
• Experience with low‑level programming (BSP, device drivers)
• Strong understanding of digital communication protocols (I2C, SPI, PCIe, SERDES)
• Ability to read and understand hardware schematics
• Experience using lab instruments such as oscilloscopes and logic analyzers
• Knowledge of Python for scripting or testing
• Strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on multidisciplinary products integrating hardware and software
• Experience in Analytical Instrumentation

Base Salary Range

$180K to $200K

Total Compensation

Base salary, bonus eligibility, and equity.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) plans
• Life, Short‑Term Disability, and Long‑Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• Employee Referral Program
• 401K
• Social events (summer picnic, holiday party, team lunches)
• On‑site Health & Wellness programs (fitness challenges, outdoor bootcamp, flu shots)

EEO Statement

At Picarro, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, gender identity, social orientation, or disability. Posted positions are not open to third-party recruiters/agencies, and unsolicited resume submissions will be considered free referrals.

At Picarro, we strive to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, have equal opportunities. If you are an individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, please contact Picarro, Inc. at disability assistance at picarro.com for assistance.