Senior Firmware Engineer

Element Science, Inc.; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock Options

90% employer-paid medical, dental, and

vision insurance

Company-paid Basic Life Insurance

401(k) retirement plan (Traditional +R

PTO

Paid Holidays

FSA

HSA

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Element Science, Inc. seeks a hands-on Senior Firmware Engineer to develop embedded software for a life-saving wearable medical device. You will write C for microcontrollers and Bluetooth chips, implement DSP and ML components, and ensure reliability, security and performance across devices and cloud interfaces.

The role starts in San Francisco, CA and transitions to Redwood City, CA by year-end 2026. You will collaborate with hardware, algorithms, and software teams in a fast-growing startup

Qualifications

• BS degree in CS/Engineering or equivalent.
• 5–8 years in embedded/medical device industry preferred.
• Experience with microcontrollers and Bluetooth chipsets (C).
• Knowledge of SPI, I2C, UART and test equipment.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and test embedded software for medical wearables with signal processing and ML.
• Develop C for microcontrollers, Bluetooth, and peripheral chips.
• Interface with external software via Bluetooth or other protocols.
• Support drivers through high-level logic in the embedded stack.
• Deliver design docs for requirements, design, and tests.
• Contribute to software quality initiatives with management.
• Collaborate across hardware, algorithms and software teams.
• Provide technical guidance on embedded software.

Skills

C language

Embedded software

Microcontrollers

Bluetooth

IAR Embedded Workbench

STM32

Nordic

SPI

I2C

UART

JIRA

Git

Machine learning

Mobile Bluetooth interfaces

Education

B.S. in Computer Science or Engineering

Tools

IAR Embedded Workbench

Job description

Element Science, Inc. is a medical device and digital health company redefining how patients with heart disease are monitored and treated as they transition from the hospital to the home. Our mission is to improve outcomes for patients at risk of life-threatening cardiac events through innovative solutions at the intersection of clinical-grade wearables, advanced algorithms, and therapy delivery.

We are entering an exciting phase of growth as we move from development into early commercialization. Our approach combines hardware, software, and services to deliver a more personalized and seamless patient experience—designed with both patients and clinicians in mind. Our product, a wearable patch defibrillator, is designed for patients with a temporary elevated risk of sudden cardiac arrest, addressing a significant and underserved population of over 500,000 patients in the U.S. By focusing on comfort, usability, and clinical effectiveness, we aim to transform the standard of care during this critical period. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Element Science is backed by leading healthcare and technology investors, including Third Rock Ventures, GV (Google Ventures), Deerfield Healthcare, Cormorant Asset Management, and Invus Opportunities.

SUMMARY OF ROLE:

We are looking for a hands-on Senior Firmware Engineer to develop our embedded software for our life‑saving wearable medical devices. The embedded software runs on wearable medical devices to detect, record and analyze ECG signals, and transmit clinically relevant data to connected applications and Cloud services. Very importantly, the embedded software implements machine learning algorithms that decide when to deliver life‑saving shock therapy. The ideal candidate thrives in a commercial start‑up environment that is scaling rapidly, can help drive strategic planning of embedded software‑related business needs, and can execute embedded software design, development, and testing.

This position will initially be based in our San Francisco, CA office and is expected to transition to our Redwood City, CA location by the end of December 2026.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design, develop and test embedded software for medical wearable devices that include signal processing and machine learning algorithms for ECG signals.
• Develop C code for microcontrollers, Bluetooth and peripheral chips for a variety of functions such as communication, signal processing, memory, storage, and timing.
• Interface with external software systems via Bluetooth or other communication protocols.
• Support development across multiple layers of the embedded system, from drivers through high level business logic.
• Deliver software design documentation for embedded software projects (requirements, design, test) as required by the software development process.
• Participate in software quality and best practices initiatives in collaboration with software management.
• Collaborate with Electrical, Mechanical, Algorithms and Software teams in cross‑functional projects, including when troubleshooting system issues.
• Provide technical guidance on embedded software to the extended team.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• B.S. in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent.
• 5-8 years minimum of relevant industry experience. Medical device industry experience preferred.
• Extensive hands‑on experience with development of embedded software for microcontrollers and Bluetooth chipsets using C language and IAR Embedded Workbench. Experience with STM32 and Nordic is highly desired.
• Extensive knowledge of SPI, I2C, UART and other communication protocols.
• Experience with data sheets, schematics, and test equipment such as oscilloscopes and logic analyzers.
• Experience with architecture, design and implementation of embedded software following best practices on reliability, security, and performance.
• Experience with JIRA and Git based repositories is highly desired.
• Preferred experience with developing or interfacing with machine learning algorithms.
• Preferred experience with communication with iOS and Android mobile applications via Bluetooth.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

BENEFITS:

Element Science offers a very competitive salary and benefits package including, but not limited to:

• Stock Options
• 90% employer‑paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company‑paid Basic Life Insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan (Traditional and Roth)
• Competitive Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• FSA (Flexible Spending Accounts)
• HSA (Health Savings Account)
• Employee Assistance Program through PEO

The salary for this exempt‑level position will be based on experience and qualifications within an established pay range.

• Pay range: $140,000 - $175,000

Element Science is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All candidates will be evaluated on the basis of their qualifications for the job in question. We do not base our employment decision on an employee's or applicant's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or other non‑merit‑based factors prohibited by local, state, or federal law.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. We are not able to sponsor individuals for employment visas for this job.

At this time, we are unable to offer relocation assistance at Element Science.