Senior Real-Time Embedded Firmware Architect

FUTEK; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

FUTEK is seeking a Lead Embedded Firmware & Systems Engineer to own the architecture, development, validation, and release of embedded firmware for precision sensor products. This role requires independent operation, defining firmware direction, and driving system-wide decisions across hardware, software, test, manufacturing, and product stakeholders.

The position focuses on reliable C/C++ firmware, real-time embedded performance, hardware/firmware integration, and industrial communication

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or closely related field.
• 10+ years of professional experience developing embedded firmware, embedded systems, or production firmware for microcontroller-based products.
• Strong hands‑on C/C++ experience for bare‑metal and/or RTOS‑based embedded systems, including firmware architecture, drivers, debugging, and performance optimization.
• Demonstrated ownership of firmware development from requirements and architecture through implementation, verification, documentation, release, and production support.

Responsibilities

• Own embedded firmware architecture, design, implementation, validation, and release activities for microcontroller-based precision sensor and instrumentation platforms.
• Develop robust embedded firmware in C/C++ for real-time data acquisition, signal processing, diagnostics, calibration support, communications, and product-control features.
• Define firmware requirements, interfaces, state machines, timing behavior, memory usage, and system-level tradeoffs in collaboration with hardware, software, test, manufacturing, and product stakeholders.
• Implement and maintain low-level drivers, board-support packages, communication interfaces, and embedded middleware for peripherals such as ADCs, DACs, timers, DMA, GPIO, UART, SPI, I2C, USB, CAN, Ethernet, RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485.
• Lead firmware bring-up, board-level debugging, protocol troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions using schematics, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, JTAG/SWD tools, and other lab equipment.
• Develop and execute firmware verification, regression, and release-readiness plans, including test procedures, design reviews, code reviews, release notes, and technical documentation.
• Drive integration of embedded products with industrial controllers, sensors, communication gateways, and production/test systems where applicable.
• Establish and improve firmware development practices, including coding standards, version control workflows, reusable firmware architecture, design documentation, and issue-tracking discipline.
• Provide technical guidance, mentorship, design-review leadership, and project/task coordination for engineers and cross-functional contributors while maintaining direct ownership of critical firmware deliverables.

Skills

C/C++

Embedded firmware

RTOS

Firmware architecture

Diagnostics debugging

Technical mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related

Tools

JTAG/SWD

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Git

CI/CD

Job description

FUTEK is seeking a Lead Embedded Firmware & Systems Engineer to own the architecture, development, validation, and release of embedded firmware for precision sensor products. This role requires independent operation, defining firmware direction, and driving system-wide decisions across hardware, software, test, manufacturing, and product stakeholders.

The position focuses on reliable C/C++ firmware, real-time embedded performance, hardware/firmware integration, and industrial communication