Senior Staff Firmware Engineer - Industrial Embedded Lead

Softing Inc. (USA); Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Softing Inc. in Knoxville, TN, is seeking a Staff Firmware Engineer to lead advanced embedded firmware development for industrial networking and automation products.

This senior role combines hands-on work with technical leadership and architecture ownership across complex embedded systems. The Staff Firmware Engineer owns subsystems, mentors engineers, and drives firmware strategy and deliverables from concept to production.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of firmware or embedded software engineering with leadership of complex projects.
• Expert-level proficiency in embedded firmware development using C and C++.
• Extensive experience with embedded Linux systems and real-time operating systems.
• Strong experience with Linux kernel configuration, building, and debugging.
• Extensive experience developing and debugging device drivers and low-level firmware.
• Experience configuring and customizing bootloaders (e.g., U-Boot, GRUB).
• Strong understanding of firmware architecture, modular design, and system trade-offs.
• Deep experience with source version control systems and software release processes.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence without authority.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead the technical execution of firmware projects or major subsystems from concept through production release.
• Define firmware architectures, design approaches, and implementation strategies.
• Coordinate and guide the work of multiple firmware engineers through technical leadership and review.
• Design, implement, and review embedded firmware using C and C++ across Linux and RTOS-based platforms.
• Lead development and integration of board support packages (BSPs), bootloaders, device drivers, and middleware.
• Lead firmware bring-up, debugging, optimization, and system integration activities.
• Establish and apply firmware verification and validation strategies to ensure quality, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical risks throughout the firmware development lifecycle.
• Serve as a primary firmware technical interface with Hardware, Software, Test, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Project Management teams.
• Provide advanced technical support for manufacturing, field, or customer issues.
• Mentor and coach Associate, Firmware, and Senior Firmware Engineers.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of firmware development standards, tools, and processes.

Skills

Embedded firmware

C/C++

Linux kernel

Device drivers

RTOS

U-Boot/GRUB

Git/Release process

Firmware architecture

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer/Electrical/CS

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Yocto

Zephyr

FreeRTOS

VxWorks

U-Boot

GRUB

Linux

Git

Job description

Softing Inc. in Knoxville, TN, is seeking a Staff Firmware Engineer to lead advanced embedded firmware development for industrial networking and automation products.

This senior role combines hands-on work with technical leadership and architecture ownership across complex embedded systems. The Staff Firmware Engineer owns subsystems, mentors engineers, and drives firmware strategy and deliverables from concept to production.