Staff Embedded Software Engineer (Generalist) (C++)

Point One Navigation; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Full benefits

Flexible on-site or hybrid

Job summary

Point One Navigation is seeking a Staff Embedded Software Engineer (Generalist) to join our hardware-software team. You’ll own end-to-end development of high-performance real-time software for sensor fusion and navigation, from architecture to deployment in mission-critical systems.

You’ll design and optimize embedded C++ across ARM, microcontrollers, and embedded Linux, integrate GNSS receivers, inertial sensors, wheel odometry, cameras, and other hardware, and mentor junior engineers while

Qualifications

• 7+ years of embedded systems software experience.
• Expert in modern C++ (C++14+).
• Experience with embedded Linux, RTOS, and bare-metal.
• Experience with hardware interfaces: UART, SPI, I2C, CAN.
• Strong debugging skills with GDB and oscilloscopes.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, implementation, and optimization of embedded C++ software for real-time sensor fusion and positioning.
• Architect systems integrating GNSS receivers, inertial sensors, wheel odometry, cameras and other hardware.
• Drive performance tuning and low-level optimizations on ARM and embedded Linux.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote engineering best practices.
• Own parts of the embedded stack from bring-up to system debugging.

Skills

Embedded C++

System-level programming

Memory management

Concurrency

Embedded Linux

Board bring-up

Hardware drivers

Debugging tools

CAN/UART/SPI/I2C

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Computer or Electrical Engineering

Tools

GDB

Logic analyzers

Oscilloscopes

UART/SPI/I2C/CAN

Job description

About Point One Navigation:

Point One Navigation is on a mission to bridge the digital and physical worlds through precision location. Our Polaris™ RTK network and FusionEngine™ software deliver centimeter-level accuracy and high-confidence positioning for vehicles, robots, drones, and devices across industries. We're API-first, developer-focused, and pushing the boundaries of autonomy and automation.

The Role:

We're seeking a Staff Embedded Software Engineer (Generalist) who thrives at the intersection of software and hardware. You’ll be a key contributor to our embedded platform, developing high-performance, real-time software that integrates a wide range of sensors and navigation technologies. This role is ideal for someone who can own complex technical challenges end-to-end — from early architecture to deployment in mission-critical systems.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the design, implementation, and optimization of embedded C++ software for real-time sensor fusion and positioning systems
• Architect robust systems that integrate GNSS receivers, inertial sensors, wheel odometry, cameras and other hardware in dynamic environments
• Drive performance tuning and low-level optimizations across a variety of embedded platforms (ARM, microcontrollers, embedded Linux)
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to engineering best practices across the team
• Own key parts of the embedded stack, from board bring-up and driver development to system-level debugging and performance analysis
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams — from hardware and firmware to cloud infrastructure and robotics customers — to deliver reliable end-to-end systems
• Contribute to technical strategy, architecture discussions, and roadmap planning

Requirements:

• 7+ years of professional experience developing embedded systems software
• Proven ability to design and implement major software components, incorporating customer and internal requirements, assessing system-wide impact, and driving implementation and schedule through to testing
• Expert in modern C++ (C++14 or later), with strong understanding of system-level programming, memory management, and concurrency
• Experience with Python or similar for automation, scripting, debugging and other non-critical workloads
• Deep experience with embedded Linux, RTOSes, and bare-metal systems
• Proven ability to work close to hardware — board bring-up, drivers, timing-critical systems
• Familiarity with common hardware interfaces: UART, SPI, I2C, CAN
• Strong debugging skills and hands-on experience with tools like gdb, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes
• BS/MS/PhD in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience

Bonus Points For:

• Experience in GNSS, state estimation, Kalman filtering, or inertial navigation
• Working knowledge of positioning technologies and error sources (e.g., multipath, drift, bias)
• Experience with safety-critical or highly available systems in automotive, robotics, or aerospace
• Knowledge in IP based networking, especially as implemented in Linux based operating systems

Why Join Us:

• Build the core infrastructure powering the next generation of autonomous systems
• Work with a passionate, technically elite team solving real-world problems at scale
• Competitive compensation package including equity and full benefits
• Flexible, high-trust work environment (on-site or hybrid options available)