Staff Firmware Engineer

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 is an industrial automation company based in Knoxville, TN, focused on communication gateways, vibration analysis, embedded edge compute, and I/O products. Our firmware team supports embedded, industrial-grade products where reliability, determinism, and protocol compliance are non-negotiable and we're actively growing the team to support an expanding product roadmap.

We are seeking a Staff Firmware Engineer to lead the development of advanced embedded firmware for industrial networking and automation products. This senior-level role combines deep hands-on firmware development with technical leadership and architecture ownership across complex embedded systems.

Job Purpose

The Staff Firmware Engineer is a senior technical leader responsible for owning firmware projects or major subsystems and leading technical execution across multiple contributors. This role combines deep firmware expertise with mentorship, cross-functional collaboration, and accountability for delivering robust, scalable embedded software aligned with product and business objectives.

What You'll Do

• 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

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field from an accredited institution; Master's degree preferred
• Fifteen or more years of experience in firmware or embedded software engineering with demonstrated 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

Desired Qualifications

• Experience serving as technical lead on multi-disciplinary or cross-functional projects
• Experience with embedded build systems and RTOS platforms such as Yocto, Zephyr, FreeRTOS, or VxWorks
• Experience with in-circuit debugging tools and techniques
• Experience with CI/CD build pipelines, automated regression testing, and Test-Driven Development (TDD) practices
• Experience with Windows-based embedded or device driver development, and with ARM and x86 processor architectures
• Strong networking and Ethernet-based communication experience, including EtherNet/IP and Industrial Edge communications (including cellular connectivity)
• Experience with the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) and familiarity with ODVA standards, along with other industrial communication protocols such as Modbus, PROFINET, and PROFIBUS
• Experience implementing cryptographic algorithms and secure communication protocols, including secure boot and secure embedded systems design; knowledge of, experience with, or certification in IEC 62443
• Experience with Allen-Bradley PLCs and the Rockwell Automation ecosystem, and/or SCADA systems
• Experience with product certification activities (e.g., CE, UL) and in industrial automation or embedded control systems

Physical Requirements

• Minimal travel as required to support projects and product development efforts
• May require balancing, bending, stooping, and crouching
• Requires good mobility and the ability to work in laboratory and manufacturing environments
• Ability to lift a minimum of 40 lbs; occasionally up to 80 lbs

Softing, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, or non-disqualifying physical or mental handicap or disability.