Staff Firmware Engineer

humanoid; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

23 days PTO

401(k) match

Equity

Free in-office lunch

Collaboration with engineers

Influence product direction

Job summary

Humanoid in Boston, MA is seeking a Staff Firmware Engineer to develop firmware powering motion, balance, and interaction in our humanoid robots. You will work at the intersection of robotics, embedded systems, and real-time control, integrating microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators with robust software.

You will lead and mentor junior engineers, implement drivers, optimize for performance and power, and ensure security.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in embedded systems development.
• Proficiency in C and C++ for microcontrollers, with RTOS/bare-metal experience.
• Hands-on experience with ARM Cortex, STM32, or similar platforms.
• Familiarity with UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, and Ethernet.
• Strong understanding of control systems, kinematics, and motion algorithms.
• Experience with debugging tools like oscilloscopes and logic analyzers.
• Working knowledge of Git, CI/CD, and Agile methodologies.
• Preferred experience with ROS/ROS 2, ML, or computer vision.
• Experience with Rust for embedded systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and debug firmware for motion control, sensor integration, and Ethernet communication.
• Collaborate with hardware teams to integrate microcontrollers and peripherals.
• Design and implement drivers for motors, sensors, and protocols.
• Optimize firmware for performance, reliability, and power efficiency.
• Develop and test real-time control algorithms for movement and balance.
• Lead and mentor junior engineers, conduct code reviews and promote best practices.
• Ensure robust security and fail-safe mechanisms in embedded systems.
• Maintain technical documentation and manage firmware version control.

Skills

Embedded systems

C/C++

RTOS

ARM Cortex

Sensors & actuators

Git CI/CD

Robotics software

Tools

Oscilloscope

Logic analyzer

Job description

Here at Humanoid, we believe in a future where robots amplify human potential. That’s why we’ve set out on a mission to build the world’s most capable, commercially-scalable, and safe humanoid robots. We’re bringing that mission to life with HMND‑01 - our rapidly developed humanoid platform being deployed in real industrial environments - and we’re growing the team to take it even further.

About the Role

As a Staff Firmware Engineer on the Core Platform team in Boston, you will play a critical role in developing the firmware that powers our next generation of humanoid robots. In this position you will work at the intersection of robotics, embedded systems, and real-time control, building the software that enables advanced motion, balance, and interaction with complex environments. You’ll collaborate closely with hardware and systems teams to integrate microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators, while designing robust, high-performance firmware and real-time algorithms.

What You'll Do:

• Develop and debug firmware for humanoid robots, focusing on motion control, stabilization, sensor integration and ethernet based communication.

• Collaborate with hardware teams to design seamless integration of microcontrollers and peripherals.

• Design and implement drivers for motors, sensors, and communication protocols.

• Optimize firmware for performance, reliability, and power efficiency.

• Develop and test real-time control algorithms for robotic movement and balance.

• Lead and mentor junior engineers, conducting code reviews and promoting best practices.

• Ensure robust security and fail-safe mechanisms in embedded systems.

• Maintain technical documentation and manage version control of firmware.

We're Looking For:

• 8+ years of experience in embedded systems development, preferably in robotics.

• Proficiency in C and C++ for microcontrollers, with experience in RTOS (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr) and bare-metal systems.

• Hands‑on experience with ARM Cortex, STM32, or similar platforms.

• Familiarity with communication protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, and Ethernet.

• Strong understanding of control systems, kinematics, and motion algorithms.

• Experience with debugging tools like oscilloscopes and logic analyzers.

• Working knowledge of Git, CI/CD, and Agile methodologies.

• Preferred experience with ROS/ROS 2, machine learning, or computer vision.

• Experience with and/or an interest in using Rust for embedded systems

What We Offer

• Comprehensive health coverage for US‑based employees, including fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, with virtual care and employee assistance resources.

• Meaningful time off to rest and recharge: 23 days of PTO (accrued), separate sick leave, and paid company holidays.

• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.

• Equity included–we believe builders should share in what they build.

• Free daily catered lunch, snacks, and drinks in‑office.

• Collaboration with top‑tier engineers, researchers, and product experts in AI and robotics.

• Freedom to influence the product and own key initiatives.

For this role in Massachusetts, the expected base salary range is $150K–$220K USD per year; your placement in that range depends on how your experience maps to our internal leveling.