Principal Firmware Engineer

Boston Engineering is where innovative ideas become real-world technologies. Headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, we've spent more than 30 years partnering with commercial and government clients to solve complex engineering challenges and bring breakthrough products to market. From advanced robotics and autonomous systems to medical devices, digital solutions, defense technologies, and industrial automation, our teams work on meaningful projects that push the boundaries of what's possible. The company integrates advanced technologies with practical engineering execution, delivering end-to-end services from concept through commercialization. Boston Engineering combines technical rigor, cross-disciplinary teams, and proven processes to accelerate product development and to solve complex challenges. The company is ISO-certified and CMMC-certified, with a commitment to operational excellence, innovation, and measurable client outcomes. Its mission is to improve the way people work and live through innovative product development and novel engineering.

Job Description

This role is restricted to US persons (i.e., US citizens, permanent residents, and other protected individuals under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 USC 1324b(a)(3)) due to access to export-controlled technology. Boston Engineering will require proof of status prior to employment.

This is a hands-on Principal Firmware Engineer . While the title includes “software,” the work is primarily embedded and firmware-focused: RTOS-based systems, hardware bring-up, driver development, board-level debugging, and close collaboration with electrical and mechanical teams. Some upper-stack or tooling work exists, but the core responsibility is commanding and controlling hardware.

The Principal Firmware Engineer owns embedded software at both the tactical and strategic levels, ensuring that systems are architected correctly, risks are identified early, and the broader team is unblocked when challenges arise. This role sets technical direction, streamlines and documents software processes, establishes best practices, and raises the embedded engineering bar across projects.

• 40%: Technical hands of keyboard
• 15%: Integration, manufacturing, production support
• 15%: Mentoring, code/design reviews, process improvement

Requirements and Preferences

• Proven ability in:
  • Leading the design, development, and optimization of embedded and firmware systems for robotics, autonomous, or maritime platforms
  • Streamlining and documenting software processes to accelerate projects and ensure repeatability, while maintaining high-quality standards
  • Architecting and implementing firmware tightly integrated with custom hardware, sensors, and control systems
  • Writing and reviewing RTOS-based firmware (FreeRTOS, ROS2, Zephyr), including task design, synchronization, memory management, and timing analysis
  • Reviewing schematics and PCB layouts to identify firmware impacts, integration risks, and potential design issues early in the development cycle
  • Debugging complex system issues using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, and other bench tools, and determining root cause across software, firmware, and hardware
  • Building and maintaining benchtop development setups (“roadkills”) to enable early firmware development prior to final hardware availability
  • Ensuring firmware meets real-time performance, reliability, and mission-critical requirements
  • Leading technical design reviews, architecture discussions, and roadmap planning with a focus on system-level risk and feasibility
  • Clearly communicating technical concepts, tradeoffs, risks, and status to both engineering and non-engineering stakeholders
  • Anticipating and addressing technical bottlenecks that span firmware, hardware, and system integration

Experience working in challenging, hands-on, and customer-driven engineering environments

• Closely collaborating withelectrical, mechanical, systems, and product teams
• Demonstrating proficiencyin standard embedded development tools, git version control, build systems, and debugging environments
• Strong organizational skills and clear written and verbal communications
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

Successful candidates must have demonstrated success and capability in the following:

• Acting as the technical escalation point when embedded or system-level issues block progress
• Mentoring and coaching engineers on embedded firmware architecture, debugging techniques, and best practices
• Writing high-quality, maintainable, and well-documented firmware and low-level software
• Developing and maintaining embedded system software, including firmware, device drivers, and communication stacks
• Performing thorough testing and debugging to ensure system functionality, reliability, and safety
• Proposing and implementing technical solutions that improve system robustness, debuggability, and performance
• Breaking down ambiguous or novel problems into executable engineering plans, including scope, risk, and estimates
• Supporting software configuration management and repeatable development workflows
• Working across R&D and product environments with an understanding of long-term maintainability and transition to production

Qualifications

• BS (acceptable) or MS (preferred) in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of experience in embedded/firmware development, including 3+ years in a senior or technical lead role
• Fluency in C and C++ for embedded systems, as well as Python for tooling and testing
• Hands-on experience with RTOS environments (FreeRTOS, ROS2, Zephyr, or similar)
• Experience developing software on embedded targets such as STM32, ARM-based MCUs/SoCs, x86, PIC32, or similar
• Experience with I2C, SPI, UART, Ethernet, GPIO, and low-level hardware interfaces
• Familiarity with cloud and/or other networks/servers for data offload, analysis, and management
• Experience debugging networking stacks and board-level communication issues is a strong plus
• Experience authoring and reviewing software requirements, specifications, and design documentation, and leading effective design reviews
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines for embedded systems
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 and CMMI quality frameworks is desirable
• Experience with maritime systems, robotics, uncrewed systems, or military platforms is highly desirable
• Exposure to navigation, localization, sensor fusion, or autonomy systems is a plus

Bonus Attributes:

• Experience contributing to proposal development, feasibility studies, or early technical concepts
• Background or interest in machine learning, computer vision, or AI as applied to embedded or robotic systems
• Familiarity with safety-critical or mission-critical software development practices
• Understanding of Agile methodologies and practical DevOps workflows in embedded environments
• Experience working on government or defense-related programs, including technical documentation and customer interaction
• Experience working within or supporting quality management systems (QMS)

Additional Information

Employment Type: Full-TimeRole

Reports to: Director, Software Engineering

Location : Office-based role in Waltham, Massachusetts

Relocation : Not available at this time.

Travel : Minimal

Salary Range: Thebase salary range for this position is $150,000 to $175,000 annually , commensurate with experience and qualifications.The final offer amount will be determined by factors such as the candidate’s education, knowledge, experience, and skills. A comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, 401(k) match, and paid time off, is also provided.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Questions?

Please contact Christine Higgins, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner, Boston Engineering