Firmware Engineer

About Vale

At Vale, our goal is to make magic and bring the real benefits of matcha to a billion people. We are a group of fun-loving, matcha enthusiasts who believe that a good idea can come from anywhere. Vale is a Seattle startup making magic through cutting-edge technology, automation, and world class hospitality experiences. We are a dynamic and highly cross functional team with a wealth of experience in food service, food automation, software engineering, aerospace, and consumer electronics. We have come together to develop the Matcha experience of the future — whether that's in a cafe, your neighborhood park, or at home.

About you

You are someone who is enthusiastic about matcha, obsessed with innovation, and loves being a part of a dynamic team.

• Enthusiastic about matcha. The world of matcha is huge, so you should be curious about its benefits, flavor profiles, and methods of preparation.
• Detail Oriented. Take pride in your craft and ensure Vale's products are consistent, repeatable, and of the highest quality.
• Versatile. Bringing matcha to a billion people is dynamic work! You should be comfortable sharing your expertise in one area, but capable of owning something new in another.
• A bar raiser with proven experience. You don't just meet the standard — you raise it. You bring deep, hands-on expertise that elevates everyone around you and sets a new benchmark for what great looks like.
• Excited to be a part of a growing team. Vale is a growing company and we want you to grow with us.
• Solutions oriented. Someone who finds deep satisfaction in making hardware do exactly what you tell it to, reliably and efficiently. You care about the elegance of embedded code.

The role

As a Firmware Engineer, you will develop the low-level software that brings Vale's hardware to life, from microcontroller drivers to real-time control systems.

• Develop and maintain firmware for microcontrollers and embedded processors in Vale's hardware systems
• Write device drivers, HALs, and low-level protocol implementations (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN)
• Implement real-time control loops and state machines for precise hardware behavior
• Debug hardware/firmware interactions using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG debuggers
• Collaborate with Electrical, Mechanical, and Software engineers to integrate firmware into the system
• Write unit tests and develop HIL (hardware-in-the-loop) test infrastructure
• Maintain firmware version control, release processes, and over-the-air update capabilities

Qualifications

• Legally authorized to work in the United States
• 4+ years of embedded firmware development experience
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ for resource-constrained embedded environments
• Experience with RTOS platforms (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar)
• Hands-on experience with peripheral interfaces and hardware debugging tools
• Familiarity with motor control, power management, or safety-critical firmware a plus

Compensation

$122,000 – $158,000 per year

Benefits

• Company funded ORCA card
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Annual bonuses
• Joining a fun startup in Seattle