Lead Firmware Engineer

Overview

XII Medical is a startup company developing a next-generation neurostimulation system for treating obstructive sleep apnea. The next-generation system aims to increase patient compliance by reducing surgical invasiveness and improving sleep quality.

We are seeking a Lead Firmware Engineer who is both a hands-on technical expert and a strong team leader. This role will provide technical direction, architectural leadership, and day-to-day oversight of the firmware team.

The ideal candidate combines deep embedded firmware expertise with the ability to mentor engineers, review designs, coordinate cross-functional work, and ensure consistent, high-quality firmware delivery across all system components. The lead firmware engineer will have a strong technology background, a broad view of technologies and their capabilities, and a deep understanding of the pros/cons of different technical approaches.

The lead firmware engineer will be very hands-on, able to program and debug issues in real-time, and solve complex problems.

Technical Leadership & Ownership

• Serve as the technical lead and primary hands-on contributor for all firmware development activities.
• Own the firmware architecture, system design, and technical decision-making, including low-level implementation details.
• Establish and enforce coding standards, architecture patterns, and system-level design reviews to ensure high-quality, maintainable code.
• Engage in daily hands-on coding, implementing new features, writing low-level drivers, optimizing power consumption, and improving system reliability.
• Perform in-depth firmware debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG/SWD, and low-level hardware diagnostics tools.
• Drive root-cause analysis of complex system issues involving interactions between firmware, analog circuitry, sensors, RF modules, and power electronics.

Electrical System Integration

• Apply a deep understanding of electrical design to ensure the firmware correctly interacts with analog, digital, RF, and power subsystems.
• Collaborate closely with Electrical Engineering to review schematics, interpret board-level designs, evaluate component selection, and define HW–FW interface specs.
• Work closely with mechanical, electrical, software, and system test teams to ensure cohesive system behavior and seamless product integration.
• Lead system-level debugging sessions involving multi-disciplinary collaboration to rapidly identify and resolve issues affecting implant and mat performance.

Quality, Documentation & Compliance

• Ensure firmware development complies with IEC 62304, internal design controls, and clinical release requirements.
• Own documentation for firmware design, verification, validation, and risk management (ISO 14971).

Qualifications

Required

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical field.
• 8–12 years of embedded firmware engineering experience (medical device preferred).
• Significant hands-on experience with MCU firmware, particularly STM32 and Nordic Micro.
• Deep knowledge of electrical circuits, power systems, and sensor interfacing.
• Excellent debugging skills across analog, digital, RF, and firmware layers.
• Strong documentation ability and familiarity with design control environments.

Preferred

• Experience with implantable devices, neurostimulators, or class II/III medical systems.
• Familiarity with IEC 60601, IEC 62366, ISO 14971, and safety-critical firmware development.
• Experience with low-power wireless power transfer, coil systems, or RF modulation.
• Experience with automated unit testing frameworks (Ceedling, Unity, etc.).

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those required of an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The employee must have the ability to maintain the physical condition, mental attention, and abilities, and stamina appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will frequently be required to do the following:

• Sit for prolonged periods for various business activities. The employee is required to stand, walk, and occasionally stoop or kneel. Occasional lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds may be required.
• The employee is required to coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously; collect, interpret, and/or analyze complex data and information; perform some repetitive motion activities; work effectively as part of a team; and concentrate on a variety of details when faced with interruptions and changing work priorities.
• The mental demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions, as described above, including but not limited to demonstrated ability to anticipate and solve practical problems or resolve issues; reason, calculate figures and amounts; collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; interpret procedures and policies; and meet schedules in a dynamic and sometimes demanding work environment, while maintaining positive relationships in a team environment.
• The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job in an office environment, most of the time.

Travel

• Ability to travel within the Bay Area required.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities.