Firmware Engineering Manager

1004 Copeland Oaks Dr, Morrisville, NC 27560, USA Job Type Full-Time Exempt Workspace On-Site (Hybrid Available) Reports To Director of Engineering Department FLSA Status Exempt About Device Solutions Since opening our doors in 2003, Device Solutions has established itself as a trusted electronics engineering consultancy specializing in IoT, RF, and embedded systems. We work with clients across industrial, mining, medical, and automotive markets from early feasibility through production support and certification. We believe great engineers are looking for more than just compensation, benefits, or the latest technology stack. Many of our team members joined us after successful careers at larger companies because they wanted something different: greater technical ownership, faster decision-making, meaningful customer impact, and the opportunity to work alongside highly experienced peers. Our team is supported by tenured engineering and business professionals who value collaboration, innovation, and solving complex real-world problems. Engineers here have direct influence on projects, customers, and technical direction, without layers of unnecessary bureaucracy or organizational politics. Position Summary As Firmware Engineering Manager, you will lead the firmware engineering team while remaining a hands‑on technical contributor. A large part of your time will be spent doing billable engineering work: designing, debugging, and delivering embedded and wireless systems for clients across a variety of customer markets. You will own day‑to‑day technical execution, guide engineers through complex challenges, and mentor and grow the firmware engineering team. Candidates must reside in the Raleigh‑Durham metro area to fulfill the schedule needs of the role, but non‑local candidates willing to relocate may be considered. No visa sponsorship, subcontracting, or fully remote arrangements are available. Key Responsibilities Technical & Project Execution (Primary) Perform detailed firmware design and development work on client projects as a billable contributor. Estimate project tasks and timelines to inform statements of work. Interface with prospective and existing clients to understand and manage technical expectations. Ensure firmware solutions are well‑architected, practical, and aligned with project objectives. Lead and enforce design reviews and contributions from engineering team to ensure technical quality, maintain standards, and ensure adherence to customer/product requirements. Provide critical technical oversight and guide engineers through technical challenges. Drive root cause analysis and document lessons learned to improve future execution. Lead and support recovery plans when problems arise in projects and tasks (budget, schedule, etc.). Manage a team of 5–10 firmware engineers, including workload oversight, daily technical direction, and personnel administration. Hold regular one‑on‑ones; provide direct, constructive feedback on performance and professional development. Identify and develop technical leads within the team; empower them to support daily project operations. Mentor engineers on processes, design standards, and engineering best practices. Inspire and motivate the team by aligning business and individual goals. Foster a collaborative, communicative team culture; recognize and celebrate contributions from all team members regardless of seniority or background. Exemplify and reinforce the company values. Strategy & Operations Establish and maintain quality standards. Drive continuous improvement through process definition and disciplined execution. Collaborate with the Director of Engineering to allocate resources and staff projects effectively, ensuring optimal utilization and setting future work up for success. Identify and manage third‑party vendor relationships. Provide DevOps support for team tooling, CI/CD infrastructure, and developer productivity as needed. Establish and manage non‑project firmware budget (tools, training, etc.). Review and support the hiring process. Collaborate with cross‑functional peers to establish best practices and business‑wide efficiencies. Lead cross‑discipline brainstorming sessions. Maintain a smooth and well‑defined onboarding experience for new staff. Required Qualifications 10+ years of firmware industry experience, preferably in embedded design and/or wireless products. 1+ years in a management or equivalent leadership position. Mastery of C and/or C++. Strong understanding of firmware and embedded system architecture and design. Demonstrated track record of delivering firmware projects end‑to‑end. Proficiency with embedded debugging tools: multimeters, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers. Ability to read schematics and understand the impacts of logic gates, transistors, voltage dividers, level shifters, and other common components. Ability to read hardware datasheets, user manuals, and implement firmware drivers. Comfortable working across multiple concurrent projects in a fast‑paced consultancy environment. Strong communication skills necessary to interact with project managers and clients. Must reside in or be willing to relocate to the Raleigh‑Durham metro area (hybrid schedule). No visa sponsorship or fully remote arrangements available. Ability to travel up to 5% annually (limited and project‑dependent). Preferred Qualifications Experience managing firmware teams in a consulting or services environment. Hands‑on experience with Zephyr RTOS, Yocto/embedded Linux, or comparable platforms. Familiarity with low‑power firmware design for battery‑powered IoT devices (sleep modes, power gating, current profiling). Familiarity with DevOps tooling, CI/CD pipelines, and engineering productivity tooling. Experience applying cybersecurity practices to embedded/IoT devices (secure boot, signed updates, SBOM, vulnerability response). Familiarity with AI‑assisted development tools such as Claude Code. Exposure to regulated‑industry development (e.g., medical IEC 62304, industrial standards). Core Competencies Deep technical credibility; comfortable diving into details, not just reviewing summaries. Able to remain hands‑on while running a team and to serve as the senior technical voice in customer and internal reviews. Strong leadership and people‑development skills. Calm under pressure; effective at conflict resolution. Process‑oriented mindset with a bias toward continuous improvement. Passion for customer satisfaction, technical excellence, and team success. Ability to effectively manage multiple projects in a fast‑paced environment. Demonstrates perseverance, making progress despite obstacles and setbacks. Demonstrates creativity in problem‑solving and brainstorming environments. Thinks like an entrepreneur by considering business‑wide impacts of decisions. Organized and analytical thinker; proactively identifies and mitigates risks. Passionate about results (not just checking boxes), and about customer satisfaction and technical quality. Can make progress with minimal guidance in uncertain situations with conflicting priorities. Recognizes the need for change and leads it effectively. Persuasive communicator who can leverage team strengths and encourage effective collaboration. Works independently with minimal technical guidance on execution. Education Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field. Master’s degree preferred. Why Work for Device Solutions By joining the Device Solutions team, you can expect the following: Generous Employee Benefits Package: Comprehensive health benefits (including dental and vision), generous employer contributions toward HSA/HRA and 401(k) accounts (up to 5% match), ample vacation days, sick days, flexible holidays, and more — all tailored to enhance your work‑life balance and financial security. Supportive Team Environment: A collaborative workplace where leadership genuinely cares about your growth and development, fostering a sense of belonging and teamwork. Diverse Project Opportunities: A wide variety of projects spanning different technologies and industries, challenging you while providing opportunities to broaden your skill set and expertise. Compensation Starting at $145,000 annually, commensurate with experience. Work Environment & Physical Demands Work is generally performed in an office environment with minimal exposure to unpleasant or hazardous conditions. Must be able to sit for extended periods, use telephone/headset equipment, and operate a computer terminal for 6–8 hours per day. Must be able to function in an environment with consistent interruptions and, on rare occasions, lift up to 20 lbs. The work may be stressful at times and requires the ability to meet key deliverables for the role. Reasonable accommodation policy Federal contractors must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case‑by‑case basis. Device Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). #J-18808-Ljbffr Device Solutions