Embedded Hardware & Firmware Engineer

Job Description:

This is an onsite position based in Alameda, California. Candidates must be able to work on-site at our Alameda office. Please note that we are unable to provide relocation assistance for this role. Additionally, we are not able to sponsor employment visas (including H-1B) for this position; candidates must have current, unrestricted authorization to work in the United States.

Simco-Ion Technology Group

Simco-Ion, located in Alameda CA, is an Illinois Tool Works' company. We are the world's largest manufacturer of ionization and process monitoring products. Since 1936, we've been providing solutions for electrostatic issues in a wide range of industries, such as semiconductor, life sciences, and advanced display.

Position Summary

This role is responsible for the design, development, integration, and validation of advanced electronics and embedded systems used in semiconductor manufacturing, scientific instrumentation, industrial automation, and precision control applications. Work centers on PCB design, firmware development, board bring-up, system integration, and hardware-software co-design.

The engineer applies working knowledge of electronics, microcontrollers, real-time embedded systems, and firmware architecture, along with hands-on experience developing and debugging hardware platforms. Background in ionization, electrostatic discharge (ESD) control, plasma, high-voltage, semiconductor process control, vacuum systems, or precision instrumentation is beneficial for this role.

This is an onsite role located in Alameda California.

Responsibilities

Embedded Firmware

• Develop and maintain low-level C/C++ firmware for microcontrollers and embedded processors.
• Support real-time control logic, hardware abstraction layers (HAL), and device drivers.

Hardware & PCB Design

• Design and support review of multi-layer PCBs using Altium Designer or equivalent CAD tools.
• Incorporate ESD protection, grounding/shielding, and ESD-safe handling practices into board design and manufacturing support.

Board Bring-Up & Integration

• Bring up new hardware platforms and debug using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers.
• Validate signal integrity, power delivery, communication interfaces, and susceptibility to ESD events.

Communication Interfaces

• Implement and support drivers for
  • SPI
  • I²C
  • UART
  • CAN
  • Ethernet
  • USB
• Support integration with sensors, actuators, and process control hardware.

Semiconductor, Ionization & ESD Systems

• Support electronics for plasma and ionization/static-neutralization systems (e.g., ionizing bars, ion emitters).
• Support ESD control and monitoring efforts, aligning with standards such as ANSI/ESD S20.20.

Tools & Interfaces

• Assist in building diagnostic and operator-facing applications using C# and .NET.
• Support communication between firmware and desktop-based tools.

Documentation & Process

• Produce technical documentation, design specs, and test procedures.
• Participate in design reviews and root-cause investigations.

Position Qualifications/Requirements

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in: Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or Related Engineering Discipline

Technical Expertise

• 5+ years of embedded hardware and firmware development experience.
• Solid C/C++ programming for embedded systems, including real-time and bare-metal environments.
• Working knowledge of microcontrollers, memory-mapped I/O, and hardware abstraction layers (HAL).
• Familiarity with Linux-based embedded systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced development environment.
• Proficient with standard Bench test equipment, i.e. Oscilloscope, DMM, etc.

Hardware Skills

• Hands-on PCB design experience using Altium Designer or similar tools.
• Working understanding of analog/digital electronics, power supplies, signal integrity, and EMI/EMC and ESD considerations.
• Experience with board bring-up, system integration, hardware validation.

Communication Protocols

• Experience implementing and debugging: SPI, I²C, UART, CAN, Ethernet, USB

Tools & Development Environment

• Experience with: Git, GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps, or equivalent source control systems
• CI/CD pipelines
• Issue tracking and configuration management tools
• Hardware debugging tools and laboratory instrumentation

Preferred Qualifications

Firmware

• Embedded C/C++
• RTOS (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar)
• Bootloaders
• Firmware architecture
• Device drivers
• Production test firmware

Hardware

• PCB Design
• Schematic Capture
• Board Bring-up
• Analog/Digital Circuit Design
• Mixed-Signal Systems
• Hardware Validation
• Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Control & Mitigation
• Ionization System Support

Software

• C#
• .NET
• Python
• Linux
• Git/GitHub
• Automated Testing

Engineering

• Root Cause Analysis
• System Integration
• Technical Documentation
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Product Development Lifecycle

Compensation Information:

The starting salary range for this position is $110,000 – $150,000 per year. This range reflects the base salary for this role and represents the low and high end of the range that ITW reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of this posting. Actual compensation offered will be determined based on factors such as the candidate's experience, skills, qualifications, education, and internal equity, as well as market and business considerations. In addition, full-time employees are available to participate in a benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision insurance programs, and paid company time off.

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.