Embedded Systems Engineer

Embedded Systems Engineer
Bright Silicon Technologies | Pleasanton, CA | Full time

About the Role

Bright Silicon Technologies (BST) is developing precision optical systems around our Lightfield Directing Array (LDA), a solid-state beam-steering technology. Our projects include OCTANE, a free-space laser communications terminal that brings together optics, electronics, and controls to connect moving platforms. Reliable embedded software makes that hardware work as a system.

We’re looking for an Embedded Systems Engineer to develop the low-level and system software that connects these components together. This is a broad, hands-on engineering role spanning firmware, embedded Linux, device interfaces, hardware bring-up, system integration, and test. Because we are a small engineering team, the work can vary from writing real-time firmware and device drivers to performing hardware bring-up and characterization in the lab. You’ll work closely with electrical, controls, communications, photonics, and software engineers to move systems from early prototypes to dependable integrated hardware. We’re looking for someone who is comfortable working across these boundaries, learning unfamiliar technologies when needed, and taking ownership of problems that do not always fit neatly within one engineering discipline.

What you’ll do

• Develop and debug C and C++ firmware and embedded software for device control, data acquisition, and communications. Carry your work from hardware bring-up through integration and validation.
• Work with electrical engineers to bring up new hardware and diagnose problems across electronics, firmware, and software. Use measurements and targeted experiments to understand timing, perform ance, and reliability.
• Use oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, debuggers, protocol analyzers, and other laboratory instrumentation to measure system behavior and investigate timing, signal, performance, and reliability problems.
• Partner with controls, integration, communications, and photonics engineers to deploy algorithms and connect subsystems on target hardware. Provide dependable device access, timing, telemetry, and diagnostic interfaces.
• Lead design and code reviews, share knowledge, and support other engineers through implementation and debugging. Document decisions so the team can build on each other’s work.
• Strengthen automated builds, hardware testing, and release practices. Make software configurations reproducible and failures easier to diagnose as systems move from the lab toward deployment.

What we’re looking for

• Strong C and C++ development skills and experience delivering embedded software on physical hardware. You’ve taken responsibility for a subsystem through bring-up, integration, and validation.
• Experience with bare-metal firmware, an RTOS, or embedded Linux. You understand how concurrency, interrupts, memory, and execution timing affect system behavior and can investigate performance problems.
• Hands-on hardware and software debugging experience. You can read schematics, work with device documentation, and use debuggers, oscilloscopes, or logic analyzers to trace a problem to its cause.
• Experience implementing device interfaces and communications, such as SPI, I2C, UART, or Ethernet. You can reason about latency, throughput, synchronization, and failure handling across connected components.
• A degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• U.S. citizenship - Position works on government projects requiring US Citizenship. 

Nice to have

• Experience working with processor–FPGA systems or developing software interfaces to FPGA-based hardware.
• Familiarity with FPGA RTL development for timing, control, data acquisition, or digital interfaces.
• Experience with precision instruments, robotics, lidar, optical systems, or communications hardware.
• Familiar with Python or other scripting languages for test automation and lab tools; familiarity with MATLAB-based algorithm development and the work needed to deploy algorithms on embedded targets.
• Hardware-in-the-loop testing, field diagnostics, or maintaining shared embedded components across multiple products.
• Experience leading engineers deliver coordinated technical work through planning, interface definition, reviews, or mentoring.

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At BST we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Why BST

• Help shape the embedded software behind a new optical technology, with work spanning hardware bring-up, system integration, and deployment.
• Lead through hands-on engineering and collaboration with experienced colleagues in software, electronics, controls, precision mechanisms, and optics.
• Take meaningful technical ownership in an engineer-led company with competitive compensation, equity, and a sustainable approach to work.

Company Overview

At Bright, we build precision optical systems to guide data for a new era of communication. Our team combines precision engineering, optical design, and product development to commercialize the Lightfield Directing Array. Applications include laser communications, optical switching for data centers, lidar, and additive manufacturing.
Founded in 2020, Bright Silicon Technologies is building an enduring technology manufacturing company. You’ll contribute to the development, launch, and scaling of advanced optical products. We offer competitive salaries and equity incentives, and we value effective engineering alongside long-term work/life balance.
Our benefits include:

• Equity Incentive Plan
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with other voluntary benefits
• 3% employer contribution to employee 401(k)
• Development and career growth opportunities
• Generous paid time off and paid company holidays