Firmware Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Staff Firmware Engineer Job Description

This role calls for an experienced and highly capable Staff Firmware Engineer to lead the design, development, and maintenance of embedded firmware components within a cross-functional engineering organization. You will act as a firmware technical lead, collaborating closely with product management, project management, cellular modem providers, certification bodies, and other R&D teams to deliver complete Smart Grid solutions. The position combines hands-on low-level development with leadership responsibilities, requiring deep expertise in cellular technologies, embedded systems, and complex R&D projects.

• Lead the development and testing of cellular modem interface firmware for embedded systems.
• Design, implement, and maintain embedded firmware components in support of Smart Grid solutions.
• Handle telecommunication-specific constraints and behaviors in firmware design and implementation.
• Manage SIM, APN, and operator-driven configuration differences to ensure reliable device connectivity.
• Develop and execute cellular network simulations to validate firmware behavior under diverse conditions.
• Use modem test tools to capture and analyze diagnostic traces for troubleshooting and performance tuning.
• Analyze modem logs, network traces, and protocol flows to identify root causes of connectivity and performance issues.
• Drive firmware fixes and enhancements that improve robustness and reliability across varying network conditions and technologies.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts and business partners on component and system-level design.
• Work closely with product management, project management, carriers, certification bodies, and other R&D teams throughout the design, development, and validation lifecycle.
• Contribute to end-to-end solution development involving device, network, and backend interactions.
• Provide leadership on complex hardware, firmware, software, and complete solution projects as part of a cross-functional team.
• Allocate time approximately 30% to leadership and 70% to hands-on firmware development activities.
• Conduct code reviews to ensure adherence to established best practices, coding standards, and quality expectations.
• Mentor and energize junior engineers, helping them grow technically and achieve project deliverables.
• Lead small project teams, including hosting regular meetings and coordinating with internal and external partners in written and verbal forms.
• Participate in activities that improve the engineering team, such as interviewing candidates, mentoring peers, and sharing best practices.
• Independently manage complex R&D projects, including planning, execution, and issue resolution with minimal supervision.
• Communicate effectively with diverse audiences using multiple communication channels.
• Build and maintain cross-team and cross-functional relationships to facilitate ongoing and future projects.
• Stay current on evolving cellular and embedded firmware technologies and apply this knowledge to utility-focused solutions.
• Learn new technologies and tools independently and facilitate training and knowledge sharing across multiple teams.
• Support field deployments of cellular devices, including SIM management, device provisioning, and troubleshooting in real-world environments.
• Engage with clients when needed to provide technical consulting on products and solutions.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Extensive software development experience (5–10 years), with a significant portion focused on cellular-related technologies.
• Strong experience in embedded firmware development using the C programming language.
• Hands-on experience working with cellular modems and interacting with carrier networks.
• Understanding of power-saving modes such as PSM and eDRX and their impact on device behavior.
• Knowledge of network-induced latency, connection drops, and retries, and how they affect embedded devices.
• Experience debugging issues that appear only under real network conditions.
• Exposure to end-to-end systems involving device-to-network-to-backend interactions.
• Experience with low-level embedded development, including RTOS-based systems.
• Proficiency in debugging software and embedded systems in complex R&D environments.
• Strong multitasking, organizational, and time management skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to handle complex R&D hardware, firmware, software, and complete solution projects.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively across audiences and mediums.
• Ability to exercise critical thinking and creative problem solving.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a cross-regional and cross-functional team.

• Experience with cellular device deployment, including SIM management and device provisioning.
• Experience with field troubleshooting of deployed devices in real-world environments.
• Exposure to client interaction for technical consulting on embedded and connectivity products.
• Experience with C++ in embedded or systems programming contexts.
• Familiarity with Linux-based environments and RTOS for low-level firmware development.
• Experience using modem test tools and diagnostic utilities for trace analysis.
• Ability to stay current on changing cellular and embedded firmware technologies, particularly in the utility and Smart Grid domains.
• Ability to facilitate training and knowledge sharing across multiple teams.
• Experience leading small project teams, including organizing weekly meetings and coordinating with partners.
• Experience contributing to team growth through activities such as interviewing, onboarding, or mentoring.

This is an onsite role, working Monday through Friday, typically from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You will operate in a collaborative R&D environment, working closely with cross-functional engineering, product, and project teams. The work involves hands-on interaction with embedded hardware, cellular modems, and related test and diagnostic tools, as well as software development in languages such as C and C++ on RTOS and Linux-based platforms. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan with a company match. Team members receive three weeks of paid time off and eleven paid holidays, along with tuition reimbursement, optional pet insurance, supplemental medical coverage, and various wellness and enrichment programs that support long-term growth and work-life balance.

This is a Permanent position based out of Alpharetta, GA.

The pay range for this position is $98122.00 - $142088.00/yr.

As a part of the family, employees are offered a comprehensive and competitive package of benefits including medical, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, and a 401(k)-retirement plan featuring a generous company match incentive. Additionally, we offer three (3) weeks of Paid Time Off (PTO) as well as eleven (11) paid holidays. We also offer a tuition reimbursement program, optional pet insurance, supplemental medical coverage and a host of other perks to ensure the health, wellness, and enrichment of our team members.

This is a fully onsite position in Alpharetta,GA.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 3, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.