RF Embedded Firmware Engineer

About VectorWave

VectorWave is building the Analog Processing Unit (APU), the world’s first programmable neuromorphic processor that runs AI inference on raw radio-frequency waveforms pre-digitization. Conventional RF systems must digitize the signal before any AI inference can occur, fundamentally limiting the latency, power consumption, and performance of wireless edge compute. The APU bypasses these bottlenecks by performing the AI signal processing fully in analog.

We are a venture-backed MIT spinout translating award-winning research into new wireless products with fundamentally new capabilities. With applications spanning defense (electronic warfare, spectrum awareness, anti-jam) and commercial wireless (Wi-Fi and 5G/6G spectrum sharing, interference management), we are building a team of engineers who are excited to transform the future of wireless communications!

The role

The RF embedded firmware engineer role entails designing and developing the programmable systems for VectorWave’s APU. In a multi-disciplinary effort, you will work closely with the analog hardware RF engineers and RF machine learning engineers to create subsystems that enable the APU to execute programmable signal processing operations and AI functionalities for wireless edge compute. Your work will be integrated with that of the other subsystem designers to advance the APU.

Location: This is an in-person, full-time role at our office in the Greater Boston area. There may occasionally be some travel to conferences.

What you'll do

• Design subsystems for the APU’s programmable edge compute

• Choose the components and design circuit systems integrating RF components, memory, and microprocessors

• Program the control scheme and interface for the programmable APU subsystem

• Evaluate the performance of the programmable APU subsystem against internal and customer KPIs

• Work with the RF, machine learning, and system engineers to ensure inter-system compatibility

What you bring

• Expertise programming and interfacing with ADCs, DACs, and on-board memory

• Experience programming microprocessor units (MPUs) and/or RF system-on-chips (SoCs) and/or edge FPGAs

• Experience designing and implementing system-level interfaces between components

• Mathematical maturity and mastery of the physics of designed circuits

• Experience designing and implementing methods of analog system characterization

• Experience implementing environmental hardware stabilization as necessary

• A BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related field

Nice to have

• An MS or PhD in a relevant field

• Published experimental demonstrations of any scalable analog circuitry (e.g. AI hardware accelerators, photonic integrated circuits, quantum hardware)

• Development board design experience

• Robust system documentation experience

• Experience using RF signal processing devices & components

• In-situ/physics-aware/back propagation-free machine learning for AI hardware accelerators

• Experience developing physically accurate digital twins to validate hardware designs through math and simulation

• Understanding of RF signal processing techniques

• RF PCB design & impedance matching experience

How we work

• Always be curious. Sometimes the most profound outcomes come from paying attention to the smallest details.

• Truth guides us. Honesty and candor are foundational. Don't delay hard conversations, start them.

• Think out loud. Voicing anything both technical and non-technical helps us solve problems together.

• Mistakes are expected. Perfection is impossible when you're building something new. We want to navigate challenges thoughtfully so we can learn and improve.

• Adaptability is essential. Make the best decision with the information at hand, then be ready to adjust.

• Lean on each other. As we scale, we aim to maintain our scrappy, small team camaraderie.

Compensation and benefits

Competitive salary and meaningful equity, plus:

The basics

• Medical: UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus, platinum tier. $10 primary care visit. $10 therapy visits.

• Dental: Blue Cross Blue Shield Dental Blue. Child orthodontia included.

• Vision: Guardian.

• Unlimited PTO.

Family matters

• We offer 95% dependent premium coverage.

• Plus, we have uncapped IVF support for fertility and family planning.

• Coming soon: Twenty-six weeks of parental leave at 100% of pay for every parent: birthing, non-birthing, adoptive, and foster.

For life beyond work

• 401(k): we match 100% of the first 6% of pay, dollar for dollar.

• Take care of yourself with a $2,000 annual wellness benefit.

Equal opportunity

VectorWave is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you need an accommodation during the hiring process, let us know.

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.

VectorWave participates in E-Verify. See the E-Verify Participation and Right to Work posters in English and Spanish.