Firmware Engineer II

Description

The company builds intent-driven neural technology that aims to restore function and independence for people with neurological conditions. Its platform combines implantable neural interfaces, adaptive algorithms and assistive devices to turn neural intent into action in the real world.

The company's first focus is motor impairment caused by stroke, with plans to expand into cognitive decline and other neurological disorders, aiming at long-term solutions for an aging population.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, test and maintain embedded firmware in C/C++ for implantable and external medical devices.
• Write device drivers, communication interfaces and application-level firmware for microcontroller-based systems.
• Implement features that use hardware peripherals, real-time behavior, custom ASICs and communication protocols.
• Write Python scripts and applications that interface with embedded devices for testing, debugging and characterization.
• Take part in firmware design discussions and code reviews to keep the code reliable, maintainable and high quality.
• Help bring up hardware, integrate firmware and troubleshoot embedded systems.
• Debug firmware and hardware problems with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG/SWD debuggers and other lab equipment.
• Write and run unit, integration and automated tests to confirm that firmware works and stays reliable.
• Work with hardware, software and research teams to fit firmware into the wider medical device system.
• Build firmware inside a regulated quality system, contributing to requirements, design, verification and documentation that follow ISO 13485 and IEC 62304.
• Write up firmware designs, interfaces, test procedures and verification results to support development and regulatory work.
• Find defects, trace their root causes and put corrective fixes in place to improve firmware quality.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical or computer engineering, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• At least 2 years of professional experience building embedded firmware or embedded software.
• Strong C/C++ skills for microcontroller-based systems.
• Experience with microcontrollers such as ARM Cortex-M, including hardware peripherals, interrupts, and UART, SPI and I2C.
• Experience using Python for scripting, automation or embedded device testing.
• Experience debugging embedded systems with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers and hardware debuggers.
• Ability to read schematics and understand basic digital and analog electronics.
• Familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and sound embedded design principles.
• Experience using Git and working in collaborative software projects.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills with close attention to detail, able to build, debug and test firmware features on your own while working across engineering disciplines.
• Experience with Nordic Semiconductor nRF microcontrollers, the nRF Connect SDK and Zephyr RTOS.
• Experience with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), USB or other embedded communication interfaces.
• Experience building low-power, battery-operated embedded systems.
• Experience with automated firmware testing, unit test frameworks or CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience with static code analysis tools and embedded debugging tools such as Segger J-Link or GDB.
• Experience developing software for medical devices or other regulated or safety-critical systems.
• Familiarity with IEC 62304, ISO 13485, ISO 14971 or medical device design controls.
• Familiarity with secure firmware development and medical device cybersecurity requirements.
• Ability to work on site, including hands-on testing with prototype devices, lab equipment, and taking part in hardware bring-up and integration sessions.

Conditions

The team values deliberate use of everyone's time.

Safety for patients and for colleagues comes first.

You own outcomes, not only tasks, because the work affects real patients and their lives.

Admitting what you don't know is a strength; being correct matters less than getting it right.

This is a full-time, on-site role in Alameda, CA, five days a week.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary plus equity.
• Healthcare coverage at 100% for you and your dependents.
• Generous vacation policy.
• Paid parental leave.
• Access to collaborative spaces and labs at the waterfront office in Alameda, CA.