Principal Firmware Engineer

Description

When you join the company

You want more out of a career. A place to share your ideas freely — even if they’re daring or different. Where the true you can learn, grow, and thrive. At the company, we power and empower how people live, work and play by connecting them to what brings them joy. We do what we love — driving innovation, creativity, and impact in the world. Our V Team is a community of people who anticipate, lead, and believe that listening is where learning begins. In crisis and in celebration, we come together — lifting our communities and building trust in how we show up, everywhere & always. Want in? Join the VTeamLife.

What you'll be doing...

We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Embedded Firmware Engineer to architect, drive, and optimize the firmware lifecycle for our next-generation networking devices. In this senior role, you will tackle our most complex technical challenges across Wi-Fi routers, gateways, and access points. From writing robust C/C++ code to leading deep packet analysis and system triage, you will set the technical standard for the team. If you are a seasoned expert in embedded Linux environments and wireless networking protocols, we want you to help shape our core technology.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

Firmware Architecture & Development: Architect, develop, and optimize high-performance firmware applications using C and modern C++ (C++11/14) in embedded Linux environments.

Advanced Network & Packet Analysis: Lead deep packet inspection and network traffic analysis using Wireshark, tcpdump, and wireless sniffers to resolve the most difficult connectivity dropouts, protocol anomalies, and latency issues.

System Triage & Complex Debugging: Drive the diagnosis of critical system issues via shell terminals (SSH, serial). Extract and analyze log bundles, investigate complex kernel/application-layer crashes, and isolate root causes that evade standard debugging.

Wireless & Gateway Validation: Oversee the rigorous validation of end-to-end Wi-Fi performance across all bands (2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz). Ensure bulletproof stability for band/AP steering, mesh networking, and core router features (DHCP, NAT, Firewall, QoS, and Parental Controls).

Defect Resolution & Reporting: Set the standard for engineering documentation. Produce highly detailed bug reports with reproducible steps, system state observations, log files, and packet captures (.pcap) to accelerate cross-functional resolution.

Test Automation & Tooling: Design and maintain robust Python and shell scripting frameworks to automate complex test cases, streamline log collection, and execute large-scale soak testing routines.

Requirements

• You'll need to have:
• Bachelor’s degree or four or more years of work experience.
• Six or more years of relevant experience required, demonstrated through one or a combination of work and/or military experience, or specialized training.
• Wi-Fi Domain Expertise: Comprehensive understanding of IEEE 802.11 standards (a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be), wireless security protocols (WPA2/WPA3), WPS, and the physical/MAC layer mechanisms behind common RF performance bottlenecks.
• Hands-on Experience: firmware or software development experience in networking and embedded systems, with deep, specialized expertise in Wi-Fi routers, gateways, or access points.
• Experience in open-source router operating systems (OpenWrt, prplOS, RDK-B) or proprietary vendor-specific router SDKs (e.g., Qualcomm, Broadcom, MediaTek).
• Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time.
• Even better if you have one or more of the following:
• Programming: Master-level expertise writing production-quality code in C and C++ (C++11/14).
• Linux Proficiency: Deep command of Linux/Unix terminal environments, including advanced core commands, standard debugging tools, shell scripting, and system/memory process monitoring.
• Network Traffic Analysis: Extensive, authoritative experience capturing and analyzing core network protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, DNS, DHCP, ARP, ICMP) using industry-standard tools.
• Experience architecting, configuring, and deploying applications using Docker and containerized embedded development environments.
• Hands-on experience designing hardware test environments, including RF sniffers, chambers, and network traffic generators (e.g., Spirent, Ixia, or iPerf).
• If the company and this role sound like a fit for you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every “even better” qualification listed above.
• Where you’ll be working
• In this hybrid role, you'll have a defined work location that includes working from home and a minimum of three days per week in the office, which will be set by your manager. Employees are responsible for maintaining compliance with hybrid work policies.
• Scheduled Weekly Hours
• 40

Benefits

• Our benefits are designed to help you move forward in your career, and in areas of your life outside of the company. From health and wellness benefit options including: medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability, basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance, AD&D insurance, identity theft protection, pet insurance and group home & auto insurance. We also offer a matched 401(k) savings plan, up to 8 company paid holidays per year and up to 6 personal days per year, paid parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition assistance, plus other incentives, we’ve got you covered with our award-winning total rewards package. Depending on the role, employees have the opportunity to receive compensation in the form of premium pay such as overtime, shift differential, holiday pay, allowances, etc. Newly hired employees receive up to 15 days of vacation per year, which grows with additional service. For part-timers, your coverage will vary as you may be eligible for some of these benefits depending on your individual circumstances.
• The salary will vary depending on your location and confirmed job-related skills and experience. This is an incentive based position with the potential to earn more. For part-time roles, your compensation will be adjusted to reflect your hours.