Embedded Software Engineer

Our company description:

Mission is a platform for hiring, vetting and managing software development talents. It enables our clients to connect with the world’s best talent to build mission-critical software products.

About the client:

This early-stage robotics startup develops modular unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) platforms designed for distributed operations in high-attrition environments. The company focuses on building affordable, rugged robotic systems for tactical edge sensing and communications. Its technology enables users to deploy mission payloads without increasing personnel requirements. The platform is designed for both defense and industrial applications where reliability in harsh, real-world environments is critical.

About the Role:

As an early-hire Embedded Software Engineer, you will own significant portions of the firmware stack for a remotely operated robotic platform. This is a high-ownership role in a lean, fast-moving environment where you will work directly with hardware engineers to enable real-time robotic operations. You will be responsible for building production-grade software that interfaces directly with sensors and actuators, ensuring system reliability in the field. Your work will directly impact the performance and scalability of a platform that moves quickly from R&D to global deployment.

On-site in Denver.

What You'll Do:

• Design and implement production-grade embedded firmware for robotic platforms from initial development through commercial deployment.
• Develop and integrate drivers, middleware, and real-time control software for high-performance systems.
• Conduct board bring-up and debug hardware-software integration issues using logic probes and protocol analyzers.
• Optimize system performance to handle real-time constraints, including timing, latency, and interrupt handling.
• Collaborate with hardware teams to integrate sensors, actuators, and complex communication stacks.
• Maintain and improve development pipelines and QA processes to ensure long-term code reliability.
• Manage the full software lifecycle for critical components of the firmware stack with high autonomy.

What You Bring:

• 2–4 years of experience writing production embedded firmware for deployed hardware.
• Proficiency in C and C++ with a focus on memory management and reliability.
• Strong background in real-time systems, RTOS, and low-level timing constraints.
• Direct experience with communication protocols including SPI and I2C.
• Technical proficiency in Linux development environments and command-line tools.
• Ability to work onsite and travel up to 15%.
• U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residency required.

Nice to Haves:

• Experience with robotics, drones, or autonomous vehicle systems.
• Knowledge of CAN, EtherCAT, or UART protocols.
• Familiarity with ROS/ROS2 or FPGA development.
• Hardware design skills, including PCB fabrication or board design.
• Python proficiency for build automation and tooling.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing or power electronics.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Base salary of $90,000 – $140,000.
• Equity participation.
• Monthly health insurance reimbursement.
• Flexible PTO and annual winter shutdown.
• Onsite lunch provided.