Firmware Development Engineer (C/C++)

Location: Alameda, CA; onsite work at the Alameda headquarters

Salary: $92,454–$108,769 annually for employees working onsite in Alameda, California.

Company

hirify.global develops fluoride-salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor technology to support clean energy deployment with robust safety, affordable costs, and flexible operation.

What you will do

• Develop, test, debug, and document firmware for reactor protection, plant instrumentation, control, and related non-safety systems.
• Implement embedded firmware in C/C++ and support FPGA logic development where applicable.
• Define firmware requirements, interfaces, design descriptions, and traceability between implementation and verification evidence.
• Develop and execute unit, integration, and regression tests; investigate anomalies and support independent verification and validation.
• Support laboratory hardware bring-up and firmware integration using schematics, datasheets, debuggers, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.
• Collaborate with hardware, controls, systems, and test engineers on interface issues, system testing, commissioning, configuration management, and controlled firmware releases.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Entry-level profile: recent graduates or candidates with 0–2 years of relevant experience; coursework, laboratory work, capstone projects, internships, and personal projects are acceptable.
• Foundational C or C++ programming skills, including developing and debugging software for a microcontroller, embedded processor, or comparable platform.
• Understanding of digital logic and embedded concepts including memory, interrupts, timers, state machines, and real-time behavior.
• Ability to read technical documentation and basic schematics, troubleshoot methodically, and document designs, test results, and issues clearly.
• Familiarity with version control such as Git and basic software testing practices, with willingness to follow a documented engineering development process.
• Strong attention to detail, clear communication, collaboration skills, and willingness to ask questions and learn from technical reviews.
• Interest in nuclear energy and safety-critical engineering.

Nice to have

• Coursework or project exposure to VHDL/Verilog, FPGA tools, Python test automation, laboratory instruments, or SPI, I2C, and UART interfaces.
• Familiarity with requirements traceability, verification and validation, or quality assurance.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employees, excluding interns, may access medical, dental, and vision benefits for themselves and dependents.
• Paid vacation and competitive compensation packages are provided.
• Benefits include 401(k), pre-tax health insurance, dependent care, and commuter benefits through FSA programs.
• Work follows nuclear quality assurance, software lifecycle, cybersecurity, configuration management, code review, and change-control procedures.
• The role is subject to Department of Energy Part 810 export-control access requirements; some foreign nationals may require a DOE license.

Hiring process

• Applications are accepted from candidates only; recruiters and agencies are not requested.
• Applicants must answer questions determining the Part 810 export-control licensing requirements applicable to facility access.