Principal Firmware Architect (Embedded)

TL;DR

Principal Firmware Architect (Embedded): Architecting the embedded firmware platform for cutting-edge power electronics for the electricity grid with an accent on RTOS architecture, resource management, and safety infrastructure. Focus on designing low-latency control infrastructure, building secure bootloaders, and establishing firmware CI/CD pipelines.

Location: On-site in Scotts Valley, USA

Salary: $170,000–$260,000

Company

hirify.global is a startup building scalable and cost-effective power electronics to accelerate the electrification of the 21st-century grid.

What you will do

• Define and own the long-term firmware architecture across all Heron products, establishing reusable platform software and HAL.
• Architect and implement RTOS-based firmware for high-performance power conversion, including low-latency control and fault management.
• Evaluate and select microcontrollers/SoCs for new hardware platforms.
• Design secure bootloaders, update mechanisms, and on-device observability tools (logging, diagnostics).
• Architect the firmware build system, CI/CD, and automated testing infrastructure, including hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) strategies.
• Lead design reviews and mentor embedded engineers while driving system-level technical decisions.

Requirements

• 8+ years of embedded firmware development with multiple shipped products.
• Expert-level proficiency in embedded C/C++.
• Deep experience with RTOS, bootloaders, and low-level hardware drivers.
• Proven experience architecting large embedded systems from the ground up.
• Experience building firmware CI/CD and automated testing frameworks.
• Strong hardware debugging skills using oscilloscopes and logic analyzers.

Nice to have

• Experience with real-time control systems or power electronics.
• Knowledge of safety-critical firmware standards (e.g., IEC 61508, UL1998).
• Secure boot and device security expertise.
• Experience integrating embedded systems with cloud/IoT platforms.
• Familiarity with FPGA or ASIC.

Culture & Benefits

• Fast-moving, deeply technical startup environment with a focus on first-principles problem solving.
• High degree of ownership and real impact on the foundation of the product line.
• Collaborative culture emphasizing continuous learning and shared growth.
• Competitive compensation package including salary and equity.