Embedded Software Engineer (Robotics/Defense)

TL;DR

Embedded Software Engineer (Robotics/Defense): Leading hardware and software development of embedded systems for uncrewed surface vessels with an accent on low-level software control and communication protocols. Focus on designing drivers for CAN and RS485, building hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test environments, and integrating diverse subsystems for autonomous fleets.

Location: Hybrid in North Kingstown, RI; must be based in the greater Boston area

Salary: $120k – $180k + Equity

Company

hirify.global is a leader in all-domain collaborative autonomy, developing software-defined hardware for military and commercial autonomous systems across sea, air, and land.

What you will do

• Lead the development and maintenance of robust low-level software control systems for uncrewed surface vessels (USVs).
• Design, implement, and optimize drivers for communication protocols including CAN (J1939, NMEA2000, DroneCAN) and RS485 (ModBus).
• Integrate and test drivers for subsystems such as motors, batteries, actuators, and sensors.
• Collaborate with hardware and autonomy engineers to abstract hardware functions for multiple vehicle types.
• Establish and maintain hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test environments for system validation.
• Create detailed software documentation, test schematics, and design notes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a similar discipline.
• Proven experience with STM32 platforms using C/C++ and RTOS (e.g., ChibiOS, FreeRTOS).
• Deep knowledge of CAN and RS485 protocols and experience with bus analysis tools.
• Proficiency with professional development tools including git, docker, Confluence, and Jira.
• Strong electronics skills, including soldering, prototyping, and schematic interpretation.
• Must be a US Citizen and eligible to obtain a Secret Clearance.
• Must be based in the greater Boston area.

Nice to have

• Experience with PX4 or ArduPilot open-source autopilot codebases.
• Background in automotive or marine systems with distributed, bus-based architectures.
• Familiarity with pub/sub architectures (e.g., DDS) on resource-constrained systems.
• Basic mechanical assembly skills and experience with standard shop tools.
• Experience with mission-critical robotics applications.

Culture & Benefits

• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and families.
• Employer-paid life insurance and 401k program with matching.
• Unlimited PTO policy with a mandatory 2-week minimum.
• Equity package and work/home office stipend.
• 16-week paid parental leave and monthly health and wellness stipend.
• Global Entry benefit.