Embedded Software Engineer III

We are seeking a highly skilled Embedded Software Engineer III to join our innovative engineering team. This role involves designing, developing, and optimizing embedded software solutions for complex hardware systems across various platforms. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in embedded systems, firmware development, and software troubleshooting, with a strong background in programming languages such as C, C++, and Python.

You will play a pivotal role in advancing our products by integrating cutting‑edge technologies including FPGA, microcontroller programming, RTOS, and machine learning algorithms. Your expertise will contribute to creating reliable, efficient, and scalable embedded applications that meet rigorous performance standards.

Job Title: Embedded Software Engineer III

Department: Engineering

Reports To: Director of Embedded Software Engineering

Location: Santa Barbara, CA

Position Type: Full‑Time, Exempt, On‑site, IC2 or IC3

The Embedded Software Engineer will play a key role in designing, developing, and integrating imaging solutions that leverage our cutting‑edge sensor technologies. This individual will be responsible for software architecture, requirements definition, and performance optimization and qualification, ensuring our products meet customer needs across defense, industrial, scientific, and commercial markets. This position focuses mainly on embedded software as well as communication over external interfaces and working across all departments to see that products are developed and delivered to customers reliably and efficiently.

• Collaborate with software, hardware, systems, and optical engineering teams to deliver fully integrated solutions.
• Develop and enhance skills to design and integrate software tools and functions.
• Develop and maintain embedded Linux software for ARM‑based SoCs supporting real‑time video pipelines.
• Implement and optimize drivers, middleware, and APIs for interfaces such as Ethernet/PoE, HDMI, USB, Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth, and serial buses (I²C, SPI, UART).
• Support board bring‑up, BSP (Board Support Package) customization, boot loader configuration and AMP proprietary video pipeline software integration.
• Collaborate with hardware teams.
• Debug hardware/software integration issues using JTAG, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers.
• Perform root‑cause analysis of complex integration issues.
• Document designs, create test harnesses, and conduct structured design reviews.
• Assist in defining and executing system level verification and validation plans.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in imaging system design during customer engagements, proposals, and reviews.
• Support product lifecycle from concept through production, ensuring field‑proven reliability and manufacturability.
• Engage with customers and product teams to define requirements. Create flow‑down requirements for subsystems and support teams or developers.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, or a related field (PhD a plus).
• 5+ years of experience in embedded software/firmware development.
• Proficient in C/C++ for embedded systems.
• Familiarity with low‑light imaging, NIR/IR systems, or high‑performance CMOS sensor technologies.
• Strong experience with microcontrollers, SoCs, and FPGA‑based systems in real‑time environments.
• Proven success in hardware/software integration and debugging with industry‑standard tools.
• Deep knowledge of communication protocols (e.g., I²C, SPI, UART, USB, Ethernet).
• Strong track record of delivering reliable, optimized embedded solutions for power‑and performance‑constrained systems.
• Experience working in cross‑disciplinary teams and in fast‑paced environments.
• Excellent problem‑solving, communication, and customer‑facing skills.
• US Citizen or green card holder required.

• Knowledge of embedded systems, SOCs, FPGA, or GPU‑based image processing.
• Knowledge of Python, Fire Base, Typescript, Java and other modern scripting languages and frameworks for test equipment, database management and user interfaces.

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at a time.

• Salary Range: $125,000 - $145,000
• Discretionary Bonus: 7.5 – 10%