{"id":203866,"url":"https://alion.io/job/build-ai-firmware-software-engineer","title":"Firmware / Software Engineer","company":{"id":456056,"name":"Build AI","domain":"build.ai","url":"https://alion.io/company/build-ai","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":null},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Shenzhen, China"],"countries":["CN"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":300000,"max":600000,"currency":"CNY","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":90086},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":true,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Rust","optional":false},{"name":"Claude","optional":true},{"name":"Python","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-30T03:16:43Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-30","last_verified_at":"2026-11-08T03:53:29Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":70,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":70},"description":"About Build AI\nBuild AI is the data hyperscaler for Physical AI. We're vertically integrated across hardware, manufacturing, logistics, collection, and model training to scale the physical labor dataset orders of magnitude faster than anyone in the world.\nJob Summary\nWe're hiring firmware/software in Shenzhen for the devices that record physical labor. The job is the path from sensor to bits leaving the device: capture, storage, reliability, and enough software that a factory team can flash, test, and ship. You sit next to PCB and mechanical, not in a pure software org.\nKey Responsibilities\nOwn firmware end-to-end on collection devices: boot, camera capture, storage, upload, recovery when the field is messy\n\nBring up new boards with PCB: clocks, buses (I2C, SPI, UART, USB), cameras, power - read the schematic, use a scope, close the bug\n\nBuild flashing, factory programming, and test software so we can make devices in volume (HIL or production validation a plus)\n\nDevelop diagnostics, logging, and enough host-side glue that SF data infra can ingest without a snowflake per SKU\n\nOptimize for reliability and throughput, not a demo that dies after an hour\n\nWork with SF software (data infra, pipelining) on the device-to-cloud contract\n\nYou may be a good fit if you have (Must-have qualifications)\nYou've shipped firmware on real hardware, in C/C++/Rust or similar, and you can debug with a scope and a log\n\nExperience with embedded architectures and IO (I2C, SPI, UART, USB or wireless), plus cameras, storage, and power\n\nComfortable reading schematics and working with EE on bring-up\n\nYou would rather make 10,000 devices that work than one that is clever\n\nStrong candidates may also have experience with (Nice-to-have qualifications)\nSoftware beyond firmware: factory tools, Python/Go to glue test and flash, simple device apps\n\nOTA, failure-tolerant upload, or fleet observability\n\nDelivered at least one project from prototype through production\n\nFine in Shenzhen and in factories. Mandarin useful. English enough to work with SF\n\nBenefits\nCompetitive pay\n\nMedical, dental, and vision packages with generous premium coverage\n\n$500 per month credit for waiving medical benefits\n\nHousing subsidy of $2k per month for those living within walking distance of the office\n\nRelocation support for those moving to San Francisco (Financial District) or Shenzhen (Nanshan)\n\nVarious wellness benefits covering fitness, mental health, and more\n\nDaily lunch and dinner in our office\n\nUnlimited compute budget subject to ROI justification\n\nUnlimited Codex and Claude credits\n\nTravel\n\nHow we're different\nBuild believes in the Bitter Lesson. By taking a general approach of learning from humans, our addressable market is all physical labor.\nWe are a fully in-person team in San Francisco (Financial District) and Shenzhen (Nanshan), and greatly value engineering skills. We do not have boundaries between engineering and research, and we expect all of our technical staff to contribute to both and work across disciplines as needed.\nBuild AI is an equal opportunity employer. We review every application. If you do not meet every bullet, still apply. 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