{"id":1705717,"url":"https://alion.io/job/q-block-senior-embedded-software-developer-quantum-control-firmware","title":"Senior Embedded Software Developer — Quantum Control Firmware","company":{"id":2504443,"name":"Q Block","domain":"q-block.ca","url":"https://alion.io/company/q-block","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Breezy","truth_index":{"grade":"D","score":40,"open_postings":21,"ghost_share":1,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-08T05:49:30Z"}},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Ottawa, Canada"],"countries":["CA"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":76000,"max_usd":165000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":83},"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Git","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-06T16:33:55Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-07-06","last_verified_at":"2026-10-09T00:53:42Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":94,"trust":{"level":"ghost","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale","company_stale"],"days_open":93},"description":"Job Description\nQ-Block Computing is seeking a Senior Embedded Software Developer to join our growing team in Ottawa, Ontario. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of cutting-edge quantum technologies in sensing, communication, and computation. The candidate will join Q-Block Computing to serve as the lead firmware developer on the Qubit Composer platform team, delivering complex subsystems and coordinating the day-to-day development work of the embedded software team under the guidance of the Technical Team Lead.\nJob Summary\nAs a Senior Embedded Software Developer on the Quantum Control Firmware team, you will collaborate with other team members and achieve technical milestones under the guidance of the Technical Team Lead. Job duties include the design, architecture, and implementation of firmware libraries and embedded control subsystems for ARM Cortex-M-based platforms. This may include applications such as real-time multi-unit synchronization, deterministic waveform generation, and high-throughput data pipelines for quantum sensing, communication, and computation hardware.\nResponsibilities\nDesign, architect, and implement reusable firmware libraries and embedded control subsystems in C/C++ for ARM Cortex-M platforms within the Arduino/PlatformIO ecosystem\nAnalyze system-level requirements and recommend architectural approaches for new firmware features and subsystem modifications\nDevelop and validate DMA-based parallel data transfer subsystems and synchronous multi-pin I/O operations for deterministic, low-latency hardware control\nImplement and test high-speed peripheral control for DAC, ADC, DDS, PLL, digital potentiometers, and RF attenuator/amplifier ICs communicating over SPI and LVDS\nDesign and implement digital control loop modules (PI2D, FIR/IIR filters) for precision analog output stabilization\nCoordinate task execution and review the code, test results, and documentation of Electronics Engineering Technologists and other developers on the team\nConduct system-level integration testing across multiple interconnected control units; design test strategies and document integration procedures and failure modes\nSet up and maintain firmware build environments, toolchains (PlatformIO, Make), and Git workflows for the team\nWrite documentation for new and updated firmware subsystems\nCollaborate with cross-functional hardware and quantum systems teams\nContribute to a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing within the team\nQualification\nBachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field\n5+ years of professional experience in embedded software development with ARM Cortex-M or comparable architectures\nSkills\nStrong C/C++ proficiency; demonstrated experience designing reusable embedded libraries or firmware architectures\nDeep understanding of DMA configuration, memory-mapped I/O, and real-time scheduling on ARM microcontrollers\nExperience with high-speed SPI, multi-IC board-level integration, and mixed-signal debugging\nDemonstrated ability to coordinate and review the technical work of other developers\nExperience with NXP i.MX RT series, Teensy, or PlatformIO platforms is an asset\nExposure to digital control theory (PID, IIR/FIR), precision timing systems, or clock synchronization is an asset\nGood laboratory knowledge with electronic circuits and standard instruments such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and signal generators\nStrong attention to detail and a sense of responsibility in all tasks\nCritical thinking and problem-solving mindset\nStrong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment\nBenefits\nExtended health care benefits (inc. dental and vision)\nLife insurance\nEqual Opportunity\nQ-Block Computing is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity. If you require assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please feel free to notify us.\nCanadian citizens and permanent residents are strongly encouraged to apply. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply.","description_format":"text","description_chars":4230,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Continuous learning","Life insurance"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Quantum Science & Computing","Quantum Computing Hardware"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-02T14:47:43Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":10,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.288,"p_room":0.35,"age_days":93,"expected_fill_days":40,"reasons":["conf:1","stale_co","ghost","win:tail"],"computed_at":"2026-10-08T05:49:30Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/q-block-senior-embedded-software-developer-quantum-control-firmware","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/q-block-senior-embedded-software-developer-quantum-control-firmware.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-09T03:21:46Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":1936,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":3064,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-10T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":2504443},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=2504443"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fq-block-senior-embedded-software-developer-quantum-control-firmware"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fq-block-senior-embedded-software-developer-quantum-control-firmware"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fq-block-senior-embedded-software-developer-quantum-control-firmware"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/q-block-senior-embedded-software-developer-quantum-control-firmware\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fq-block-senior-embedded-software-developer-quantum-control-firmware"}]}