Principal Embedded Firmware Engineer
A Houston-based professional engineering firm is seeking a Principal Embedded Firmware Engineer to lead the architecture, design, development, verification, and maintenance of advanced safety-critical medical device firmware. This role focuses on Class I, II, and III medical devices, including neuromodulation platforms, implantable pulse generators, and artificial pancreas systems. The position requires leadership in embedded firmware development, risk and reliability analysis, secure design, wireless communication systems, and low-power embedded architectures.
The Principal Embedded Firmware Engineer will collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams across software, electrical, and mechanical disciplines to deliver high-quality products on schedule. The role also includes mentoring engineers, leading project execution strategy, driving technical innovation, and serving as a customer-facing technical leader.
Key responsibilities include:
- Firmware architecture, coding, testing, integration, and verification
- Safety-critical embedded systems development
- Low-power embedded design and optimization
- Development of wireless and wired communication interfaces (BLE, UART, I2C, USB, NFC)
- Cybersecurity implementation and FOTA update strategies
- Risk assessment, technical planning, and lifecycle management
- Cross-functional collaboration and technical mentorship
Candidates should have extensive experience with C/C++, Python, ARM Cortex architectures, RTOS and bare-metal systems, medical device development processes, and relevant regulatory standards such as IEC 62304 and ISO 14971.
Requirements
- MS degree in a relevant engineering or technical field, or equivalent experience
- 15+ years of experience in embedded firmware or related specialized engineering fields
- Minimum 10 years of experience working within a requirements-driven structured development process
- Strong experience with embedded microcontrollers, bare-metal systems, and RTOS environments
- Proficiency in C/C++, Python, and assembly language programming
- Experience with ARM Cortex architectures and low-power embedded system design
- Experience with communication interfaces including UART, I2C, USB, BLE, and NFC
- Knowledge of cybersecurity principles and firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) updates
- Experience with firmware architecture, device drivers, testing, integration, and verification
- Familiarity with software development tools such as Jira, Git, GitHub, and BitBucket
- Working knowledge of IEC 62304, ISO 13485, ISO 14971, and other relevant medical device standards
- Experience with safety-critical applications and medical devices preferred
- Strong troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and risk assessment skills
- Excellent communication, leadership, collaboration, and mentoring abilities
- Proven ability to lead projects through the full software development lifecycle from architecture through release and maintenance
Benefits
Company-paid Vision and Dental insurance
Discounted Medical insurance
401(k) matching program
Opportunity to work on cutting-edge medical device technologies
Collaborative, multidisciplinary engineering environment
Exposure to a wide variety of advanced medical device projects
Continuous learning and professional growth opportunities
Leadership and mentorship opportunities within technical teams
High-impact work focused on improving patient outcomes and quality of life