Embedded Systems Engineer, Senior

Work at Blissway: Opportunity for Impact Every Day 🚀✨

Blissway is a startup that simplifies toll collection and dramatically improves highway safety. We are multiple startups in one: Deep Tech, AI/ML, Hardware, SaaS, and IoT. For the past five years, we have built a nearly insurmountable technological lead in tolling, a roughly $15B global industry expected to double in the next decade. We work for toll authorities and state DOTs, and we own the whole system, from the roadside camera to the final bill, so every vehicle we see becomes one accurate toll transaction and nothing more. While our competitors have thousands of employees, we operate with a lean but growing team of less than 30. Our impact is visible on the massive Interstate Highway System connecting every major US metro (except Juneau, AK—sorry, Juneau).

You are a good fit if...

You love the grind: You take ownership and put in the time to meet deadlines. Our recent team survey showed an average of 55 hours/week, with occasional 70+ hour bursts for major releases.

• You are detail obsessed: You have experience writing code, designing or building systems that stands up to the unpredictability of the physical world, where the small details are the difference between success and failure.

• You are adaptable: We are a lean team. If you only want to work on a "niche thing" or are uncomfortable helping other teams when they need a boost, this isn't the place for you. We expect you to figure out what you need to get stuff done.

• You're at home with hardware or code: Our Embedded team prototypes rapidly so teammates need to be equally comfortable with hardware and coding. We mostly use Python, but we don’t care what you’re most proficient in today—as long as you learn fast. If you lean hardware, check out our Electrical Engineer, Hardware, or Operations team postings. If you lean toward coding, check out our Software Engineer postings. If you love both, you're in the right spot.

The Mission: Our technological lead is built on hardware that simply doesn't fail. You are responsible for ensuring our roadside systems—solar power generation, cell connectivity, and high-speed sensors—operate with 99.99% reliability in the harshest environments.

• Hardening the System: Deep-dive into the reliability of our power systems and connectivity, ensuring our "secret sauce" remains insurmountable.

• End-to-End Design: Own the development of schematics, PCBs, housing, and cabling solutions for next-generation hardware.

• Manufacturing Evolution: Lead design iterations in CAD to improve the assembly yield and long-term serviceability of our devices.

• Hardware-Software Synthesis: Write the code that lives on the edge. You understand the friction between a sensor's physical limitations and the software's requirements.

• Education: MS or BS in Electrical Engineering, Robotics or a related technical field.

• Experience: You have built physical hardware. Whether at work or as a hobbyist (Raspberry Pi, ESP32, custom PCBs) we want to see what you’ve brought to life.

• Technical Versatility: You have a foundational understanding of circuit design and CAD, and you aren't afraid to write code. You should be comfortable in (or excited to learn) Python or C++ to make your hardware talk to our software.

• Mindset: You are excited to work at a startup and be part of a core engineering team. You don't wait for a manual or a step-by-step guide; you figure out what you need to get stuff done and you do it with a professional, "owner" mentality. You understand that in a small team, feedback is the fastest way to level up and you welcome it.

• Denver: You’re excited about moving to Denver and eager to collaborate in person. While we have a hybrid work model, some roles are simply most effective when in the office or shop. Building hardware for the physical world requires testing and getting your hands dirty; that’s half the fun.

Our Technical Ecosystem: While we value problem-solving over specific syntax, skills that transfer well are:

• Languages: Python, TypeScript, C++

• Tools: Altium, Onshape, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers

• Infrastructure: Linux, IoT Edge Devices, AWS

• Specialties: On-edge Computer Vision, CAD, weatherproofing, outdoor deployment, vertical product integration

The Interview Process

We're a selectively small team, which means a deliberate and thorough interview process with 3-4 interviews and a final paid work trial. In exchange, you get real autonomy from day one, direct access to the people setting technical direction, and work that ships to roads in weeks, not quarters.

The Essentials (Health & Wealth)

• Relocation Support: We are excited for you to join the team at our engineering office in Denver. We value in-person collaboration and daily team lunches and we provide a relocation bonus to help you get here.

• Personalized Health Coverage (ICHRA): We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all healthcare. We provide a monthly allowance for you and dependents so you can choose the individual plan that actually fits your life.

• Investing in Your Future: 401(k) matching up to 4%.

• Peace of Mind: Transparent compensation. Company-sponsored life & disability insurance.

• Early Stage Equity: Competitive equity package. Every year, we facilitate a tender process that gives you the opportunity to sell your vested shares at the same valuation as our investors.

Rest & Recharge 🌴

• High-Trust Time Off: 4 weeks of untracked PTO. We don't micromanage your calendar; we focus on your impact. Take the time you need to stay sharp and inspired.

• Family First: 12 weeks of paid parental leave for birth and adoptive parents. We want you present for the moments that matter most.

• The Deep Breath (Sabbatical): Every 5 years, take 12 weeks of fully paid leave. Go travel, write a book, or master a new hobby—then come back and tell us all about it.

Fuel & Community 😀

• The Blissway Kitchen: Whether it’s breakfast to start your day or our daily group lunches, we keep the team fueled.

• Snacks Autonomy: Our kitchen is fully stocked and we mean it—if we’re missing your favorite fuel, just add it to the request list.

• The "BlissTrip": An annual 4-day getaway for the team and significant others.

• Monthly Beats: Game nights, escape rooms, and dinners to celebrate the grit we put in.

• Continuous Learning: Tuition reimbursement for courses, programs, and conferences that sharpen your craft.