Develop and debug embedded C firmware for ARM-based microcontrollers throughout the hardware product lifecycle. Responsibilities include board bring-up, peripheral and USB-C/Power Delivery integration, power-management firmware, bootloaders, hardware debugging, and firmware testing. The engineer interprets schematics and datasheets, collaborates with hardware teams, maintains board support packages and source code, documents designs, and supports production-ready firmware development.
Embedded Firmware Engineer
(Contract-to-hire)
(Contract-to-hire)
Sigma Design has collaborated with a leading defense technology company seeking an experienced Embedded Firmware Engineer to join their facility in Bellevue, WA. This company specializes in autonomous systems and next-generation defense technologies. This position is contract to hire and hybrid.
While on contract you are eligible for:
- Multiple options for medical insurance and dental insurance including some with FSA and HSA
- 401(k) with up to 4% company match
- 15-days of accrued PTO and 9 company paid holidays
- Quarterly bonus program
- Voluntary benefits: vision, long-term disability, and life insurance
- Monday – Friday, day shift (hybrid, 3 days onsite)
- $116.00 an hour. The hourly range for this role is an estimate based on multiple factors, including experience, education, training, skills, and business considerations. Actual compensation may vary based on the candidate’s qualifications and alignment with the role
Primary Function:
The Embedded Firmware Engineer is responsible for developing, debugging, and supporting embedded firmware for new hardware products throughout the product development lifecycle. This role focuses on hardware bring-up, embedded C development, peripheral and device integration, and hands-on debugging of firmware running on microcontroller-based systems. The Embedded Firmware Engineer works closely with hardware and cross-functional engineering teams to bring new designs from initial power-on through production-ready firmware.
Essential Job Functions - Responsibilities:
- Bring up and validate firmware on new hardware, including verifying power and clock operation, connecting and configuring debug interfaces, enabling peripherals, and establishing initial firmware functionality
- Develop, integrate, and debug embedded C firmware for 32-bit ARM Cortex-M-class microcontrollers and similar architectures
- Configure and communicate with companion integrated circuits and peripherals using I2C, SPI, UART, and other standard communication interfaces
- Develop and debug USB-C and USB Power Delivery functionality, including power negotiation, source/sink roles, and fault handling
- Perform hands-on bench-level debugging using oscilloscopes, multimeters, logic/protocol analyzers, SWD/JTAG debuggers, and UART logging
- Analyze schematics, datasheets, register maps, and technical documentation to configure hardware devices and troubleshoot system-level issues
- Collaborate closely with hardware engineers to isolate and resolve hardware versus firmware issues during board bring-up and product development
- Develop and maintain board support packages, peripheral configurations, and firmware integrations as required
- Support firmware update and bootloader functionality, including development and deployment of firmware update images
- Develop or support firmware for power-path and regulator control, including voltage monitoring, fault detection and recovery, enable sequencing, and related power-management functions
- Document firmware configurations, implementation details, debugging activities, and design decisions to support product development and ongoing maintenance
- Use version control and established software development practices to maintain firmware source code and support collaborative development
- Support firmware integration, testing, troubleshooting, and verification throughout the product development lifecycle
- Collaborate with engineering and cross-functional teams to identify technical issues, develop solutions, and support successful product development and production
- Follow Business Technology policies to protect sensitive data and reduce information security occurrences
Education and Experience: (Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities)
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or an equivalent technical discipline required
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience developing embedded firmware or equivalent engineering experience preferred
- Strong proficiency in embedded C development for 32-bit microcontrollers, including interrupts, register-level peripheral programming, and development within flash and RAM constraints
- Working knowledge of USB-C and USB Power Delivery concepts, including source/sink/dual-role behavior and power contract negotiation
- Experience with I2C, SPI, UART, and other embedded communication interfaces, including device configuration and debugging
- Hands-on experience with hardware bring-up, including taking new boards from initial power-on through functional firmware or debugging firmware against physical hardware
- Strong ability to interpret schematics, datasheets, register tables, and hardware specifications to configure and troubleshoot embedded devices
- Proficiency using standard embedded hardware debugging tools, including oscilloscopes, logic/protocol analyzers, multimeters, and SWD/JTAG debuggers
- Experience using Git or similar version-control systems
- Experience with microcontroller SDKs, IDEs, middleware, and board support package development preferred
- Experience with firmware update mechanisms and bootloaders, including DFU or equivalent processes, preferred
- Experience with power-path, regulator, or power-management firmware, including voltage monitoring, fault detection/recovery, and sequencing preferred
- Experience with USB subsystems and related technologies such as hubs, alternate modes, signal conditioning devices, or related USB peripherals preferred
- Experience with embedded software CI/build automation preferred
- Familiarity with USB-IF requirements, USB-C specifications, or USB Power Delivery compliance testing preferred
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills
- Ability to work effectively in a hands-on engineering environment and collaborate closely with hardware and firmware engineers
- Compliance (background check, ITAR, vaccine, etc.)
- ITAR - Permanent resident of the United States (“U.S. person” as defined by ITAR)
- Background - Pass a post-offer background verification
Standard office environment with normal amounts of office related conditions. Occasionally may be required to work in environmental conditions that emulate typical user environments in order to facilitate design testing and validation. Occasionally may be required to travel as required to other facilities, clients, or suppliers.
Sigma Design Kirkland, Washington, USA Office
12903 NE 126th Pl, Kirkland, WA, United States, 98034
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