{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"9b77ebef0b4b82dee1afa10a","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/9b77ebef0b4b82dee1afa10a","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/9b77ebef0b4b82dee1afa10a","title":"Embedded Firmware Engineer","description":"Embedded Firmware Engineer\nEfference - Robust Robotic Perception\nLocation: North Beach, San Francisco, CA\nEmployment Type: Full Time\nLocation Type: On-site\nDepartment: Engineering\nCompany Overview\nEfference builds robust, high-performance robotic perceptual systems that make robots easier to develop and faster to deploy. Our technology integrates proprietary optical designs, advanced sensor fusion, depth estimation, image sensor processing, and tightly optimized hardware-software stacks to enable reliable perception across general and specialized robotic systems.\nWe are currently deploying the first generation of vision systems with state-of-the-art hardware and software while actively prototyping generations two and three of our core perceptual system.\nEfference was founded by Gianluca Bencomo, a PhD student at Princeton University whose research spans visual neuroscience, Bayesian filtering for fast and robust sensor fusion, neural network inductive biases, and robotics perception. The company is backed by Y Combinator and Anti Fund.\nPosition Overview\nAs a Embedded Firmware Engineer at Efference, you will lead the design, implementation, and integration of low-level software that powers our next-generation robotic perception systems. You will work at the boundary between custom hardware and advanced perception software, enabling reliable, high-performance sensing across cameras, IMUs, and other robotic sensors.\nThis role requires deep expertise in embedded Linux, real-time systems, and hardware bring-up, as well as the ability to collaborate closely with PCB designers, perception researchers, and full-stack engineers. Your work will directly influence the performance, reliability, and deployability of Efference’s custom camera and sensing platforms across multiple product generations.\nKey Responsibilities\nLead firmware architecture and development for ARM-based SoCs and MCUs\nRead, modify, and maintain device trees, BSPs, and board support packages\nReview and approve schematics and PCB layouts, with a focus on signal integrity, power distribution, and manufacturability\nDevelop and maintain embedded Linux systems using Buildroot and Yocto\nImplement and optimize RTOS-based firmware for real-time sensing and control\nWrite and maintain kernel drivers and low-level device drivers for sensors and peripherals\nIntegrate and optimize MIPI-CSI camera pipelines, including basic camera bring-up and tuning\nImplement and debug WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity on embedded platforms\nWork with a wide range of communication interfaces, including CAN, USB, RS-485, UART, I²C, SPI, GMSL, etc.\nIntegrate and calibrate sensors such as IMUs, cameras, LiDAR, and other robotic sensing modalities\nPerform hands-on hardware debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and other lab tools\nCollaborate with perception, robotics, and full-stack teams to support teleoperation, data collection, and on-device inference\nContribute to product roadmaps, technical documentation, and platform evolution across multiple hardware generations\nQualifications\nBachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or a related field\n5+ years of professional experience in embedded systems or firmware engineering\nStrong proficiency in C/C++ for embedded and systems programming\nExperience working with embedded Linux on ARM-based SoCs\nDeep understanding of hardware–software co-design, including power, clock, and memory subsystems\nProven experience bringing up custom hardware from early prototypes through production\nFamiliarity with common MCUs and peripheral architectures\nStrong debugging and root-cause analysis skills across hardware and software layers\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience with Rust for embedded or systems programming\nBackground in robotics, perception, or sensor fusion\nFamiliarity with robotic control systems and real-time constraints\nPersonal interest or hands-on experience in robot learning or autonomous systems\nExperience supporting high-throughput image or sensor data pipelines\nBenefits\nCompetitive salary and meaningful equity in a seed-stage, venture-backed startup\nOpportunity to work at the cutting edge of robotic perception and applied research\nClose collaboration with world-class researchers and engineers\nHigh-impact role with significant technical ownership and growth opportunities","company":"Efference","rawCompany":"efference","city":"Millbrae","state":"CA","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-04-14T10:36:37.612Z","occupations":[{"code":"17-2199.08","title":"Robotics Engineers","slug":"robotics-engineers"},{"code":"15-1252.00","title":"Software Developers","slug":"software-developers"},{"code":"15-1299.08","title":"Computer Systems Engineers/Architects","slug":"computer-systems-engineers-architects"}],"industries":[{"code":"513210","title":"Software Publishers","slug":"software-publishers"},{"code":"541511","title":"Custom Computer Programming Services","slug":"custom-computer-programming-services"},{"code":"541715","title":"Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)","slug":"research-and-development-in-the-physical-engineering-and-life-sciences-except-nanotechnology-and-biotechnology"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Embedded Firmware Engineer","description":"Embedded Firmware Engineer\nEfference - Robust Robotic Perception\nLocation: North Beach, San Francisco, CA\nEmployment Type: Full Time\nLocation Type: On-site\nDepartment: Engineering\nCompany Overview\nEfference builds robust, high-performance robotic perceptual systems that make robots easier to develop and faster to deploy. Our technology integrates proprietary optical designs, advanced sensor fusion, depth estimation, image sensor processing, and tightly optimized hardware-software stacks to enable reliable perception across general and specialized robotic systems.\nWe are currently deploying the first generation of vision systems with state-of-the-art hardware and software while actively prototyping generations two and three of our core perceptual system.\nEfference was founded by Gianluca Bencomo, a PhD student at Princeton University whose research spans visual neuroscience, Bayesian filtering for fast and robust sensor fusion, neural network inductive biases, and robotics perception. The company is backed by Y Combinator and Anti Fund.\nPosition Overview\nAs a Embedded Firmware Engineer at Efference, you will lead the design, implementation, and integration of low-level software that powers our next-generation robotic perception systems. You will work at the boundary between custom hardware and advanced perception software, enabling reliable, high-performance sensing across cameras, IMUs, and other robotic sensors.\nThis role requires deep expertise in embedded Linux, real-time systems, and hardware bring-up, as well as the ability to collaborate closely with PCB designers, perception researchers, and full-stack engineers. Your work will directly influence the performance, reliability, and deployability of Efference’s custom camera and sensing platforms across multiple product generations.\nKey Responsibilities\nLead firmware architecture and development for ARM-based SoCs and MCUs\nRead, modify, and maintain device trees, BSPs, and board support packages\nReview and approve schematics and PCB layouts, with a focus on signal integrity, power distribution, and manufacturability\nDevelop and maintain embedded Linux systems using Buildroot and Yocto\nImplement and optimize RTOS-based firmware for real-time sensing and control\nWrite and maintain kernel drivers and low-level device drivers for sensors and peripherals\nIntegrate and optimize MIPI-CSI camera pipelines, including basic camera bring-up and tuning\nImplement and debug WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity on embedded platforms\nWork with a wide range of communication interfaces, including CAN, USB, RS-485, UART, I²C, SPI, GMSL, etc.\nIntegrate and calibrate sensors such as IMUs, cameras, LiDAR, and other robotic sensing modalities\nPerform hands-on hardware debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and other lab tools\nCollaborate with perception, robotics, and full-stack teams to support teleoperation, data collection, and on-device inference\nContribute to product roadmaps, technical documentation, and platform evolution across multiple hardware generations\nQualifications\nBachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or a related field\n5+ years of professional experience in embedded systems or firmware engineering\nStrong proficiency in C/C++ for embedded and systems programming\nExperience working with embedded Linux on ARM-based SoCs\nDeep understanding of hardware–software co-design, including power, clock, and memory subsystems\nProven experience bringing up custom hardware from early prototypes through production\nFamiliarity with common MCUs and peripheral architectures\nStrong debugging and root-cause analysis skills across hardware and software layers\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience with Rust for embedded or systems programming\nBackground in robotics, perception, or sensor fusion\nFamiliarity with robotic control systems and real-time constraints\nPersonal interest or hands-on experience in robot learning or autonomous systems\nExperience supporting high-throughput image or sensor data pipelines\nBenefits\nCompetitive salary and meaningful equity in a seed-stage, venture-backed startup\nOpportunity to work at the cutting edge of robotic perception and applied research\nClose collaboration with world-class researchers and engineers\nHigh-impact role with significant technical ownership and growth opportunities","datePosted":"2026-04-14T10:36:37.612Z","dateModified":"2026-04-14T10:36:37.612Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Efference","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Millbrae","addressRegion":"CA","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"9b77ebef0b4b82dee1afa10a"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/9b77ebef0b4b82dee1afa10a"}}