Staff Firmware Engineer

Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference? At Mesa Labs we’re passionate about protecting the vulnerable by enabling scientific breakthroughs, ensuring product integrity, increasing patient and worker safety, and improving quality of life around the world.

At Mesa Labs we offer competitive wages, including potential bonus opportunities, equity awards, commission, and a comprehensive benefits package based on the position.

Base Compensation Range: $134,500 – $168,000
*In addition, you qualify for:

• Annual bonus opportunity of 15% based on company performance 
• Annual equity award of $14,000

Outstanding Benefits and Perks
We are proud to offer a variety of benefits that meet the diverse needs of our employees:

• Eligible for benefits the first day of the month after you start
• Tiered Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance options, Health savings (HSA), healthcare & dependent care flexible spending (FSA) accounts
• Company paid short term and long-term disability (unless covered by a state disability plan)
• Company paid life insurance and AD&D

• Flexible Time Off Policy

• Paid sick leave of 48 hours per calendar year
• Eligible employees may receive four (4) weeks paid Care Giver leave after 1 year of service or in accordance with state leave laws
• 401(k) plan that provides a 4% Safe Harbor company match on a 4% employee contribution that begins on Day 1
• Employee Wellness and Financial Assistance Resources through Cigna and NY Life
• Nine (9) paid company holidays per year

This position supports Mesa's Calibration Solutions business. Our Calibration Solutions portfolio uses the principles of advanced metrology to enable customers to measure and calibrate critical parameters in applications such as Environmental and Process Monitoring, Dialysis, Gas Flow, Air Quality, and Torque Testing.

Job Summary

The Staff Firmware Engineer leads the design, development, and optimization of firmware for embedded systems. As the company’s primary expert in firmware architecture and development, you will mentor less experienced engineers, troubleshoot issues, and ensure firmware components are reliable, efficient, and scalable. Works closely with hardware engineers, software developers, and product managers to integrate firmware with hardware systems, ensuring the product meets the highest functionality and quality standards.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Firmware Architecture & Design:

• Lead the design and development of firmware for embedded systems, including creating and optimizing firmware architecture to meet system requirements.

• Develop and implement low-level device drivers, hardware abstraction layers (HAL), bootloaders, and firmware for microcontrollers, processors, and SoCs (System on Chips).

• Ensure that firmware design and development follow industry best practices and meet performance, power consumption, and reliability requirements.

• Architect firmware for scalability, reusability, and ease of integration into complex hardware systems.

• Analyze system requirements and translate them into efficient and maintainable firmware solutions.

Development & Debugging:

• Write high-quality, optimized, and well-documented firmware code in languages such as C, C++, or assembly language.

• Use debugging tools, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and other instruments to troubleshoot and debug firmware on embedded systems.

• Develop test frameworks and utilize automated testing to ensure firmware stability, reliability, and performance.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including hardware engineers and software developers, to identify firmware requirements and ensure smooth integration of firmware with hardware.

Mentorship & Leadership:

• Serve as a mentor and technical resource for junior and mid-level firmware engineers, providing guidance on design, debugging, and best practices.

• Conduct code reviews and provide constructive feedback to ensure high-quality code is developed within the team.

• Lead design reviews and contribute to architectural discussions for new projects or product enhancements.

• Promote a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing within the firmware engineering team.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with hardware engineers to ensure firmware integration with hardware components, such as sensors, controllers, and communication modules.

• Collaborate with software engineering teams to ensure smooth interaction between firmware, OS (if applicable), and application-level software.

• Work with product managers and other stakeholders to understand product requirements and deliver firmware solutions that meet business and technical goals.

• Provide firmware support for integration, testing, and system validation across various stages of the product lifecycle.

Firmware Optimization & Performance Tuning:

• Optimize firmware code for performance, memory usage, and energy efficiency, ensuring that it meets product specifications and constraints.

• Conduct performance analysis and profiling to identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies in the firmware.

• Implement techniques for power management and low-power operation for embedded systems, especially in battery-operated devices.

Product Lifecycle Support:

• Provide ongoing firmware support throughout the product lifecycle, including bug fixes, updates, and enhancements.

• Develop and maintain detailed firmware documentation, including design documents, release notes, and user manuals.

• Work with QA and testing teams to develop and execute test plans to validate firmware functionality and performance.

Innovation & Technology Leadership:

• Stay up to date with the latest advancements in firmware development, embedded systems, and hardware technologies.

• Evaluate new tools, technologies, and development environments, proposing innovations to improve firmware development processes.

• Lead and drive initiatives to integrate new technologies, features, or methods into the firmware development lifecycle.

Quality Assurance & Best Practices:

• Advocate for and enforce software engineering best practices, including source code management, continuous integration, and automated testing.

• Ensure that firmware solutions are reliable, secure, and meet industry standards for quality and safety.

• Lead efforts to identify potential risks in the firmware development process and work to mitigate them before they impact production.

Experience/Education:

• Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.

• 8 years of experience in embedded systems development and firmware engineering, with at least 4-5 years of experience in a senior or lead role.

Knowledge & Skillsets Required:

• Proficiency in C, C++, and assembly language programming for embedded systems.

• Extensive experience with embedded debugging tools, such as JTAG, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and serial analyzers.

• Strong understanding of hardware design, including circuit diagrams, data sheets, and schematics.

• Experience with version control tools (e.g., Git), continuous integration, and issue tracking systems.

• Familiarity with software development processes (Agile, Scrum) and tools (e.g., JIRA, Confluence).

• Strong experience with power management techniques and optimization for embedded systems.

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to lead technical projects and mentor other engineers.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines.

• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.

Physical Demands (US Only):

• Sitting: Often for extended periods at desks or meetings.

• Standing or walking: Occasionally for meetings or office tasks.

• Using computers: Typing and using office equipment.

• Lifting: Light, less than 10 pounds.

• Repetitive motions

Environmental Conditions:

• Workspace: Climate control (air conditioning or heating) to ensure comfort.

• Lighting: Adjustable lighting to reduce eye strain.

• Noise Levels: The noise level is moderate, with occasional interruptions from phone calls and conversations. 

Mesa Labs is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Mesa Labs prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment against applicants or employees based on age, race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, disability, military status, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law.  Please note that Mesa Labs conducts criminal background checks upon offer acceptance.