Manager/Lead Firmware Engineer

Position Summary

Medical device company developing a next-generation implantable neurostimulation system. We are seeking a Managerial/Lead Firmware Engineer who is both a hands-on technical expert and a strong team leader. This role will provide technical direction, architectural leadership, and day-to-day oversight of the firmware team.

The ideal candidate combines deep embedded firmware expertise with the ability to mentor engineers, review designs, coordinate cross-functional work, and ensure consistent, high-quality firmware delivery across all system components. They will have a strong technology background, a broad view of technologies and their capabilities, and a deep understanding of the pros/cons of different technical approaches.

The lead firmware engineer will be very hands-on, able to program and debug issues in real-time, and solve complex problems.

Position Type

• Full-time position.
• On-site, five days per week in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Salary : $200,000-$230,000 +bonus & equity

Essential Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Ownership

• Serve as the technical lead and primary hands-on contributor for all firmware development activities across the implant, external charger/accessory, and related accessories.
• Own the firmware architecture, system design, and technical decision-making, including low-level implementation details.
• Establish and enforce coding standards, architecture patterns, and system-level design reviews to ensure high-quality, maintainable code.

Hands-On Firmware Development & Debugging

• Engage in daily hands-on coding, implementing new features, writing low-level drivers, optimizing power consumption, and improving system reliability.
• Perform in-depth firmware debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG/SWD, and low-level hardware diagnostics tools.
• Drive root-cause analysis of complex system issues involving interactions between firmware, analog circuitry, sensors, RF modules, and power electronics.

Electrical System Integration

• Apply a deep understanding of electrical design to ensure the firmware correctly interacts with analog, digital, RF, and power subsystems.
• Collaborate closely with Electrical Engineering to review schematics, interpret board-level designs, evaluate component selection, and define HW–FW interface specs.

System-Level Engineering

• Work closely with mechanical, electrical, software, and system test teams to ensure cohesive system behavior and seamless product integration.
• Lead system-level debugging sessions involving multi-disciplinary collaboration to rapidly identify and resolve issues affecting implant and external accessory performance.

Quality, Documentation & Compliance

• Ensure firmware development complies with IEC 62304, internal design controls, and clinical release requirements.
• Own documentation for firmware design, verification, validation, and risk management (ISO 14971).

Qualification Requirements

Required

• 7–12 years of embedded firmware engineering experience (medical device preferred).
• Significant hands-on experience with MCU firmware, particularly STM32 and Nordic Micro.
• Deep knowledge of electrical circuits, power systems, and sensor interfacing.
• Excellent debugging skills across analog, digital, RF, and firmware layers.
• Strong documentation ability and familiarity with design control environments.

Preferred

• Experience with implantable devices, neurostimulators, or Class II/III medical systems.
• Familiarity with IEC 60601, IEC 62366, ISO 14971, and safety-critical firmware development.
• Experience with low-power wireless power transfer, coil systems, or RF modulation.
• Experience with automated unit testing frameworks (Ceedling, Unity, etc.).

Travel Requirement

• Ability to travel within the Bay Area required.

No visa sponsorship offered