Firmware Engineer at Picarro, Inc

Santa Clara, California, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

13 May, 26

Salary

160000.0

Posted On

12 Feb, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Firmware Engineering, AI Development, Embedded Systems, C/C++ Programming, RTOS, Test-Driven Development, Device Drivers, System Integration, Debugging, Communication Protocols, Continuous Integration, Code Review, Mentorship, AI Tools, Performance Optimization, Documentation

Industry

Environmental Services

Description

Firmware Engineer Location: Santa Clara, CA (primarily onsite) Group: Analyzer Product Group (APG), Engineering Role Summary Picarro is seeking a Firmware Engineer with an AI-First mindset—an embedded engineer who designs, builds, and integrates production-grade firmware for advanced CRDS instrumentation while expertly directing AI agents to accelerate development, testing, and integration workflows. You will prompt, guide, and orchestrate AI coding and testing agents to generate high-quality embedded code, automate board bring-up tasks, and drive continuous validation across hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and system-level tests. This role is ideal for engineers who thrive at the intersection of firmware engineering, AI-assisted development, embedded system architecture, and prompt engineering. Key Responsibilities AI-First Firmware Architecture & System Integration Architect RTOS-based firmware components, device drivers, and board support packages (BSPs) using AI-accelerated design and review workflows Define and maintain system-level interfaces across firmware, electronics, and higher-level software (APIs, comms, and control boundaries) Direct AI agents to explore design alternatives, evaluate trade-offs (latency, power, memory), and propose architecture-aligned implementations Integrate AI-driven performance, reliability, and scalability optimizations into the embedded platform Create, manage, and refine AI agents for code generation (drivers, HAL), integration automation (builds, flashing), and system-level orchestration Hands-On Software Development with AI Collaboration Develop robust, high-performance C/C++ firmware for microcontrollers (e.g., ARM Cortex-M), leveraging AI-generated scaffolding and iterative prompting Own device communications (SPI/I²C/UART/CAN/USB), bootloaders/DFU, diagnostics, logging/telemetry, and power/performance modes Drive embedded API design and integration with application software and instrument control services Use AI agents as front-line testers to implement Test-Driven Development (TDD), generating comprehensive unit, integration, HIL/SIL, and regression tests Apply advanced prompt engineering to guide assistants toward clean, production-ready code and documentation Work confidently at software–hardware boundaries, using AI to model, simulate, or validate sensor interfaces and timing-critical paths Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner closely with hardware, product, test/QA, and manufacturing teams—using AI agents as shared tools to unify workflows and accelerate iteration Mentorship & AI-Driven Technical Influence Mentor peers in AI-assisted firmware practices: prompt engineering, automated testing, and agent management strategies Contribute as a thought partner on integrating AI into day-to-day engineering excellence Engineering Process, Quality & AI Automation Champion CI/CD for firmware (builds, unit/HIL tests, static analysis), enhanced via AI-agent automation Lead/participate in technical reviews with AI-augmented code review agents to enforce architecture and quality standards Establish continuous code-quality monitoring through specialized AI reviewer agents (style, safety, test coverage, security) Qualifications Education & Experience BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field 3–7 years of hands-on embedded/firmware development with proven delivery of production systems Demonstrated experience with agentic AI-based development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Cursor) for embedded workflows Proven practice of TDD, using both human-written and AI-generated tests as first-line verification Strong background in embedded systems and software–hardware interfaces Technical Expertise C/C++ for microcontrollers (ARM Cortex-M or similar); Python for tooling/test automation RTOS experience (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr, ThreadX/QNX) including scheduling, ISR design, and concurrency Bootloaders/secure update (DFU/OTA), memory layouts, startup code, and linker scripts Drivers/HAL for SPI/I²C/UART/CAN/USB; DMA and low-power modes; sensor/actuator control loops Debugging & bring-up: JTAG/SWD, oscilloscopes/logic analyzers, current probes, boundary-scan; fault analysis and reliability improvements Interfaces & protocols: BLE/Wi-Fi (as applicable), Modbus/RS-485, TCP/UDP; CRC/error handling; time synchronization Build & quality: CMake/Make, unit tests (Unity/Catch2), static/dynamic analysis, fuzzing, and coverage—orchestrated by AI-agents where applicable Prompt engineering proficiency to direct LLM-based agents for code generation, refactoring, and documentation Ability to manage multiple embedded domains concurrently (sensing, comms, safety, UX on device) Soft Skills Influences through technical credibility and cross-team alignment; excellent communication and documentation Strong code reviewer and advocate for engineering best practices; adapts quickly to evolving AI development tech Preferred Qualifications Experience with analytical instrumentation or scientific/industrial systems (ideally CRDS-based platforms) Knowledge of compliance/regulatory expectations for embedded systems in instrumentation Track record improving system-level design processes and scaling embedded architectures Advanced proficiency with agentic AI frameworks; demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools into real workflows (code generation, refactoring, docs) Depth with hardware–software interfaces and embedded diagnostics Note: This role is designed for engineers ready to leverage their embedded firmware experience in a modern, AI-enhanced development environment—blending traditional firmware craftsmanship with agentic AI development practices to ship reliable, field-ready systems. The base salary range for this full-time position is $150K to $160K. Our total compensation packages includes base salary, bonus eligibility, and equity. Your base salary range and title will be determined based on the location, experience, qualification, skills, knowledge, level, and pay of employees in similar positions. We offer a comprehensive benefit package including: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) plans Life, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays Employee Referral Program 401K Social events (summer picnic, holiday party, team lunches, etc.) On-site Health & Wellness programs (fitness challenges, outdoor bootcamp, flu-shots, etc.) About Picarro: We are the world's leader in timely, trusted, and actionable data using enhanced optical spectroscopy. Our solutions are used in a wide variety of applications, including natural gas leak detection, ethylene oxide emissions monitoring, semiconductor fabrication, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, atmospheric science, air quality, greenhouse gas measurements, food safety, hydrology, ecology, and more. Our software and hardware are designed and manufactured in Santa Clara, California and are used in over 90 countries worldwide based on over 65 patents related to cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) technology and are unparalleled in their precision, ease of use, and reliability. At Picarro, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, gender identity, social orientation, or disability. Posted positions are not open to third-party recruiters/agencies, and unsolicited resume submissions will be considered free referrals. At Picarro, we strive to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, have equal opportunities. If you are an individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, please contact Picarro, Inc. at disabilityassistance@picarro.com for assistance.

Responsibilities

The Firmware Engineer will design, build, and integrate production-grade firmware for advanced CRDS instrumentation while directing AI agents to enhance development workflows. Responsibilities include architecting firmware components, developing high-performance code, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.