Embedded Software Engineer

Job Title

Embedded Software Engineer

Role Summary

Extropic is hiring an Embedded Software Engineer to design, implement, and debug firmware and embedded Linux applications across heterogeneous multi-core ARM/RISC-V systems. The role works closely with systems, IC design, test, FPGA, and physics teams to bring up boards and integrate hardware and software.

Experience Level

Mid-level — typically requires 5+ years of hands-on experience in embedded firmware and embedded Linux software development.

Responsibilities

Deliver production-quality embedded software across bare-metal, RTOS, and Linux environments, and collaborate with hardware and systems teams on bring-up and integration.

• Architect, design, and implement firmware, Linux drivers, user-space applications, and host-side tools.
• Enable inter-processor communication, synchronization, and resource sharing on heterogeneous multi-core SoCs (e.g., Cortex-R5, Cortex-A53).
• Implement multi-threaded, multi-core software with attention to power, performance, determinism, and reliability.
• Develop and maintain low-level drivers for SPI, I2C, UART, GPIO, timers, DMA, and similar peripherals.
• Debug real-time systems using JTAG/SWD, in-circuit emulators, GDB/OpenOCD/Lauterbach, and software diagnostic tools.
• Perform hardware/software characterization with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers (SPI/I2C/UART, LVDS, Ethernet, USB), and power measurement tools.
• Write clean, well-tested C/C++ code for bare-metal and Linux, and develop Python tools for automation and host-side applications.
• Participate in architecture decisions, design reviews, documentation, and cross-functional integration activities.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and practical experience required for the role. Preferred skills are listed after the must-haves.

• Must-have: 5+ years of embedded firmware and embedded Linux development experience.
• Strong proficiency in C and C++; solid experience with Python for tools and automation.
• Deep experience with bare-metal firmware, interrupt-driven systems, hardware bring-up, and real-time constraints.
• Proven embedded Linux experience (build systems, user-space applications, drivers, device trees).
• Hands-on experience with heterogeneous multi-core RISC-V and ARM processors (examples: Cortex-R5, Cortex-A53).
• Experience developing and debugging drivers and applications that use I2C, SPI, UART, DMA, and similar peripherals.
• Strong lab and signal-debugging skills and familiarity with oscilloscope/logic analyzer/protocol analyzer workflows.
• Proficiency with software debuggers and open-source debug toolchains (GDB, OpenOCD) and/or commercial tools (Lauterbach).
• Ability to analyze and optimize system performance across hardware/software boundaries.
• Nice-to-have: Yocto/PetaLinux/Buildroot experience; IPC (RPMsg, shared memory) on heterogeneous SoCs; FPGA/ASIC integration experience; familiarity with AMD/Xilinx Vitis; network/socket programming; CI/test automation and Git.
• Strong analytical skills, clear communication for cross-team collaboration, and a self-starter mindset.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.

About the Company

Company: Extropic

Extropic is a hardware startup focused on analog/mixed-signal and CMOS hardware development, including design and layout of analog blocks, high-speed circuits, simulation, lab testing, and supporting tape-out verification.