Firmware Engineer - Rust

Join our embedded systems team to build the real-time firmware, drivers, and hardware-level infrastructure that power our next-generation robotic hands. You will work at the bleeding edge of robotics—developing low-latency motor control firmware, bringing up custom electronics, integrating advanced sensors, and ensuring highly reliable operation across our robotic platforms.

🎯 Role Overview

You will be responsible for writing low-level embedded firmware, performing driver bringup across a range of sensors/actuators, and building the real-time control pipelines that enable human-level dexterity. This role is hands-on and hardware-close: oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, DMA registers, and data sheets will be part of your daily workflow.

🛠️ Key Responsibilities

Embedded Firmware & Driver Development

• Bring up custom embedded boards (STM32H7 etc.) from scratch
• Implement low-level drivers for sensors, actuators, communication buses, and custom peripherals
• Develop high-reliability firmware using Rust (Embassy) and C, optimized for tight timing budgets
• Build DMA-based and interrupt-driven interfaces for high-rate data pipelines

Motor Control & Real-Time Systems

• Implement and tune real-time control loops (position, torque, impedance, velocity)
• Develop high-frequency motor control firmware (100 Hz – 5 kHz loops)
• Integrate motor drivers, current sensors, and high-bandwidth servo feedback

Sensor Bringup & Integration

• Integrate and calibrate:
• Force & tactile sensors
• Multi-axis IMUs
• Encoders (magnetic, optical, and high-resolution absolute encoders)
• Build sensor fusion pipelines optimized for low latency and noise robustness

System Infrastructure & Safety

• Develop robust real-time safety systems: watchdogs, brownout detection, error monitors
• Implement fail-safe behaviors and safety interlocks for robotic manipulation
• Build bootloader/OTA systems for distributed firmware updates

Hardware-Software Integration

• Validate new PCB revisions with bringup tests and driver diagnostics
• Work closely with mechanical/electrical teams to characterize hardware performance
• Collaborate with AI/control teams to optimize firmware performance for higher-level policies

⚡ Requirements

Must-Have

• Pursuing a BS/MS in Robotics, Electrical/Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, or related fields
• Strong Rust + Embassy and modern C experience in embedded development
• Experience with real-time systems and RTOS-based development (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or bare-metal)
• Strong Python skills for test automation, HIL testing, and hardware validation
• Hands-on experience with embedded peripherals: SPI, I2C, UART, CAN/CAN-FD, PWM, ADC, DMA
• Solid understanding of:
• Real-time control loops
• Timing constraints & scheduler design
• Interrupt latency and determinism

Nice-to-Have

• Experience with Linux-based real-time controllers (PREEMPT_RT)
• Familiarity with EtherCAT or high-speed robotic communication buses
• Experience with motor drivers (BLDC, servo motors), Hall sensors, or current sensing
• Exposure to ROS/ROS2, machine learning, or robotic control stack development
• Experience building bootloaders, OTA systems, or secure firmware signing
• Familiarity with JTAG/SWD debugging, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers

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