Senior Firmware Engineer, Wireless Communications

About Gridware

Gridware is a San Francisco-based technology company dedicated to protecting and enhancing the electrical grid. We pioneered a groundbreaking new class of grid management called active grid response (AGR), focused on monitoring the electrical, physical, and environmental aspects of the grid that affect reliability and safety. Gridware’s advanced Active Grid Response platform uses high-precision sensors to detect potential issues early, enabling proactive maintenance and fault mitigation. This comprehensive approach helps improve safety, reduce outages, and ensure the grid operates efficiently. The company is backed by climate-tech and Silicon Valley investors. For more information, please visit www.Gridware.io.

Role Description 

We’re looking for a Senior Firmware Engineer with deep expertise in wireless communications to help shape the future of Gridware’s connected devices. In this role, you’ll design and optimize firmware that powers resilient, low-power networks—leveraging peer-to-peer, mesh (802.15.4, Zigbee, Thread), Matter, and emerging NTN protocols. Your work will expand device connectivity while reducing dependency on costly gateways, directly impacting performance, reliability, and uptime across a rapidly scaling fleet.

What You’ll Do

• Design and implement firmware for next-gen wireless communication protocols.
• Build and customize mesh networking solutions to extend device coverage and resilience.
• Optimize communication stacks for maximum efficiency under real-world constraints.
• Prototype, test, and iterate quickly with hardware in the loop.
• Partner with hardware and systems teams on protocol design and integration.
• Debug, validate, and tune performance across diverse environments.

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years of professional experience in embedded/firmware development.
• Proven expertise with wireless communication protocols.
• Direct, hands-on experience with mesh networking (e.g., 802.15.4, Zigbee, Thread, or similar).
• Strong foundation in low-power system design.
• Experience prototyping and testing with hardware.
• Excellent debugging and optimization skills at the firmware/protocol layer.

Bonus Points

• Experience scaling firmware across large, distributed IoT networks.
• Familiarity with Matter, Thread, or similar IoT ecosystems.
• Knowledge of NTN or long-range, low-power communication systems.
• Background customizing and optimizing communication stacks for efficiency.
• Understanding of physical layer trade-offs (bandwidth, latency, power).

This describes the ideal candidate; many of us have picked up this expertise along the way. Even if you meet only part of this list, we encourage you to apply!

Benefits

Health, Dental & Vision (Gold and Platinum with some providers plans fully covered) 

Paid parental leave 

Alternating day off (every other Monday)

“Off the Grid”, a two week per year paid break for all employees. 

Commuter allowance 

Company-paid training