Lead Embedded Firmware Engineer

<h3>Accountabilities</h3><li>Own firmware architecture, technical direction, and key engineering decisions, balancing performance, reliability, security, and maintainability.</li><li>Serve as the primary firmware technical contact for clients, translating product requirements into technical specifications, project plans, estimates, and actionable development priorities.</li><li>Lead firmware project planning, identify technical risks and dependencies early, and coordinate delivery across engineering and stakeholder teams.</li><li>Establish and maintain firmware coding standards, code review practices, testing strategies, release processes, and technical documentation.</li><li>Mentor and support engineers, promote knowledge sharing, and guide the team through complex technical challenges.</li><li>Design, develop, and maintain production-grade embedded firmware in C/C++ for ESP32-based connected devices using ESP-IDF and RTOS-based development approaches.</li><li>Conduct hardware bring-up, review schematics, integrate low-level drivers, and develop interfaces for sensors, actuators, LEDs, and other peripherals using I2C, SPI, UART, ADC, and GPIO.</li><li>Implement Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) provisioning, Wi-Fi connectivity, and secure device-to-cloud communication using AWS IoT Core, MQTT over TLS, and certificate-based authentication.</li><li>Design, maintain, and optimize over-the-air (OTA) firmware update mechanisms, including secure updates, rollback capabilities, and staged deployment strategies.</li><li>Diagnose and resolve complex issues across firmware, hardware, wireless protocols, and cloud services using tools such as JTAG/SWD debuggers, logic analyzers, and protocol sniffers.</li><li>Collaborate with hardware, mobile, and backend teams to define device data models, telemetry requirements, and device-to-cloud interfaces.</li><li>Work with contract manufacturers to support factory flashing, device provisioning, production readiness, and hardware validation throughout EVT, DVT, and PVT stages.</li><li>Support product certification activities, including FCC compliance, and ensure firmware meets applicable production and security requirements.</li><li>Improve firmware CI/CD pipelines, automated testing frameworks, development tooling, and device automation to increase delivery quality and efficiency.</li><h2>Requirements</h2><li>At least 8 years of professional embedded software or firmware engineering experience using C/C++, including experience delivering production-quality systems.</li><li>At least 2 years in a technical leadership role, with responsibility for firmware architecture, engineering standards, code reviews, and mentoring other developers.</li><li>Significant hands-on experience developing production firmware for Espressif ESP32 platforms using ESP-IDF, including RTOS-based development, peripheral drivers, OTA updates, and production deployment.</li><li>Demonstrated experience developing connected-device firmware on wireless platforms, including BLE and Wi-Fi, with a strong understanding of communication stacks, device provisioning, and interoperability.</li><li>Practical experience integrating devices with cloud-based IoT platforms, particularly AWS IoT Core, using MQTT over TLS, certificate-based authentication, and device state synchronization.</li><li>Strong understanding of embedded systems, hardware interfaces, technical specifications, and low-level debugging, with the ability to investigate complex issues across hardware, firmware, wireless, and cloud layers.</li><li>Experience working with sensors, actuators, and peripherals such as RFID readers, accelerometers, motion sensors, LEDs, and pumps.</li><li>Proven ability to work directly with clients and stakeholders to clarify requirements, estimate effort, explain technical trade-offs, and maintain confidence in project delivery.</li><li>Strong problem-solving, analytical, planning, and prioritization skills, combined with clear written and verbal communication.</li><li>Ability to take ownership of complex projects, establish structure and technical standards, adapt to changing requirements, and collaborate effectively in a distributed team environment.</li><li>Must reside in Canada and have valid authorization to work in Canada. Visa sponsorship is not available.</li><h2>Preferred qualifications:</h2><li>Experience leading a connected product from initial concept through mass production.</li><li>Background in a technology consultancy or product development firm, ideally delivering multiple products or client projects.</li><li>Contributions to open-source ESP-IDF or Nordic nRF Connect SDK projects, or experience with Nordic nRF-series platforms.</li><li>Familiarity with additional connectivity protocols, including Thread, Zigbee, Z-Wave, and BLE Mesh.</li><li>Hands-on experience with hardware debugging tools, including JTAG/SWD, logic analyzers, and protocol sniffers.</li><li>Experience building firmware CI/CD pipelines, automated test harnesses, Python-based test tools, and device automation workflows.</li><li>Knowledge of embedded security practices, including secure boot, flash encryption, key management, device attestation, and secure firmware updates.</li><li>Experience supporting contract manufacturers, factory provisioning, hardware validation builds, and FCC certification.</li><li>Familiarity with Protocol Buffers or comparable serialization formats for device messaging.</li><h2>Benefits</h2><li>
<strong>Competitive base compensation:</strong>CAD $164,000 annually, commensurate with experience.</li><li>
<strong>Performance bonus:</strong>Annual variable compensation of up to 10%.</li><li>
<strong>Retirement savings:</strong>Group RRSP with an employer contribution matching 4% of annual income.</li><li>
<strong>Remote-work support:</strong>Monthly stipend of USD $150 for cell phone and internet expenses.</li><li>
<strong>Home office allowance:</strong>USD $600 annually for home office equipment.</li><li>
<strong>Healthcare coverage:</strong>Extended healthcare, dental, and vision insurance.</li><li>
<strong>Professional development:</strong>Dedicated stipend to support continued learning and career growth.</li><li>
<strong>Equipment provided:</strong>Loaned MacBook Pro for work.</li><li>
<strong>Team connection:</strong>Annual team retreat and opportunities to collaborate with colleagues in a distributed environment.</li><li>
<strong>Focused project work:</strong>Assignment to a single project at a time to encourage deep focus and minimize context switching.</li><li>
<strong>Meaningful technical ownership:</strong>Opportunities to influence firmware architecture, establish engineering practices, mentor colleagues, and deliver complex connected-device solutions.</li><li>
<strong>Remote flexibility:</strong>Work remotely from within Canada, with travel within the United States as needed for client engagements.</li>