At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop and maintain innovative firmware to empower those without speech.
- Company: Join Smartbox, a leader in assistive technology with a mission-driven culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, private medical insurance, hybrid work, and wellness perks.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for mentorship and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while working on cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in embedded software development and strong problem-solving skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Join us at Smartbox as a Senior Firmware Engineer! Are you a passionate Firmware Engineer wanting to make a real impact by giving a voice to those without speech? Smartbox is looking for a dedicated individual to help improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Your Impact
- Technical Project Delivery: Deliver multi-disciplinary projects, meeting scope, time, budget and quality requirements, and coordinating others as needed.
- Firmware Architecture and Lifecycle: Develop reliable, portable firmware with a long-life cycle.
- Firmware Development: Design, develop and maintain embedded firmware in C for Zephyr RTOS and Embedded Linux, including board bring up, drivers and HALs.
- Code Quality and Standards: Set and uphold coding, documentation and review standards, ensuring best practices in architecture, modularity, fault tolerance and testability.
- Test strategy and Automation: Apply strong automated testing practices following the Test Pyramid, including unit, component, contract and hardware in the loop tests, with CI automation to prevent regressions.
- Test Software and Tooling: Build and maintain automated test harnesses, GUIs and utility tools (e.g. Python, C#) to support development, validation and manufacturing.
- Libraries and Developer Experience: Create libraries and demo applications in C compatible (C#, C++) to support subsystem validation and cross‑team integration.
- Verification and Validation: EAD verification through lab testing, user trials and real world use, ensuring documentation supports regulatory compliance.
- Quality Assurance: Analyse and resolve quality issues promptly, feeding insights back into designs and processes to drive continuous improvement.
- Technical Strategy: Contribute to strategy for reliable, mission critical firmware, clearly communicating trade-offs and enabling strong decision making.
- Mentoring and Leadership: Mentor Engineers, provide coaching and support, and help foster a positive, collaborative team culture.
Essential Qualifications / Skills / Experience
- Degree or equivalent experience in an engineering subject (Electronics, Computer Science, Software), Physics, Mathematics, or another scientific subject.
- 8+ years of experience in embedded software development in C.
- A strong knowledge of Computer Science fundamentals in data structures, algorithm design, problem‑solving, and complexity analysis.
- A strong grounding in embedded software architecture, with a focus on maintainability, modularity, fault‑tolerance and testability.
- Confident and experienced with automated testing, including unit, integration and system tests, mocking and automation frameworks.
- A strong understanding of API design and the creation of clear, stable abstractions for hardware / firmware interaction.
- Skilled at debugging in constrained environments and using hardware / software debugging tools.
- A proven track record of innovation and quality software development throughout the entire software product lifecycle.
- Ability to solve complex technical problems in elegant and maintainable ways, demonstrating systems thinking across hardware, firmware and application layers.
- Experience with embedded platforms (for example: Embedded Linux, Arduino, STM32, Nordic, Zephyr RTOS).
- A passion and drive for excellence in software craftsmanship.
- Linux, Bash / shell, CI (Continuous integration) experience.
- Ability to read electronics schematics and collaborate effectively with Hardware Engineers during bring-up and debugging.
- Technical leadership through influence – able to guide architecture and standards, mentor others, and improve team-wide practices.
- Practical, proactive mindset – comfortable taking initiative and working through ambiguity in a fast‑moving team.
- Proven experience in people or team management, with the ability to lead, motivate, and develop others.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive working relationships at all levels.
- Proven ability to foster high performing, engaged, and collaborative teams.
Rewards & Benefits
Explore competitive salary, private medical insurance, hybrid working, wellness benefits and paid volunteering days.
Senior Firmware Engineer in Bristol employer: Energy Jobline CVL
At Smartbox, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals with disabilities. Located in Bristol, our hybrid working model promotes flexibility while providing access to competitive salaries, private medical insurance, and wellness benefits, alongside opportunities for professional growth and mentorship within a supportive team environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Firmware Engineer in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and join online forums. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Senior Firmware Engineer role at Smartbox.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your best projects, especially those involving embedded firmware development. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and problem-solving skills. Be ready to discuss your experience with C, Zephyr RTOS, and automated testing practices. We want to see how you tackle challenges!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows your enthusiasm for joining Smartbox and making a real impact in the lives of people with disabilities.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Firmware Engineer in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Senior Firmware Engineer role. Highlight your embedded software development experience and any relevant projects you've worked on, especially those involving C and Zephyr RTOS.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about making a difference for people with disabilities. Share specific examples of how your technical skills have led to successful project deliveries or innovations in your previous roles.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In your application, don't shy away from detailing your technical expertise. Mention your experience with automated testing, debugging, and any relevant tools you've used. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission-critical firmware projects!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about Smartbox and our values!
How to prepare for a job interview at Energy Jobline CVL
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your embedded software development skills, especially in C and the specific platforms mentioned like Zephyr RTOS and Embedded Linux. Be ready to discuss your past projects and how you've tackled complex technical problems.
✨Showcase Your Testing Knowledge
Since automated testing is a big part of the role, be prepared to talk about your experience with unit tests, integration tests, and CI automation. Bring examples of how you've implemented strong testing practices in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
This position involves mentoring and leading others, so think of examples where you've successfully guided a team or improved processes. Highlight your ability to foster a collaborative environment and how you've motivated your peers.
✨Communicate Clearly
Strong communication skills are essential for this role. Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms, as you'll need to collaborate with hardware engineers and other teams. Make sure to convey your passion for making a difference through technology.
