At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop and maintain embedded software for cutting-edge humanoid robots.
- Company: Join Humanoid, a leader in robotics innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive equity, 30+ paid days off, private healthcare, and free meals.
- Other info: Collaborate with world-class engineers and enjoy excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of robotics and make a real impact on technology.
- Qualifications: Degree in engineering or computer science with 4+ years in embedded firmware development.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
Here at Humanoid, we believe in a future where robots amplify human potential. That’s why we’ve set out on a mission to build the world’s most capable, commercially-scalable, and safe humanoid robots. We’re bringing that mission to life with HMND‑01 Alpha - our rapidly developed humanoid platform now running in real industrial pilots - and we’re growing the team to take it even further.
About the Role
We're looking for a Firmware Engineer to develop and maintain the embedded software behind the end effectors on our robots and the human-worn devices operators use to interface with them. This role combines firmware development with hardware integration; you'll sit at the boundary between hardware and software, bringing up new PCB revisions, writing firmware and drivers, and integrating a wide range of sensors and compute platforms. You'll work closely with electrical and mechanical engineers in a high-paced environment where priorities shift fast and reliability matters.
What You'll Do
- Develop Embedded Firmware: Write and maintain firmware for embedded microcontrollers, covering sensor sampling, status indication, input handling and power management.
- Integrate Sensors & Drivers: Integrate and write drivers for sensors, encoders, LCD screens, IMUs, ToF sensors, LiDARs and cameras, including MIPI and other interfaces.
- Work Across Compute Platforms: Integrate device-level firmware with higher-level compute platforms such as ESP32, Raspberry Pi and NVIDIA Jetson, and similar Linux-based platforms.
- Implement Communication Interfaces: Design and implement interfaces between hardware subsystems, including I2C, SPI, UART, Ethernet, USB, CAN, EtherCAT and MIPI.
- Bring Up New Hardware: Review schematics, debug boards with an oscilloscope/logic analyzer, and resolve integration issues spanning firmware, electrical and mechanical.
- Own Calibration & Fault Detection: Develop calibration routines, power-sequencing logic, and fault/status detection for sensors and mechatronic systems.
- Support Component Selection: Help with component selection for sensors, MCUs and other hardware building blocks.
- Maintain OTA Pipelines: Build and maintain OTA update and image provisioning pipelines for fleets of embedded devices.
What We're Looking For
- Degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, with 4+ years' experience in embedded firmware development (C/C++).
- Hands-on experience with microcontroller and compute platforms such as ESP32, STM32, Raspberry Pi and NVIDIA Jetson.
- Experience integrating and/or writing drivers for sensors and peripherals — encoders, IMUs, ToF sensors, LiDARs, cameras and LCD/display modules.
- Solid understanding of embedded communication and sensor interfaces: I2C, SPI, MIPI, UART, Ethernet/TCP-IP, USB, CAN and EtherCAT.
- Comfortable bringing up and debugging new hardware revisions, with strong skills using an oscilloscope, logic analyzer and JTAG/SWD.
- Experience developing calibration routines and supporting component selection alongside electrical and mechanical engineers.
Nice to have
- FPGA experience
- Experience with camera synchronisation or multi-sensor time-sync
- Python skills for tooling, test scripts, or diagnostics
- Experience working with formally defined hardware interfaces/contracts shared across teams
What We Offer
- Competitive equity: stock options with meaningful upside as we scale.
- 30+ paid days off, including 23 days of annual leave, all UK bank holidays, and additional company closure days (including Christmas–New Year shutdown).
- Private healthcare, including virtual and in-person care.
- Pension scheme with 8% total contribution (5% employee, 3% employer) on full earnings.
- Free daily breakfast, catered lunch, and snacks in-office.
- Work at the frontier - collaborate daily with world‑class engineers, researchers, and product experts building the next generation of AI and humanoid robotics.
- Real ownership - direct access to founding leadership, meaningful input on product direction, and the ability to drive key initiatives from day one.
Firmware Engineer employer: Humanoid
Humanoid is an exceptional employer located in the vibrant city of London, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide ample opportunities for professional development and advancement within the rapidly evolving field of robotics and AI. Our focus on delivering cutting-edge technology ensures that you will be part of a team that is not only shaping the future of industrial applications but also making a meaningful impact in the industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Firmware Engineer
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Humanoid or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Humanoid.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Humanoid.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Humanoid that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Firmware Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Humanoid.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Humanoid and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Humanoid
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Humanoid uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
