Firmware and Electronics Engineer

This position is advertised under the Paxton name, but it is for General Distribution – a company within the Paxton Group. You would work for General Distribution. You can find out more about us here – General Distribution Ltd | Access Control in the Cloud | Brighton, UK.

About General Distribution

At General Distribution (Gendis) we design and build innovative access control systems that help businesses manage the security of their buildings and cash safes across multiple sites. As part of the Paxton Group, we collaborate with Paxton Access Ltd and Paxton Access Inc. to create simple and effective solutions using cloud technologies, GSM, mobile connectivity, and IoT. Our systems provide real‑time data, remote management, and reporting tools to empower businesses as they grow.

We’re a small, talented team working across various industries, driving security management to be more efficient and accessible. This remote‑based role offers flexibility, with access to Paxton’s modern offices in Brighton and manufacturing facilities in Eastbourne.

So, what are the benefits?

• Private medical insurance (opt‑in) and healthcare cash‑back plan with Health Shield.
• Access to Paxton’s modern facilities if needed, collaboration spaces, an onsite mini‑gym, and a gourmet café with subsidised food.
• Discounted fitness memberships of up to 75% off in your area with GymFlex.
• Tech, bike, and travel/season ticket loans.
• 25 days of holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell up to 5 days annually.

About the role

You’ll be the dedicated Firmware and Electronics Engineer, leading the development and maintenance of secure, scalable embedded systems. You’ll support a varied mix of long‑standing and newly developed products, helping shape practical technical solutions.

• Developing and modifying firmware architectures for technologies like ARM Cortex‑A/M, RTOS, SPI, I2C, UART, WIEGAND, and Raspberry Pi.
• Designing, testing, and debugging electronic circuits and PCB layouts using tools like Circuit Studio, Proteus, Multimeters, Logic Analysers, and Oscilloscopes.
• Supporting both legacy systems and new product development, ensuring firmware and electronics are robust, secure, and scalable.
• Collaborating closely with the Development team to propose solutions, identify risks, and contribute to architectural decisions.
• Communicating technical changes clearly and supporting other team members in delivering their work.
• Responding to customer enquiries with clear, helpful technical guidance, supporting users and stakeholders with firmware and electronics‑related queries.
• Attending monthly onsite team meetings in Eastbourne to discuss products, improvements, and future developments.
• Taking ownership of technical deliverables and contributing to the long‑term evolution of our embedded systems.
• Working independently while staying connected to a wider team of developers and coordinators across Development and Operations.
• Sharing responsibility for the team’s on‑call support phone as part of a small, collaborative rota, helping ensure smooth technical support coverage.
• Engaging with internal and external stakeholders to ensure technical solutions align with project goals.

What you’ll bring…

• Hands‑on experience with embedded systems and electronics in a commercial setting.
• Confidence working independently across a broad range of technologies, with a proactive approach to learning and upskilling in unfamiliar areas.
• A drive to lead projects and take ownership of firmware and electronics design, becoming the go‑to person for embedded systems within the team.
• A curious mindset and strong problem‑solving skills, with a passion for autonomous learning and continuous improvement, with clear communication skills.
• A collaborative approach, ready to contribute ideas, share knowledge, and support others in a small, agile team environment.

What we’re looking for…

• Experience designing and maintaining firmware architectures using technologies like ARM Cortex‑A/M, RTOS, SPI, I2C, UART, WIEGAND, and Raspberry Pi.
• Strong skills and experience in Electronic Design and PCB layout using tools such as Circuit Studio, Proteus, Multimeters, Logic Analysers, and Oscilloscopes.
• Ability to work across both legacy systems and new product development, contributing to secure, scalable embedded solutions.
• Comfortable collaborating with developers, proposing solutions, identifying risks, and contributing to architectural decisions.
• Willingness to support customers and share responsibility for the team’s on‑call support phone as part of a small, collaborative rota.
• Ideally based in or near the South East of the UK, with flexibility to attend occasional onsite meetings at our Eastbourne Manufacturing Centre.

This is a remote role, and as part of a small and collaborative team, you’ll join regular meetups at Paxton’s Eastbourne Manufacturing Centre. These sessions give you hands‑on access to products and a chance to connect in person with colleagues. Outside of that, you’ll work from home, so you’ll need access to development tools and a suitable workspace.

The right attitude is more important to us than your skills or experience. If you’re excited about a role but your existing experience doesn’t match up with every element of the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. If you are unsure, reach out to the recruitment team for career advice.

We want to collaborate with you and hear your ideas, most of all, we want you to enjoy the journey with us.