At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative firmware projects and develop cutting-edge embedded software.
- Company: Join Smartbox, a leader in assistive communication technology with a caring culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, private medical insurance, hybrid work, wellness perks, and paid volunteering days.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to sustainability and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by empowering diverse needs globally through technology.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in embedded software development, strong C skills, and leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 72000 £ per year.
Salary: £40,000 - 72,000 per year
Requirements
- 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.
- Strong knowledge of Computer Science fundamentals in data structures, algorithm design, problem-solving, and complexity analysis.
- Grounding in embedded software architecture, focusing on maintainability, modularity, fault-tolerance and testability.
- Confident and experienced with automated testing, including unit, integration and system tests, mocking and automation frameworks.
- Strong understanding of API design and creation of clear, stable abstractions for hardware/firmware interaction.
- Skilled at debugging in constrained environments and using hardware/software debugging tools.
- Proven track record of innovation and quality software development throughout the entire software product lifecycle.
- Ability to solve complex technical problems elegantly and maintainably, demonstrating systems thinking across hardware, firmware and application layers.
- Experience with embedded platforms (e.g., Embedded Linux, Arduino, STM32, Nordic, Zephyr RTOS).
- Passion and drive for excellence in software craftsmanship.
- Experience with Linux, Bash/shell, and CI (Continuous Integration).
- 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.
Responsibilities
- Deliver multi-disciplinary projects, meeting scope, time, budget and quality requirements, coordinating others as needed.
- Develop reliable, portable firmware with a long life cycle.
- Design, develop and maintain embedded firmware in C for Zephyr RTOS and Embedded Linux, including board bring-up, drivers and HALs.
- Set and uphold coding, documentation and review standards, ensuring best practices in architecture, modularity, fault tolerance and testability.
- 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.
- Build and maintain automated test harnesses, GUIs and utility tools (e.g., Python, C#) to support development, validation and manufacturing.
- Create libraries and demo applications in C compatible languages (C#, C++) to support subsystem validation and cross-team integration.
- Ensure verification through lab testing, user trials and real-world use, making sure documentation supports regulatory compliance.
- Analyze and resolve quality issues promptly, providing insights back into designs and processes to drive continuous improvement.
- Contribute to strategy for reliable, mission-critical firmware, clearly communicating trade-offs and enabling strong decision-making.
- Mentor Engineers, provide coaching and support, and help foster a positive, collaborative team culture.
Technologies
- API
- Arduino
- Bash
- C#
- Embedded Firmware
- Hardware Support
- Linux
- Python
- C++
At Smartbox, we are a leader in assistive communication technology, offering products that support diverse needs globally. Our values guide us: we are passionate, caring, empowering, achieving together, and enabling change. By joining our team, you will be part of a diverse, collaborative culture where we work together to ensure everyone has a voice. We are committed to sustainability and strive to reduce our environmental impact. As a Disability Confident Employer, we ensure our recruitment practices are inclusive and barrier‑free. We offer competitive salaries along with private medical insurance, hybrid working options, wellness benefits, and paid volunteering days.
Senior Firmware Engineer employer: Sivara GmbH
At Smartbox, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work environment for our Senior Firmware Engineers. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide opportunities for mentorship and professional development, alongside competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits such as private medical insurance and wellness initiatives. Our collaborative culture fosters innovation and teamwork, ensuring that every voice is heard while we work together to make a meaningful impact in assistive communication technology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior 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 Sivara GmbH 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 Sivara GmbH.
✨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 Sivara GmbH.
✨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 Sivara GmbH 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 Senior 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 Sivara GmbH.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Sivara GmbH 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 Sivara GmbH
✨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 Sivara GmbH 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.
