Member of Technical Staff: Firmware, Embedded, and Functional Safety in Cambridge

We are seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to develop the low-level software that powers our robotic systems. In this role, you will design, implement, debug, and optimize real-time embedded software for custom and COTS actuators, sensors, communication interfaces, and safety-critical subsystems. You will work closely with electrical, mechanical, controls, and software teams to bring up new hardware, integrate embedded capabilities into the broader robot stack, and mature prototypes into reliable production systems. This role is highly hands-on and best suited for someone who enjoys working close to hardware, solving complex debugging problems, and writing robust C/C++ firmware for real robotic products.

Core Responsibilities:

• Embedded Software Development: Implement and maintain C/C++ embedded software and firmware for motor controllers, sensors, power management systems, and other robotic subsystems.
• Hardware Bring-Up & Debugging: Bring up new boards, write and test device drivers, validate peripherals, and debug hardware/software issues using lab equipment.
• Real-Time Systems: Develop bare-metal and RTOS-based software for control loops, safety monitoring, timing-sensitive communication, and resource-constrained hardware.
• Communication & Integration: Implement and validate interfaces such as EtherCAT, Ethernet, CAN/CAN-FD, RS-485, SPI, I2C, and UART.
• Firmware Tooling & Quality: Build diagnostics, logging, test utilities, and automated workflows that improve firmware reliability, observability, and development speed.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with electrical, mechanical, controls, and software engineers to define interfaces, troubleshoot system issues, and integrate new robotic capabilities.
• Senior Technical Contribution: Contribute to design tradeoffs, code reviews, planning, and mentoring while remaining hands-on in implementation and debugging.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience: 3+ years of professional embedded software experience, including shipping robust robotics-related products.
• Technical Proficiency: Strong C/C++ skills for bare-metal and RTOS-based embedded systems.
• Hardware Knowledge: Deep understanding of microcontrollers, onboard computers, sensors, cameras, actuators, motor controllers, and fieldbus communication.
• Hands-On Debugging: Experience with board bring-up, device drivers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, debuggers, and hardware/software integration.
• Real-Time Systems: Experience with control loops, timing-sensitive communication, fault handling, and safety monitoring.
• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively across hardware, controls, and software teams in a fast-moving engineering environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience with robotic systems, preferably humanoid robots, manipulation robots, mobile robots, or other complex mechatronic systems.
• Experience with designing and delivering software for functional safety.
• Familiarity with industrial safety standards such as IEC 61508.
• Experience with EtherCAT, Ethernet, CAN/CAN-FD, RS-485, or other industrial/robotics communication protocols.
• Experience with motor control, power systems, sensor integration, safety systems, or distributed embedded systems.
• Experience with firmware test infrastructure, CI/CD, diagnostics, logging, OTA updates, or production validation workflows.

Walden Robotics offers a competitive total compensation program, including salary, annual cash bonus, company equity, company-subsidized insurance programs, 401(k) with company match, flexible PTO, daily lunch, and other benefits. The pay ranges noted on our posts are for salary only.

Walden Robotics is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to hello@waldenrobotics.com.

Walden Robotics participates in E-Verify. If you receive an offer of employment from Walden, you will need to go through the E-Verify process of digital verification of your employment authorization documents as provided on the Form I-9. Participation in E-Verify does not limit your right to work and verification will only be completed after you become employed.