Firmware Engineer, New Product

The Firmware Engineer, New Product at Redwood Materials is responsible for designing and developing firmware from scratch for ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers. This role focuses on creating a new embedded firmware platform, implementing communication frameworks, and developing control algorithms for power electronics. Collaborating closely with electrical and systems engineers is vital to fulfill system behavior specifications and diagnostics coverage.

To qualify for the Firmware Engineer, New Product role at Redwood Materials, candidates should have a BS or MS in Electrical/Computer Engineering or Computer Science and at least 7 years of experience in firmware engineering. Proficiency in Rust or C, experience with digital protocols such as SPI and CAN, and knowledge of microcontroller hardware peripherals and RTOS are crucial requirements, along with a track record of shipping new products at scale.

A Firmware Engineer, New Product at Redwood Materials should be highly proficient in Rust or C and possess excellent debugging skills for embedded systems. Familiarity with Python is advantageous, along with experience in application layer protocols like CoAP or MQTT, and an understanding of CI/CD and test automation applied to hardware products.

Redwood Materials fosters a collaborative and fast-paced startup culture where Firmware Engineers have opportunities to work on innovative projects and contribute significantly to company milestones. The environment encourages creativity and growth, allowing engineers to enhance their skills while taking on a variety of responsibilities and challenges.

The salary range for the Firmware Engineer, New Product position at Redwood Materials in California is between $170,000 and $240,000 USD. Compensation will vary based on factors such as experience, education, and skills. This full-time position also has future growth opportunities within the company.

When answering this question, focus on specific projects where you developed firmware for ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers, elaborating on the challenges faced and how you overcame them. Highlight your understanding of the architecture and your approach to debugging and optimizing firmware for performance.

Discuss your experience with simulation, Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing methods. Emphasize the importance of creating robust testing frameworks and how these techniques help ensure reliability and performance in embedded systems.

Illustrate your time management skills by providing examples of how you assess task urgency, set milestones, and communicate with your team. Share strategies you employ to stay flexible while balancing multiple responsibilities and deadlines.

Use this opportunity to narrate a specific technical challenge, detailing your problem-solving process, the solutions you implemented, and the outcome. Focus on how your approach benefitted the project and improved performance.

Be prepared to discuss projects where you've implemented power conversion technologies and how they integrate into the broader renewable energy landscape. Your answer should reflect both technical knowledge and insights into sustainability.

Highlight your relationship-building skills and share examples of successful collaboration with electrical and systems engineers. Stress the importance of clear documentation and regular updates to facilitate communication across teams.

Discuss specific tools and methods you utilize for debugging embedded systems effectively. Analyze how you approach issues systematically and the impact of your debugging techniques on project outcomes.

Share a professional learning experience where deadlines were missed, elaborating on how you identified the problem, communicated with stakeholders, and implemented changes to prevent future occurrences. Highlight your adaptability and problem-solving skills.

Talk about your familiarity with Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment in the context of embedded systems, including tools used for automation, and how these processes improve overall development efficiency and product quality.

Express genuine excitement about Redwood Materials' mission to foster a sustainable future in energy. Connect your personal and professional aspirations with the company's goals, emphasizing how your skills can contribute to achieving those objectives.