Firmware Engineer - Motor Control

About the role

Control software directs actuation in home robots. High-level commands become precise, reliable motion through low-level systems.

Data roles turn raw information into decisions. Analysts query databases and build dashboards. Data scientists build models that predict outcomes. Data engineers build the pipelines that move and store data. All three work closely with business teams and need a mix of statistics, coding, and communication. Nearly every modern company runs on data teams, from startups to banks. A strong portfolio of past analyses matters more than degrees in many hiring decisions.

Key facts

Requirements

A BS or MS degree in Computer or Electrical Engineering, related technical field, or equivalent practical experience is required.

3+ years of real-time embedded software development, including architecture design, microcontrollers, drivers, and libraries, is required.

Strong proficiency in embedded C/C++ with a deep understanding of real-time constraints and low-level peripherals such as timers, ADCs, PWMs, DMA, and non-volatile memory is required.

Deep knowledge of motor control theory, including field-oriented control and dq transforms with hands-on experience, is required.

Experience with encoders and current sensors, including calibration, filtering, and synchronization for reliable control feedback, is required.

Ability to read schematics and layout, and effective work with electrical engineering teams, is required.

Comfort in bringing up new boards, debugging cross-functional issues, and partnering with product teams to design around real-world conditions is required.

Use of communication protocols such as I2C, SPI, UART, RS-485, CAN FD, Ethernet, and EtherCAT is required.

Implementation of safety mechanisms like overcurrent, overtemp, watchdogs, and brownout protection robustly is required.

Nice to have

Delivering at least one project from prototype phase into production is a plus.

Familiarity with RTOS concepts and experience implementing them using industry-standard environments, including scheduling, interrupt handling, and real-time guarantees, is a plus.

Using Python for scripting, data analysis, or test automation is a plus.

Cross-disciplinary skills such as system architecture design, protocol selection, or familiarity with ML-driven control pipelines are a plus.

Practical notes

Typical interview steps

Data interviews commonly include a SQL or coding exercise, a statistics question, and a case study. Candidates may be asked to design a metric, interpret an experiment, or build a small model. Some companies give a take-home analysis. Expect questions about past projects and the business impact of your work. Interviewers often evaluate how you communicate uncertainty and business impact, not only the math. Bringing a clean write-up of a past analysis to the interview is well received.

Good to know

Roles in robotics firmware center on real-time control, low-level hardware integration, and safety mechanisms. Collaboration with mechanical and sensor engineers aligns hardware and software. Typical toolchains use embedded C/C++, version control, simulation tools, and RTOS platforms. Success involves prototyping, cross-functional debugging, and translating requirements into reliable production firmware.

Questions to ask

Worth asking in any interview: how the team measures success, who the role works with daily, what the onboarding looks like, and what the company is trying to achieve this year. Asking what past hires did well is a strong final question. Keep the list short and pick the questions that matter most to you.

Career growth

Data careers grow toward senior analyst, staff data scientist, or data engineering lead. Many professionals specialize in machine learning, analytics, or infrastructure. Cross-functional work with product and engineering teams becomes more important at senior levels. The field changes quickly, so continuous learning is part of the job. Professionals who can translate numbers into decisions tend to advance fastest.