Senior Firmware Engineer
Job description
About the role
Tin-can develops screen-free communication devices that allow families to connect without the distractions of smartphones. We are seeking a senior engineer to manage our device-side software as we scale our operations to support thousands of households. In this capacity, you will own the architecture and delivery of embedded firmware that powers our core communication products. You will be responsible for ensuring that connectivity, provisioning, and audio processing work seamlessly across a growing global fleet. The role requires a disciplined engineer who balances long-term reliability with the speed needed to iterate on a consumer product. You will translate high-level product goals into robust firmware implementations that meet strict quality and safety standards. This position is critical to maintaining the seamless, screen-free experience that defines our brand and user expectations.
About the role
- Define and own the end-to-end firmware architecture for our screen-free communication devices, aligning with product milestones and operational scale targets.
- Lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of device-side software for the ESP32, with a focus on reliable connectivity, secure provisioning, and high-fidelity audio processing.
- Establish best practices and guardrails that enable the team to ship firmware updates quickly while preserving stability, security, and performance across thousands of deployed devices.
- Act as the technical authority for firmware within the Technology team, bridging gaps between product, hardware, and data teams to ensure coherent execution.
- Ensure firmware implementations comply with relevant safety, regulatory, and quality standards for devices sold in regulated markets.
Key facts
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Location: USA
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Engagement: Full-time
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Compensation: $180K - $200K plus equity and full benefits
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Team: Technology
What you'll do
- Manage the full lifecycle of firmware for ESP32 hardware, covering connectivity, provisioning, and audio processing.
- Build reliable over-the-air update systems that support phased rollouts, version management, and automated recovery.
- Optimize audio quality by refining echo cancellation, jitter buffers, packet-loss concealment, and codec performance.
- Investigate and resolve field issues related to Wi-Fi stability, mesh networking, and call connectivity.
- Develop telemetry tools to monitor device performance and the user experience in real-world conditions.
- Lead firmware strategy and collaborate with hardware engineers on board bring-up and future product development.
- Implement power management features that extend battery life and ensure stable operation in always-on scenarios.
- Maintain and evolve the provisioning flow, enabling secure and user-friendly device onboarding in diverse home environments.
- Drive consistency across the product line by standardizing drivers, middleware, and integration patterns.
- Partner with data and design teams to define metrics and interfaces that improve usability and reliability over time.
- Support certification processes and compliance checks required for devices sold in regulated markets.
- Mentor junior engineers by providing code reviews, technical guidance, and clear documentation of firmware components.
Requirements
- 5+ years of experience developing and shipping firmware for connected devices using C or C++.
- Proven history of managing over-the-air update infrastructure at scale.
- Ability to debug hardware-software interactions using logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and schematic analysis.
- Expertise in low-level communication protocols, power management, and reset logic.
- Strong documentation habits and a collaborative approach to technical problem solving.
- Demonstrated experience shipping products in a consumer electronics or IoT environment.
- Comfort working in an agile development cycle with frequent releases and fast-paced change.
- Willingness to follow security best practices and respond promptly to critical firmware issues in production.
Nice to have
- Experience with real-time audio or VoIP technologies such as SIP, RTP, or AEC.
- Familiarity with IoT fleet management platforms like Thingsboard.
- Background in Wi-Fi provisioning, BLE, or BluFi.
- Experience managing consumer hardware products from initial prototype to factory production.
- Electrical engineering skills including PCB bring-up or schematic capture.
Skills & tools
- C/C++
- ESP32 / Espressif
- Wi-Fi and BLE
- I2S audio
- Over-the-air (OTA) update systems
- Hardware debugging (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers)
Practical notes
This role is based in Seattle and operates on a hybrid schedule. The compensation package includes a salary range of $180K to $200K, equity, and a full benefits package.