- Job title
- Firmware Engineer - Rust
- Job location
- Palo Alto, CA, US
- Job description
- Join our embedded systems team to build the **real-time firmware, drivers, and hardware-level infrastructure** that power our next-generation robotic hands. You will work at the bleeding edge of robotics—developing low-latency motor control firmware, bringing up custom electronics, integrating advanced sensors, and ensuring highly reliable operation across our robotic platforms.
## **🎯 Role Overview**
You will be responsible for writing low-level embedded firmware, performing driver bringup across a range of sensors/actuators, and building the real-time control pipelines that enable human-level dexterity. This role is hands-on and hardware-close: oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, DMA registers, and data sheets will be part of your daily workflow.
## **🛠️ Key Responsibilities**
### **Embedded Firmware & Driver Development**
* Bring up custom embedded boards (STM32H7 etc.) from scratch
* Implement low-level drivers for sensors, actuators, communication buses, and custom peripherals
* Develop high-reliability firmware using **Rust (Embassy) and C**, optimized for tight timing budgets
* Build DMA-based and interrupt-driven interfaces for high-rate data pipelines
### **Motor Control & Real-Time Systems**
* Implement and tune real-time control loops (position, torque, impedance, velocity)
* Develop high-frequency motor control firmware (100 Hz – 5 kHz loops)
* Integrate motor drivers, current sensors, and high-bandwidth servo feedback
### **Sensor Bringup & Integration**
* Integrate and calibrate:
* Force & tactile sensors
* Multi-axis IMUs
* Encoders (magnetic, optical, and high-resolution absolute encoders)
* Build sensor fusion pipelines optimized for low latency and noise robustness
### **System Infrastructure & Safety**
* Develop robust real-time safety systems: watchdogs, brownout detection, error monitors
* Implement fail-safe behaviors and safety interlocks for robotic manipulation
* Build bootloader/OTA systems for distributed firmware updates
### **Hardware-Software Integration**
* Validate new PCB revisions with bringup tests and driver diagnostics
* Work closely with mechanical/electrical teams to characterize hardware performance
* Collaborate with AI/control teams to optimize firmware performance for higher-level policies
## **⚡ Requirements**
### **Must-Have**
* Pursuing a BS/MS in **Robotics, Electrical/Computer Engineering, Mechatronics**, or related fields
* **Strong Rust + Embassy and modern C experience** in embedded development
* Experience with real-time systems and RTOS-based development (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or bare-metal)
* Strong Python skills for test automation, HIL testing, and hardware validation
* Hands-on experience with embedded peripherals: **SPI, I2C, UART, CAN/CAN-FD, PWM, ADC, DMA**
* Solid understanding of:
* Real-time control loops
* Timing constraints & scheduler design
* Interrupt latency and determinism
### **Nice-to-Have**
* Experience with **Linux-based real-time controllers** (PREEMPT_RT)
* Familiarity with **EtherCAT** or high-speed robotic communication buses
* Experience with motor drivers (BLDC, servo motors), Hall sensors, or current sensing
* Exposure to ROS/ROS2, machine learning, or robotic control stack development
* Experience building bootloaders, OTA systems, or secure firmware signing
* Familiarity with JTAG/SWD debugging, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers
**PLEASE ALSO APPLY DIRECTLY: [https://www.proception.ai/careers/8d804396-4489-4d74-8a82-6050792148a2](https://www.proception.ai/careers/8d804396-4489-4d74-8a82-6050792148a2)**
