Title: Mgr, Controls Engineering
Position Type: Full-Time/Regular
Division: AMI
Department: Quality
Location: Tustin, CA
Salary: $133K-$165K
Job Summary & Job Duties
The Firmware Engineer will build embedded systems that interface directly with hardware. This role is primarily firmware-focused (low-level, real-time, device-facing), with some supporting PC software work for diagnostic and customer-facing tools. You will be close to the hardware: bringing up new boards, writing drivers, debugging with JTAG and oscilloscopes, and building robust firmware that ships in production and performs reliably in real field environments.
What You'll Do:
• Design, implement, and maintain embedded firmware for ARM-based microcontrollers
• Own features and systems from concept through production release
• Develop device drivers and low-level hardware interfaces
• Build robust firmware architectures (state machines, fault handling, watchdogs, diagnostics, recovery)
• Work in RTOS-based systems with real-time constraints (timing, determinism, DMA, interrupts)
• Support hardware bring-up, including schematic-driven debugging and early prototype validation
• Interface with peripherals including ADCs, DACs, sensors, and communication interfaces
• Debug firmware and hardware issues using JTAG/SWD, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers
• Develop Windows desktop applications (WinForms/WPF) for diagnostics, calibration, and customer tools
• Build and maintain test systems (unit, integration, regression, hardware-in-the-loop)
• Support production release, including field issue investigation and root cause analysis
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines, automated builds, and release processes
Minimum Qualifications
• 7-15 years of embedded firmware experience in hardware-based products
• Strong proficiency in C/C++
• Experience with ARM-based microcontrollers (including Microchip SAM7 or similar)
• Proven experience writing device drivers and working directly with hardware
• RTOS experience (task scheduling, synchronization, interrupts, timing)
• Strong firmware design skills (state machines, error handling, diagnostics, recovery strategies)
• Demonstrated ability to work independently from concept through production-ready implementation
• Hands-on debugging using JTAG/SWD, oscilloscope, and logic analyzer
• Experience with communication protocols: I2C, SPI, USB, UART, RS-232, RS-485
• Experience with DMA and real-time data handling
• Experience using Git or similar version control systems
• Experience developing Windows desktop applications (C#, WinForms or WPF)
• Ability to read schematics and understand electronics fundamentals (ADC, DAC, amplifiers, sensors)
• Experience supporting products in a production environment (ISO 9001 or similar)
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with embedded displays or UI frameworks (e.g., LVGL)
• Networking experience (TCP/IP, embedded connectivity)
• Experience with data logging, databases, or diagnostics tools
• Firmware update mechanisms (bootloaders, field upgrades, recovery strategies)
• Experience with sensor-based or measurement systems and calibration methods
• Experience designing for reliability in production and field environments
• Experience building automated test systems or hardware-in-the-loop setups
• Experience with CI/CD systems and build server setup/maintenance
What We're Looking For
• Hands-on, execution-focused engineer who enjoys building, testing, and debugging real systems
• Strong ownership mindset - able to take products from bring-up through production and field support
• Detail-oriented with a focus on reliability, maintainability, and diagnostics
• Comfortable working cross-functionally with electrical, mechanical, and systems teams
