Job SummaryThe Firmware Engineer II is primarily responsible for designing, developing, and testing firmware for high-volume electronic products in the vehicle emergency and safety industry that meet cost, performance, cybersecurity, regulatory, and schedule requirements. This role contributes to innovative product development through cross-functional collaboration, supports sustaining engineering and field issue resolution, and applies current engineering practices including data-driven development, automated verification, and responsible use of AI-assisted tools to improve firmware quality, test coverage, and development efficiency.
Essential Responsibilities and Functions - Firmware design, coding, test, and documentation for microcontroller-based products, following ESG's product development processes.
- Help develop functional specifications and detailed design documentation for new products, working within an Agile/Scrum framework.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to estimate schedules and deliver development tasks.
- Develop and execute detailed test plans to ensure systems meet functional, performance, reliability, and safety requirements.
- Participate in continuous improvement of product development processes.
- Maintain and follow proper design processes for high-reliability, secure firmware, including traceability, code reviews, and defect prevention practices.
- Analyze and resolve field problems; perform root cause analysis and determine corrective and preventive actions.
- Support the work of other engineers on project teams through technical collaboration, peer reviews, and knowledge sharing.
- Participate in technical reviews and code inspections of firmware and supporting tools developed by the group.
- Use AI-assisted engineering tools responsibly to accelerate code analysis, test generation, documentation, log analysis, and defect triage while maintaining engineering judgment, traceability, and compliance with company policies.
- Contribute to development of embedded features that interface with AI-enabled systems, sensors, or edge analytics where applicable, including support for data capture, telemetry, model integration requirements, and real-time constraints.
- Help define verification approaches for AI-adjacent firmware behavior, including testability, performance monitoring, fail-safe behavior, and robustness in safety-relevant operating conditions.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications to Succeed - Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Computer Science
- Minimum of 5 years of related experience in analysis, design, coding, and testing C/C++ code for embedded systems used in commercial applications.
- Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
- Experience designing with serial networks and embedded communications protocols (e.g., RS485, CAN, LIN).
- Strong understanding of hardware and proficiency with lab equipment such as oscilloscopes and DMMs.
- Advanced debugging and troubleshooting techniques for embedded systems.
- Willingness to learn and grow with input from other team members while following coding standards and engineering best practices.
- Experience with version control systems, defect tracking systems, and static source code analysis tools.
- Ability to work independently as well as at the direction of others.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Familiarity with AI-assisted development tools and the ability to use them responsibly for code review support, test generation, documentation, and engineering productivity in a controlled development environment.
Desired - Advanced Engineering degree.
- Experience in the automotive industry, including V2V and V2X systems.
- Experience with Microchip, Atmel, and Cypress PSoC chipsets along with their associated IDEs.
- Experience with Git/GitHub for version control.
- C#/.NET experience to create tools for test and other non-product purposes.
- Experience developing design documentation using UML statecharts, flowcharts, sequence diagrams, and similar methods.
- Wireless and IoT experience.
- Exposure to edge AI, embedded ML, sensor fusion, or firmware support for AI-enabled features in connected devices.
- Experience with automated build/test pipelines, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and modern firmware DevOps practices.
- Knowledge of secure firmware development practices, including secure boot, update mechanisms, and cybersecurity considerations for connected products.
Physical Demands and Work Environment The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Must be able to talk and hear frequently (in person and by telephone), and must be able to see and read (documents, order statements, etc.)
- Manual dexterity required, frequent use of hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms
- Frequently required to stand and walk
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of work performed by the team members assigned to this job. All team members must comply with Company policies and applicable laws.
