Efference · 16 hours ago
Embedded Firmware Engineer
San Francisco, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
3+ years expEfference is a company that builds robust, high-performance robotic perceptual systems. As an Embedded Firmware Engineer, you will lead the design and implementation of low-level software for next-generation robotic perception systems, collaborating closely with various teams to enhance performance and reliability across product generations.
Computer VisionInformation TechnologyMachine LearningRobotics
Responsibilities
Lead firmware architecture and development for ARM-based SoCs and MCUs
Read, modify, and maintain device trees, BSPs, and board support packages
Review and approve schematics and PCB layouts, with a focus on signal integrity, power distribution, and manufacturability
Develop and maintain embedded Linux systems using Buildroot and Yocto
Implement and optimize RTOS-based firmware for real-time sensing and control
Write and maintain kernel drivers and low-level device drivers for sensors and peripherals
Integrate and optimize MIPI-CSI camera pipelines, including basic camera bring-up and tuning
Implement and debug WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity on embedded platforms
Work with a wide range of communication interfaces, including CAN, USB, RS-485, UART, I²C, SPI, GMSL, etc
Integrate and calibrate sensors such as IMUs, cameras, LiDAR, and other robotic sensing modalities
Perform hands-on hardware debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and other lab tools
Collaborate with perception, robotics, and full-stack teams to support teleoperation, data collection, and on-device inference
Contribute to product roadmaps, technical documentation, and platform evolution across multiple hardware generations
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or a related field
3+ years of professional experience in embedded systems or firmware engineering
Strong proficiency in C/C++ for embedded and systems programming
Experience working with embedded Linux on ARM-based SoCs
Deep understanding of hardware–software co-design, including power, clock, and memory subsystems
Proven experience bringing up custom hardware from early prototypes through production
Familiarity with common MCUs and peripheral architectures
Strong debugging and root-cause analysis skills across hardware and software layers
Preferred
Experience with Rust for embedded or systems programming
Background in robotics, perception, or sensor fusion
Familiarity with robotic control systems and real-time constraints
Personal interest or hands-on experience in robot learning or autonomous systems
Experience supporting high-throughput image or sensor data pipelines
Benefits
Competitive salary and meaningful equity in a seed-stage, venture-backed startup
Opportunity to work at the cutting edge of robotic perception and applied research
Close collaboration with world-class researchers and engineers
High-impact role with significant technical ownership and growth opportunities
Company
Efference
Efference provides 3D vision systems that use AI and imaging technology to enable robotic perception and navigation.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageTotal Funding
$0.5MKey Investors
Y Combinator
2025-11-06Pre Seed· $0.5M
Company data provided by crunchbase