Senior Engineer - Firmware

Vector Atomic is building quantum hardware to transform navigation, timing, geophysical exploration, and telecommunications. In 2025, we joined IonQ [NYSE: IONQ], the world’s leading quantum platform and merchant supplier – delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. Our scientists, engineers, software developers, and operations professionals collaborate to deliver real-world solutions. We value ingenuity, diverse skillsets, and teamwork. Every team member can make an immediate impact while growing professionally. Join us to build breakthrough technology in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.

We are looking for a skilled Senior Firmware Engineer to join a cross-functional team of physicists, electronics engineers, and firmware developers building next-generation quantum sensing instruments. In this role, you will design, implement, and verify embedded software for ST microcontrollers - including COTS devices and MCUs on custom ASICs - and develop the low-level control algorithms that make precision measurement possible. You will work closely with hardware engineers throughout the full product development cycle, from schematic review to board bring-up and production.

Location: This role is based on site at our office in Pleasanton, CA.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership and architectural direction for Rust-based quantum control systems across multiple projects.
• Write production-quality code in C/C++ and establish coding standards and best practices for the team.
• Work with and mentor a cross-functional team of physicists, electronics engineers, and firmware engineers to create next-generation quantum instruments.
• Design and architect system controllers on ARM SoC. Lead development of user-space drivers, data acquisition pipelines, and robust control loops with reliable error handling.
• Define and implement control algorithms essential to operation of precision sensing instruments.
• Architect libraries and frameworks for control of quantum systems that can be reused across projects.
• Lead technical discussions with hardware engineers and drive board testing and hardware bring up strategies.
• Mentor junior and senior engineers through code reviews, pair programming, and technical guidance.
• Drive continuous improvement of our development process, tooling, and infrastructure.
• Represent the team in cross-functional technical reviews, architecture discussions, and strategic planning sessions.

Basic Qualifications:

• Electrical Engineering/Computer Engineering/Computer Science Graduate, BS/MS Degree with 8+ years of related work experience, or PhD with 5+ years of experience.
• Must be comfortable working in a laboratory environment.
• Proven ability to lead technical initiatives and influence engineering decisions across teams.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences, both written and verbal.
• Demonstrated expertise in system architecture and design of complex embedded systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers and collaborators, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work independently on assigned activities while collaborating within multidisciplinary teams.
• To comply with US export control laws, Vector Atomic employees must be U.S. citizens (born or naturalized), lawful U.S. permanent residents (i.e. green card holders), and certain categories of refugees and asylees.
• Ability to work onsite full-time at our office in Pleasanton, CA (SF Bay Area)

Preferred Experience (several of the following)

• Extensive experience in developing production Rust systems, including async runtimes, concurrency patterns, and performance optimization.
• Deep understanding of hardware-software interfaces including TCP, UART, MMAP, and low-level system programming.
• Proven ability to architect and design complex software systems from the ground up.
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills using various tools including debuggers, profilers, and simulation.
• Experience mentoring and leading other engineers in technical growth.
• Experience in Rust 🦀, on bare-metal or embedded Linux.
• Experience in Python, including common scientific libraries and building developer tools.
• Expert-level understanding of control algorithms such as PID, state-space controllers, and adaptive control.
• Design training/expertise with fixed-point algorithms, DSP, and digital filters.
• Extensive experience interfacing with external devices through multiple protocols (TCP, UART, SPI, I2C, etc.).
• Experience in C/C++ and understanding of systems programming across multiple languages.
• Strong background working with SoC/FPGA devices and hardware-software co-design.
• Experience with Linux kernel development and device drivers.
• Comfortable using test and measurement equipment to confirm coding performance. This includes oscilloscopes, function generators and voltmeters.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing frameworks, and development infrastructure.

Benefits

Vector Atomic offers competitive compensation and benefits including:

• Platinum-level family health coverage (medical, dental, vision)
• Health and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Employer 401(k) contributions
• 20 days of paid time off / 11 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Fully stocked kitchen

Pay Range The base salary range for this position is $120,000 to $160,000 per year. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity and benefits. It's atypical to be hired at the top end of this range for the role, as actual pay is based on several factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience level. Vector Atomic is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or any other classification protected by law. Vector Atomic does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party recruiting agencies in response to job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers or HR team.