Firmware Engineer

About the role

We are seeking a motivated and innovative Firmware Engineer to join our hardware development team at Bonsai Robotics.  Bonsai Robotics is pioneering the future of autonomous outdoor work and building an autonomy platform that adapts to any off-road environment. As a Firmware Engineer, you will play a critical role in developing, testing, and maintaining firmware for our hardware platforms that power autonomous UGVs. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including hardware, robotics, and software engineers, to deliver high-performance, reliable embedded systems for autonomous navigation, sensor integration, and control.

What you'll do

• Design, develop, and optimize embedded firmware for microcontrollers, and other devices used in UGV hardware platforms.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to define system architecture, interfaces, and requirements.
• Design and execute test plans to ensure new firmware meets specifications, functionalities and performance requirements.
• Implement and maintain drivers for sensors (e.g., LIDAR, cameras, IMUs), actuators, and communication peripherals (CAN, UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet, etc.).
• Develop and integrate real-time operating systems (RTOS) and low-level control algorithms for autonomous vehicle operation.
• Participate in hardware bring-up, debugging, and validation using lab equipment.
• Conduct code reviews, unit testing, and documentation to ensure reliability and maintainability.
• Troubleshoot and resolve firmware-related issues in both development and fielded systems.
• Stay current with industry trends in embedded systems, robotics, and autonomous vehicles.
• Works well independently and collaboratively while balancing long-term development activities with time-sensitive assignments.

Strong Candidates Will Exhibit The Following Key Traits

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience: 5+ years of experience in embedded firmware development (C/C++ preferred) for hardware products.
• Technical Skills:
• • Proficiency with Embedded C/C++ and Python.
  • Deep understanding of real-time embedded systems, RTOS, and microcontroller/processor architectures.
  • Demonstrated familiarity with embedded systems and automotive/off highway vehicle networking protocols (specifically CAN, LIN, and Ethernet).
  • Experience integrating and controlling sensors and actuators, especially for robotics or autonomous systems
  • Experience troubleshooting complex field issues both in person and remotely with the assistance of field application engineers
  • Proficiency in firmware development processes and relevant tools.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Bonus Points For

• Hands-on experience with autonomous vehicles, robotics, or mechatronic systems.
• Experience with vehicle controls for battery electric drive systems.
• Knowledge of safety-critical or mission-critical embedded systems design.
• Familiarity with robotic middleware (e.g., ROS/ROS2) and hardware abstraction layers.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) and continuous integration pipelines.
• Experience with the integration of third-party libraries, software, or development tools.
• Experience in PCBA design and/or mechanical system design.

• An understanding of Agile or Waterfall development methodologies.

Additional Details

• This role is majority on-site in our office in Watsonville, CA.
• Some travel may be required to support deployed machines.

Bonsai Robotics is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or nationality, ancestry, age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status or any other category protected by law.