Firmware Engineer

About Our Work

We are neuroscientists who build ground-breaking technology for the spatial computing era. We stimulate nerves to create artificial tactile sensations, creating new, more meaningful connections to the user for notifications, 3D digital content, physical AI, health information, and beyond. Our first products will be mobile, wearable devices that stream haptic data from multiple digital sources to create meaningful sensations of touch.

What You'll Be Doing

The Firmware Engineer is responsible for the design, development, testing, and optimization of embedded firmware solutions supporting hardware systems and product development initiatives. This role works independently on complex technical objectives while collaborating closely with cross-functional engineering teams, senior leadership, vendors, and external partners to deliver reliable, scalable, and innovative solutions aligned with organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Play a key role in strategic decisions related to firmware architecture and technology stack

• Design, develop, implement, debug, and maintain embedded firmware for hardware systems and products

• Contribute from early architecture to hardware bring-up through verification and validation, and sustaining.

• Support firmware releases, field investigations, and continuous improvements

• Collaborate with hardware, software, systems, and test engineering teams to define firmware architecture and technical requirements

• Lead firmware integration, validation, and testing activities to ensure product reliability and performance

• Analyze system requirements and propose technical solutions aligned with company objectives and product roadmaps

• Work directly with schematics, datasheets, specifications, and lab equipment to implement and debug board-level and system-level designs.

• Contribute to firmware porting across MCU platforms and firmware update mechanisms to ensure safe and reliable factory and field updates.

• Troubleshoot complex firmware and hardware interactions, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions

• Support product development from concept through production and field deployment

• Develop and maintain technical documentation, including specifications, test procedures, and design documentation

• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives related to firmware development methodologies, tools, and processes

• Interface with internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure alignment on technical deliverables and project priorities

• Provide technical expertise, mentorship, and problem-solving support within the engineering team

• Other duties as assigned

What You'll Need for This Position

Education

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related technical field

Must-Have Skills & Experience

• Typically requires 2–5 years of experience in firmware/software development, embedded systems, hardware engineering, or related technology domains

• C/C++ development in resource-constrained systems with deep understanding of MCU and MCU peripherals, interrupts, power domains, and RTOS-based systems

• Familiarity with microcontrollers, embedded processors, communication protocols, and hardware interfaces

• Comfortable using oscilloscopes, power analyzers, logic analyzers, and other lab tools to root-cause complex charging and power issues.

• Ability to understand interactions between hardware, firmware, and commercial release processes across the full product lifecycle.

• Knowledge of firmware debugging, testing, and validation methodologies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

• Ability to work independently on complex technical assignments

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills

• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and documentation practices

• Ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced engineering environment

• Demonstrated initiative and accountability in driving technical deliverables

What's in It for You

Work closely with cutting-edge technology. You'll be hands-on with novel neural haptic technology that's defining the future of spatial computing and immersive experiences.

Work in a close-knit, startup environment. We strive to create an intellectually stimulating and collegial working environment. Our energy for inventing, creating, and learning spans work and play: we have regular happy hours, plan field trips, play games, play music, and generally have a good time.

An early employee experience. We are an early-stage deep tech startup company that requires all members to contribute across the entire business. On any given day, there will be new challenges and new demands to propel the business forward. We expect all employees to be able to dive into any new challenges that present themselves, even if they are beyond the job description above. If your are driven by the desire to see success and to create new tech not seen by the world previously, you will fit right in to the team's culture.

Compensation & Benefits

Afference is committed to providing the sense of touch for the evolution of the human connection to technology and the future of the digital experience. We are leading this effort through deep science and technology, which provides unique experiences compared to classical haptic technologies. Our lean team of experts demands a high level of excellence but can compensate with the commensurate upside potential of an early-growth startup in a high-growth sector of extended reality.

Compensation offers depend on skills, qualifications, and experience, and range between:

$113,501 to $170,251 per year at 100% FTE

Benefits include:

• Medical, dental vision, life, STD, FSA, additional company perks

• Equity incentives

• Self-managed PTO

Location: On-site; Cleveland, OH office