Firmware Engineer

This role would be the best fit for you if you want to work on genuinely difficult engineering problems and see your work end up in real and unique products across other specialised applications.

A significant part of our work supports defence and military applications, where reliability, performance and engineering quality genuinely matter. You’ll be working on physical products and embedded systems that are built for serious real-world use.

As the Firmware Engineer, you will be the bridge, the key connection between the hardware team and the engineering team, building high-performance systems from the ground up.

This isn’t the role where you would spend your time maintaining legacy code or sitting away from the actual products - you will be involved in the decision-making, the debugging, the testing and the final outcome.

You will be working on:

Developing and optimising embedded C, Python wrapping for build tooling firmware for microcontrollers.
Designing bare-metal and embedded firmware architectures.
Building device drivers as well as HALs for sensors, memory and communication interfaces such as I2C, SPI, CAN and more.
Working directly with hardware engineers during prototype development and validation.
Debugging issues using oscilloscopes, logic analysers, multimeters and JTAG/SWD tools, etc.
Investigating firmware bugs, field failures and hardware-software integration and any issues during said integration.
Helping to improve firmware reliability, testing and product performance.

Why Hargrave

Hargrave is named after Lawrence Hargrave, the Australian aviation pioneer. We are an Australian engineering company designing and building high-performance electronics, motors and control systems for demanding applications and industries.

A lot of the work is genuinely mission-critical, technically difficult and used in environments where reliability matters. Our technology can end up in drones and other military applications and missions, where the work you do has a direct impact on how the final product performs in the real world.

If you want to work on engineering with real-world purpose and see your work end up in serious physical products, this is the kind of work we do.

We are still small enough that your voice and your work matter and you will be able to see real influence on the products, but we’re scaling and big enough to be working on serious, high-impact projects around the world.

Real ownership is a core part of how we work. Engineers are trusted to take responsibility for their work from concept through delivery, make informed decisions, challenge existing approaches and follow problems through to resolution.

Less bureaucracy. More ownership, accountability and quality.

As Hargrave continues to grow, there’s plenty of room for good people to shape not only the products, but also how we work as a team.

The ideal candidate would have experience in:

Embedded C, Python and microcontrollers.
Bare-metal or embedded firmware development.
Device drivers and hardware interfaces.
I2C, SPI, UART and CAN.
Hardware debugging and board bring-up/prototyping.
Experience with motor control, power electronics, RTOS, embedded Linux or electronics manufacturing would be highly regarded.

Pre-employment screening

Due to the nature of our work, including Defence-related projects, successful applicants will be required to complete pre-employment screening, including a National Police Check.

About the company

Hargrave Technologies designs and manufactures electronic speed controllers (ESCs) for unmanned aerial systems (UAS). An ESC powers a brushless DC motor by switching three-phase currents based on control signals and motor feedback to manage speed and torque, with protections for overcurrent, temperature, and faults. The company’s products are designed and made in Australia and include NDAA-compliant options for demanding applications. Its goal is to provide reliable, compliant ESCs for UAS power systems that meet strict performance and regulatory requirements.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$390K

Headquarters

Sydney, Australia

Founded

2014

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

August 2025 grant funds automation, conformal coating, and critical SMT equipment.
microFLUX 2MP launched February 2026 and is available immediately for integration.
Australian-built, NDAA-compliant positioning matches allied supply-chain reshoring and defense sourcing mandates.

What critics are saying

Production still scales on a 2025 grant; capacity targets fourfold only by end-2026.
Revenue depends on defense procurement cycles and a narrow UAS power-electronics niche.
Shenzhen ESC rivals like Hobbywing and T-MOTOR can undercut pricing and compress margins.

What makes Hargrave Technologies unique

Designed and manufactured in Australia; NDAA-compliant options across the full product line.
microFLUX 2MP offers 32 voltage levels and two independent outputs for UAS.
DroneCAN, ARINC 825, DShot, and onboard logging create sticky integration workflows.

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Benefits

Parental Leave
Wellness Program
Mental Health Support
Flexible Work Hours

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

1 year growth

25%

2 year growth

20%

Unmanned Systems Technology

Feb 3rd, 2026

Hargrave Technologies Launches High-Current microFLUX 2MP & Smart Power System

Hargrave Technologies launches high-current microFLUX 2MP & smart power system. Hargrave Technologies introduces the microFLUX 2MP to provide aerospace engineers with adaptive power density and digital voltage control By Summer James / 03 Feb 2026 Follow UST Hargrave Technologies has released the microFLUX 2MP, a compact and high-current smart power supply engineered for the demanding requirements of modern Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The system is designed to provide flexibility and reliability as aerospace platforms grow, offering two independent outputs with 32 digitally selectable voltage levels ranging from 3.3 V to 28 V. This software-driven reconfiguration allows engineering teams to adjust power delivery to meet changing payload requirements without the need for hardware redesigns or new component orders. Tony Bazouni, Director, Hargrave Technologies, "microFLUX 2MP is designed to evolve alongside unmanned platforms, giving engineers the freedom to adjust power delivery as payload requirements change." Built specifically for high-power applications such as large servos, the unit integrates intelligent power management and real-time telemetry. To ensure dependable operation in the field, the hardware includes integrated protection mechanisms and error-correcting memory. The platform is optimized for efficiency across its full load range and features RGB state indication LEDs for each output to provide immediate visual feedback on system status. The microFLUX 2MP joins the established FLUX family of smart power supplies. While maintained in the same compact footprint as the existing microFLUX 4LP, the 2MP model prioritizes power density over channel count, providing significantly higher current capability per channel. To streamline the integration process and move quickly into flight testing, the system includes high-speed circular data logging and configurable hardware protection. These features are intended to reduce operational risk while improving visibility into onboard power usage throughout all stages of flight. The microFLUX 2MP is available immediately for integration into new and existing aircraft platforms. Drone Motor Controllers & NDAA-Compliant Drone ESCs for Brushless Electric Motor Control 5/16 Lexington Drive, Bella Vista, NSW 2153 Australia Regional Offices [email protected] Products from Hargrave Technologies. 4-in-1 electronic speed controller for UAS Lightweight, NDAA-compliant four-channel smart power supply for UAS High-current, dual-channel smart power supply for advanced UAS Compact and lightweight IP67-rated ESC for drone motor control Hargrave Technologies' new flight-ready solution, microFLUX 4LP, offers configurable four-channel power and real-time monitoring for uncrewed aerial systems Nov 25, 2025 Hargrave Technologies has received a major Australian Government grant to boost electronic speed controller (ESC) production capacity with advanced manufacturing equipment Aug 12, 2025 Hargrave Technologies is launching the nanoDRIVE 4LPi, a 4-in-1 electronic speed controller (ESC) engineered for high-volume UAS, featuring NDAA compliance and enhanced flight control capabilities Feb 25, 2025 New features include a drive mode for constant-speed applications, and support for configuration over DroneCAN Jun 06, 2024 Hargrave Technologies has introduced microDRIVE LP the next generation of brushless motor controllers, optimised for size and weight while maintaining optimum thermal performance Feb 21, 2024 Power electronics solutions developer Hargrave Technologies has received a Sovereign Capability Defence Grant for UAS propulsion Nov 21, 2023

Unmanned Systems Technology

Aug 12th, 2025

Hargrave Technologies Receives Backing to Advance ESC Production & Manufacturing | UST

Hargrave Technologies has been awarded a $610,203 grant by the Australian Government under the Defence Industry Development Grants Program –...

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter

Mar 9th, 2024

Hargrave Technologies launches microDRIVE LP

Hargrave Technologies launches microDRIVE LP.

Australian Defence Magazine

Nov 22nd, 2023

Hargrave Technologies receives Defence grant

Hargrave Technologies, formerly known as advanced power drives, has been awarded a $278,936 sovereign industrial capability priorities (SICP) grant to support Australian defence operations.

Hargrave Technologies

Firmware Engineer

About the job