Salary Range: 250000 to 280000 (Currency: USD) (Pay period: per-year-salary)

Join Afero and change the world, a gazillion connections at a time!
Our vision is to make all the world's devices really smart and truly secure, through innovation and scale.
Come make it happen!

Afero is the leading PaaS for IoT manufacturers and brands, enabling connected devices to be both smart and secure. Afero built its foundation on security, data privacy, simplicity and ease of use. Today, Afero technology powers millions of devices across more than 1,000 SKUs from 50+ manufacturers, including well-known brands like Defiant, Hampton Bay and EcoSmart. Afero has more than 123 patents, one of the largest IoT patent portfolios globally, and was named an 2024 IoT Breakthrough Winner for IoT Security Platform of the Year. Afero is driven by a team of world-class executives and veterans in mobile, hardware, security, consumer and cloud, leveraging experience from Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Netflix, Disney, Roku and Danger. Afero provides a fantastic opportunity to explore and to expand your expertise while driving product innovation into exciting new ecosystems. To learn more, visit www.afero.io.

Why you’ll want to work with us
For a small team, Afero engineers collectively do a little bit of everything—from cloud applications and infrastructure to mobile development on multiple platforms, firmware on a wide range of devices, to board-level hardware design and implementation of secure wireless devices. If you enjoy deep dives into assorted technology stacks to understand end-to-end system workflows, can adapt past experiences to new solutions, and can communicate technical ideas effectively, Afero is a fantastic opportunity to explore and to expand your expertise.

What We’re Looking for
We want people with passion to build best in class technology, who will drive the evolution and scale of Afero’s platform. The range of disciplines and experience represented at Afero is broad and deep, and everyone on the team contributes meaningfully to our culture and our growth. We’re looking for builders and problem solvers who will bring perspective and skills to support our success, people with enthusiasm for digging into complexity, creating solutions, and driving effectiveness in a collaborative environment.

This Engineering Director, Firmware position requires an energetic and self-motivated individual with excellent communication, organization, and technical skills to work cross-functionally with other organizations (internal and external), who can communicate at all levels of management. This is a unique opportunity for a senior professional who enjoys a high level of independence, visibility and responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

Own, drive and improve Afero’s Firmware solutions and stack that support a broad range of products
Collaborate with other stakeholders, internally and externally, to launch products from concept to mass production
Recruit, manage and develop an exceptional firmware team maintaining a very high bar for deliverables and commitments
Drive timely delivery of software to the factory for all stages of production, like EVT, DVT, PVT and MP
Provide technical direction, guidance, and hands-on management
Focus on improving all aspects of Firmware - design, architecture, implementation, release process, quality

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering
At least 10+ years of advancing experience in software engineering leadership or management roles
5+ years of relevant work experience developing consumer or commercial products in a fast-paced environment
Experience managing teams that handle several concurrent products and making releases to meet commitments
Real world embedded systems experience developing firmware with MCUs, RTOS, and device drivers for low power devices
Experience porting BSPs and SDKs to new chipsets
Strong C programming experience. Strong RTOS experience. Python experience is a plus.
Cryptography experience is a huge plus.
WiFi and Bluetooth Low Energy firmware development experience is a plus
Proven capability to balance long-term strategic vision with immediate operational goals
Proven track record of managing and coordinating with external technology vendors
This role is a hybrid position, requiring occasional work in the office at the company
headquarters in Los Altos, CA (may be up to 3 days per week).
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

Afero is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or disability status.

About the company

Afero offers an IoT platform that securely connects devices to the internet and manages them remotely for businesses and consumers. Devices link to Afero’s cloud platform, which handles provisioning, secure communication, device management, and data collection, with AI features to improve connectivity, security, and data usefulness. The company differentiates itself through a strong emphasis on security and easy integration across many device types, backed by a large IoT patent portfolio and partnerships like Hubspace with Home Depot. Its goal is to help customers bring connected products to market efficiently while turning device data into actionable insights.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Series C

Total Funding

$93.3M

Headquarters

Los Altos, California

Founded

2014

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

Hubspace 2.0 launched December 2025, expanding exclusive Home Depot smart-home deployments.
Afero and Atmosic announced January 2026 products shipping in 2026, expanding device categories.
Embedded World 2026 demos and Texas Instruments partnerships validate an industrial-market expansion push.

What critics are saying

Home Depot exclusivity makes Afero dependent on one retailer’s roadmap and margins.
Industrial automation remains unproven against Particle, Alarm.com, and larger semiconductor ecosystems.
If Home Depot replaces Afero in Hubspace, Afero’s core revenue collapses quickly.

What makes Afero unique

Afero powers Home Depot’s exclusive Hubspace platform, embedding security into consumer smart-home distribution.
Its platform spans device, cloud, OTA, and compliance layers, not just connectivity middleware.
Afero’s 2026 Agentic AI and edge-cloud hybrid architecture targets secure autonomous devices.

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Benefits

Remote Work Options
Hybrid Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

1 year growth

-1%

2 year growth

-1%

AiThority

Mar 3rd, 2026

Afero Demonstrates Next-Generation Edge AI, Security and Connectivity for Industrial Automation at Embedded World 2026

Afero demonstrates next-generation edge AI, security and connectivity for industrial automation at Embedded World 2026. Mar 3, 2026 Prev Next 1 of 42,768 Afero, the enterprise-grade secure IoT Platform for embedded systems, announced that it will be attending the Embedded World 2026 Exhibition & Conference, taking place March 10-12 in Nuremberg, Germany, to showcase new solutions for the real-world hurdles currently stalling industrial and enterprise innovation. A decade in the making, the Afero IoT/IIoT platform has been proven across millions of devices while enabling an AI-infused connected world. Contact Afero to schedule a demonstration at the show, or visit booths 131, 235 or 619 in Hall 3A at the exhibit. Securing the Future of Autonomous Smart Environments On display at the exhibition will be the Afero Agentic AI (AAA) software that transforms standard hardware into agentic systems. The AAA software is based on a hybrid architecture that balances compute between edge and cloud to ensure low-latency response times even in high-compute-density environments, and enable in-situ data analysis. It enables devices to perceive, reason, and act, both locally and remotely, all within an end-to-end secure, encrypted, and tamper-proof framework. "Edge AI and industrial IoT demand advanced capabilities and seamless integration from chips to devices to apps," said Joe Britt, CEO and Co-Founder of Afero. "Afero's resounding success in the challenging consumer markets and focused R&D for industrial uses have resulted in fully whetted capabilities across a broad range of requirements. Afero provides the strongest foundation in the market for edge AI, industrial automation, and enterprise OT applications." Software + Silicon for Smart Industrial IoT Earlier this year, Afero announced new connectivity capabilities and partnerships to enrich its offerings with Wi-Fi(R) microcontrollers (MCUs) purpose-built for IoT, combined with Afero's secure IoT software platform to deliver the ultimate solution for connected devices. The Afero Platform has amassed a loyal following in the smart home market and currently powers millions of smart devices in millions of households across 200+ product categories and 50+ manufacturers, providing a proven foundation for industrial applications. Afero and its partners provide a chips-to-apps solution that integrates secure connectivity with device, mobile, and cloud software. Ambient AI Meets Agentic AI Afero's integrated solution delivers the industry's best: * Time to market; * Developer productivity through proven ease-of-use, reliability, and re-usable software; * Advanced fleet management; * Reliable and secure over-the-air (OTA) connectivity, delivered successfully millions of times; * Effective human-machine interface; * Data-centric AI foundation; * Secure mobility; and * Capabilities for regulatory compliance and certification, including ISA/IEC 62443, the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), Software Bill of Materials (SBOM), CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification), and others.

Business Wire

Mar 3rd, 2026

Afero unveils Agentic AI software for industrial automation at Embedded World 2026

Afero, an enterprise-grade secure IoT platform provider, is showcasing new industrial automation solutions at Embedded World 2026 in Nuremberg from 10-12 March. The company will demonstrate its Afero Agentic AI software, which transforms standard hardware into autonomous systems using a hybrid architecture balancing edge and cloud computing. The platform, proven across millions of devices over a decade, offers secure connectivity with Wi-Fi microcontrollers and comprehensive IoT software. Afero currently powers millions of smart devices across 200+ product categories for 50+ manufacturers in the smart home market. The Los Altos-based company's solution addresses industrial automation needs including fleet management, over-the-air connectivity, and regulatory compliance with standards like ISA/IEC 62443 and the EU Cyber Resilience Act. Afero is backed by investors including Crosspoint Capital.

Read Magazine

Jan 6th, 2026

Afero and Atmosic to Usher in a New Era of Ultra-Secure and Ultra-Long-Battery-Life IoT Products

Afero and Atmosic to usher in a new era of ultra-secure and ultra-long-battery-life IoT products. Afero, the Made-in-the-USA enterprise-grade secure IoT Platform, and Atmosic Technologies, the leader in ultra-low-power Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connectivity and compute solutions, announced a strategic collaboration to create a new category of ultra-secure, ultra-long-battery-life Internet-of-Things (IoT) products. This collaboration delivers industry-leading smart products that combine a robust secure-by-design architecture, ease of use, and unprecedented battery life, paving the way for new applications across commercial, industrial, and consumer sectors. * Ultra-secure IoT: The new products are built on Afero's enterprise-grade IoT platform, ensuring end-to-end data integrity and protection from the device to the cloud. * Ultra-long battery life: The integration of Atmosic's ultra-low-power BLE connectivity and compute silicon dramatically minimizes power consumption, enabling connected devices with unparalleled longevity on a single battery. * Anywhere connectivity: Made possible by the Afero Secure Bridge software, this capability allows customers to seamlessly control devices from anywhere in the world while extending battery life, which was previously difficult to achieve. "The market has been waiting for IoT solutions that don't force a compromise between security, remote access, and power efficiency," said Joe Britt, CEO and Co-Founder of Afero. "By combining Afero's proven, end-to-end security and the power-saving innovation of the Afero Secure Bridge software with Atmosic's industry-leading, ultra-low-power BLE chips, we are setting a new standard for what is possible in connected products. We are thrilled to showcase this breakthrough at CES." "Longest battery life and robust security are essential to scaling IoT deployments and remain non-negotiable requirements for enterprise adoption," said Ali Foughi, CEO of Atmosic. "Our collaboration with Afero accomplishes both priorities. We are delivering value to our customers and advancing the IoT industry." First products built on this joint solution are scheduled to arrive in 2026, beginning with mass-market smart home products from the largest home improvement retailer. More smart home products, as well as innovative solutions for asset tracking, industrial, and other applications are planned.

Business Wire

Aug 2nd, 2023

Secure IoT pioneer Afero appoints commercial leader and Google veteran, Kumar das, as Chief Business Officer

Afero, the world’s most secure Platform as a Service (PaaS) for IoT, today announced it has appointed commercial leader and Google veteran Kumar Das to the newly created position of Chief Business Officer.

Afero

Nov 19th, 2022

Afero News: Preethi Narayanan Joins the Afero Leadership Team As Vice President of Engineering

Preethi joins Afero from Roku where she led Software Engineering for the Roku TV line of products.