Embedded Firmware Engineer

Overview

American Droid is building a new generation of American-made robotic systems for defense and civilian applications. We are at the very beginning of our growth curve—and we are looking for builders. This is an opportunity to join the ground floor of a start-up creating robotic hands and teleoperated manipulation systems. We are seeking an Embedded Firmware Engineer to join our early team and take ownership of the low-level firmware and electronics that drive our robotic hands. This role focuses on motor control, sensor integration, and hardware-software interfaces. You will work closely with the robotics software engineer to ensure seamless performance from firmware to ROS control. This is a high-impact role and there is no handholding here. Candidates must be self-directed, capable of solving complex problems independently, and thrive in an early-stage start-up environment. If you want to build something that matters, influence major design decisions, and leave your fingerprints on the foundation of an emerging robotics company, this is that role.

Description

Embedded Firmware Engineer

American Droid is building a new generation of American-made robotic systems for defense and civilian applications. We are at the very beginning of our growth curve—and we are looking for builders. This is an opportunity to join the ground floor of a start-up creating robotic hands and teleoperated manipulation systems.

We are seeking an Embedded Firmware Engineer to join our early team and take ownership of the low-level firmware and electronics that drive our robotic hands. This role focuses on motor control, sensor integration, and hardware-software interfaces. You will work closely with the robotics software engineer to ensure seamless performance from firmware to ROS control.

This is a high-impact role and there is no handholding here. Candidates must be self-directed, capable of solving complex problems independently, and thrive in an early-stage start-up environment.

If you want to build something that matters, influence major design decisions, and leave your fingerprints on the foundation of an emerging robotics company, this is that role.

Responsibilities

1. Electrical & System Architecture

• Collaborate with a senior engineering lead to define electrical requirements and overall system architecture for robotic actuators, including power delivery, sensor feedback, and communication signals.
• Assist in the selection, design, and integration of actuator driver circuits, power converters, sensors, and board-to-board communication components.
• Maintain and update schematics and PCB layouts as builds progress, embedding them into 3D CAD models to verify fit, routing, and connector placement.
• Track and document design iterations, ensuring that updates are communicated across mechanical, firmware, and software teams.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of firmware, hardware design, interfaces, and test results.

2. Firmware & Embedded Software Development

• Develop low-level firmware to manage actuator feedback loops, sensors, and communication interfaces.
• Implement safety features such as overcurrent protection, thermal monitoring, and fault handling.
• Write embedded software for power and communication boards, including error handling, diagnostics, and system status reporting.

3. Board Fabrication, Bring-Up & Testing

• Lead first-pass board fabrication, assembly, and bring-up, validating actuator control, communications, and safety interlocks.
• Implement and document test plans for functional verification, thermal performance, and EMI/ESD robustness.
• Conduct bench-level testing of boards and actuators, debugging firmware, communication links, and power pathways.

4. Calibration & System Optimization

• Build tools and methods to calibrate and tune actuator parameters for precise, repeatable motion.
• Collaborate with mechanical and embedded software teams to achieve hardware-software integration.
• Identify creative workarounds, alternative test paths, and iterative solutions to meet system-level performance goals.

Required Qualifications

• 3–6 years of embedded firmware or robotics control experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a closely related field
• Proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems.
• Experience with motor controllers, feedback sensors, and real-time control loops.
• Knowledge of electronics, circuit boards, and embedded system debugging.
• Familiarity with communication protocols (USB, UART, SPI, CAN, etc.).
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently in a start-up environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with direct-drive or multi-DOF robotic systems.
• Knowledge of ROS 2 hardware interfaces and hardware-software integration.
• Familiarity with safety-critical embedded design practices.
• Experience with FPGA, microcontrollers (STM32, TI, etc.), or custom motor drivers.
• Background in industrial, defense, or medical robotics.

The Mindset We’re Looking For

• Mission Driven. You are dedicated to building American-made robotic solutions that serve our nation and support our communities.
• Independent & Solution Focused: You have ideas and thrive on figuring hard things out.
• Hands-on: You’d rather fix it on the bench than talk about it in a meeting.
• Action-Oriented Visionary: You see how today’s prototype becomes tomorrow’s deployable robot and execute the work to make that vision happen.

Why Join American Droid?

• You’ll be part of something bigger: building a domestic robotics capability for the U.S.
• You’ll be part of the technical team from the start, shaping the company’s first products and engineering culture.
• You’ll have ownership over real systems that will serve national defense and public service missions.

Other Information

As robotics start-up, we are building from the ground up. Current compensation is a starting point, and benefits are not yet established — but we’re creating something bigger: a company that designs and builds leading American-made robotic systems for real-world missions.

As we grow, compensation, benefits, and opportunity grow with us.

Full-time position in New Bern, NC (less than 2 hours from Raleigh, NC). On-site a few days per week, with flexible remote work allowed only within North Carolina. 

U.S. citizens only. Must be eligible for a U.S. Government security clearance and comply with ITAR/EAR export control requirements.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply.

No calls or agencies please.