Senior Firmware Engineer
United States
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Job Description
Senior Firmware Engineer
Santa Clara, California

Job Summary

We are seeking a Senior Firmware Engineer contractor to develop real-time embedded firmware for robotic actuator platforms and distributed control systems. The primary focus is on communication interfaces — implementing and integrating industrial and automotive protocols on ARM microcontrollers that coordinate motor controllers, sensors, and host compute across Ethernet and fieldbus networks. You will work on bare-metal and RTOS-based firmware for TI and/or NXP MCUs, owning features end-to-end from design through board-level validation.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design and implement firmware for 32-bit ARM microcontrollers (Cortex-R/M), focusing on communication stacks and peripheral integration
  • Implement and integrate EtherCAT slave/master stacks (TI ICSS-based or equivalent) for real-time sensing and control
  • Implement CAN-FD communication layers — including Cyphal (OpenCyphal/UAVCAN) protocol integration for sensor and actuator networks
  • Support Ethernet connectivity firmware: MAC/PHY bring-up, LwIP or similar lightweight TCP/IP stacks, UDP streaming protocols, 100Base-T1/automotive Ethernet
  • Integrate and validate sensor and motor control communication interfaces
  • Perform board bring-up, peripheral validation, and firmware debug using JTAG, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes
  • Write well-structured, testable C firmware with documentation appropriate for team handoff

Skill Requirements

  • embedded firmware development on 32-bit ARM microcontrollers (Cortex-M/R)
  • Strong experience with communication protocol implementation: at least two of — EtherCAT, Ethernet (raw/UDP/LwIP), CAN/CAN-FD, RS-485/UART
  • Hands-on experience with real-time operating systems (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar)
  • Proficiency in C for bare-metal and RTOS-based embedded systems
  • Experience with DMA-driven peripheral communication (UART, SPI, CAN) for deterministic, high-throughput data transfer

Other Requirements

1. Optional But Valuable Certifications: Certified Embedded Systems Engineer (Cese), Embedded Software Engineer Certification.
Maximum Salary (US):  148000
Minimum Salary (US):  78000
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Information at a Glance

Why HCLTech?

At HCLTech, you'll supercharge your potential. You'll find your career. And you'll find your spark. All at a place that knows that helping its customers stay on top starts by putting its people first.

HCLTech is a global technology company, home to more than 227,000 people across 60 countries, delivering industry-leading capabilities centered around digital, engineering, cloud and AI, powered by a broad portfolio of technology services and products. We work with clients across all major verticals, providing industry solutions for Financial Services, Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Technology and Services, Telecom and Media, Retail and CPG, and Public Services. Consolidated revenues as of 12 months ending March 2026 totaled $14.7 billion. 

 

Compensation and Benefits

A candidate’s pay within the range will depend on their skills, experience, education, and other factors permitted by law. This role may also be eligible for performance-based bonuses subject to company policies. In addition, this role is eligible for the following benefits subject to company policies: medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, life, accidental death & dismemberment, and disability insurance; employee assistance program; 401(k) retirement plan; 10 days of paid time off per year (some positions are eligible for need-based leave with no designated number of leave days per year); and 10 paid holidays per year.