Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Social networking, machine learning, and big data analytics demand ever-increasing network connectivity. RANOVUS, with operations in Ottawa, Canada, Nuremberg, Germany, and San Jose, USA, is a solution provider for the next generation data center infrastructures. We aim to deliver advanced technology that minimizes environmental impact through lower power dissipation. Working with world class fabrication partners, RANOVUS is the leader in the application of unique new technologies to fiber-optic communications products for datacenters.

We are seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to work as part of our R&D software-firmware design team.

Position Overview

In this senior technical role, you will take ownership of embedded firmware development for microcontroller‑based systems integrated within high‑speed optical modules.

You will work closely with cross‑functional teams—including hardware, optics, ASIC, systems, and test engineering—to deliver robust, scalable, and production‑ready solutions. This position requires strong technical leadership, deep hands‑on expertise in embedded C development, and the ability to drive projects from concept through production release.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of close collaboration with hardware and electrical teams, experience bringing up and debugging firmware on new hardware platforms, and broad embedded systems expertise developed across a diverse set of projects.

Note:  While Ranovus supports a hybrid work model combining remote and on‑site work, this role requires significant on‑site presence at our Kanata, Ontario facility.

Key Responsibilities

Firmware Architecture & Development

• Architect, design, and implement low‑level embedded firmware for microcontroller‑based optical communication systems, primarily in C.
• Define firmware requirements, interfaces, and system behavior in collaboration with hardware and system architects.
• Develop device drivers, control loops, diagnostics, telemetry, and communication protocols.
• Optimize firmware for performance, power efficiency, memory utilization, and long‑term reliability.
• Lead board bring‑up, hardware–software integration, and system‑level validation activities.

Software Quality & DevOps

• Establish and promote best practices for secure, scalable, and maintainable firmware development.
• Drive continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) improvements using GitLab and automated build and test pipelines.
• Define and implement unit, integration, and system‑level test strategies.
• Lead complex debugging and root‑cause investigations across firmware, hardware, and system boundaries.

Technical Leadership

• Mentor junior engineers and co‑op students, fostering technical growth and best practices.
• Contribute to technical roadmaps, architectural reviews, and design discussions.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, coding standards, and development processes.
• Interface with external partners and manufacturing teams to support production deployment and sustainment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• 10+ years of professional experience in embedded firmware development.
• Expert‑level proficiency in C for embedded systems.
• Strong experience developing firmware for microcontrollers and resource‑constrained environments.
• Deep understanding of embedded systems fundamentals, including interrupts, DMA, RTOS concepts, bootloaders, and memory management.
• Experience developing software in Linux‑based environments.
• Proficiency in Python for scripting, automation, or system‑level tools.
• Experience with version control and CI/CD workflows (Git, GitLab).
• Strong hands‑on debugging skills using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and related lab instrumentation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with optical communication systems or high‑speed networking products.
• Familiarity with data center interconnect technologies.
• Experience designing and deploying embedded Linux systems.
• Knowledge of networking protocols and client–server architectures.
• Exposure to Rust for embedded or systems‑level applications.
• Experience with automated testing frameworks and verification methodologies.
• Familiarity with typical integrated development environments, make‑based build systems, and modern build tooling.

Personal Attributes

• Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Ability to work independently while contributing strategically to team objectives.
• Structured, analytical problem‑solving approach.
• Collaborative team player comfortable working in cross‑functional engineering environments.