Firmware Engineer

About Vector Atomic:

Vector Atomic, an IonQ company, is building quantum technology to transform navigation, timing, geophysical exploration, and telecommunications. Our team of engineers, scientists, software developers, and operations professionals works together to solve complex challenges and turn bold ideas into real-world solutions. We value collaboration, curiosity, and diverse perspectives, and we give every team member the opportunity to make an immediate impact while growing their skills. If you’re excited to work on breakthrough technology in a fast-paced, hands-on environment, we’d love to hear from you. 

Location: This role is based onsite at our office in Pleasanton, CA.
Travel: Up to 5%, domestic or international.
Job ID: 1702

The Role: 

We are looking for a skilled Firmware Engineer to join a cross-functional team of physicists, electronics engineers, and firmware developers building next-generation quantum sensing instruments. In this role, you will design, implement, and verify embedded software for ST microcontrollers — including COTS devices and MCUs on custom ASICs — and develop the low-level control algorithms that make precision measurement possible. You will work closely with hardware engineers throughout the full product development cycle, from schematic review to board bring-up and production.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with a cross-functional team of physicists, electronics engineers, and firmware engineers to design and deliver next-generation quantum instruments.
• Write and verify embedded firmware for ST microcontrollers, including COTS devices and MCUs integrated into custom ASICs.
• Implement control algorithms critical to the operation of high-precision sensing instruments.
• Develop peripheral drivers for mixed-signal and other devices, working directly from electronic schematics.
• Partner with hardware engineers to support board testing and hardware bring-up activities.
• Contribute to continuous process improvement by authoring task tickets in GitHub and participating in code reviews, project reviews, and retrospectives.
• Clearly document and communicate your work through written and verbal channels with coworkers and collaborators.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science with substantial embedded systems coursework, lab, or internship experience; other technical degrees considered with 2+ years of directly relevant experience.
• Demonstrated ability to write production-quality C/C++ code for small embedded processors.
• Proficiency writing interrupt service routines, peripheral drivers, and multi-threaded firmware for embedded MCUs using RTOSs and/or bare-metal environments.
• Experience developing scripts in Python, Perl, or similar languages.
• Hands-on experience using test and measurement equipment (oscilloscopes, function generators, voltmeters) to validate firmware performance.
• Proven ability to isolate and resolve bugs using debuggers and simulation tools.
• Comfortable working in a laboratory environment.
• To comply with the US export control laws, Vector Atomic employees must be U.S. citizens (born or naturalized), lawful U.S. permanent residents (i.e. green card holders), and certain categories of refugees, and asylees.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience designing and implementing control algorithms such as PID controllers.
• Familiarity with fixed-point arithmetic and digital filter design for embedded applications.
• Experience interfacing with external devices via TCP, UDP, UART, SPI, I2C, or similar protocols.
• Proficiency in assembly language programming for embedded targets.
• Experience implementing lightweight Ethernet stacks (e.g., lwIP) on small embedded systems.
• Background working with SoC or FPGA devices.

 **Benefits will be provided by Vector Atomic, an IonQ Company, and will differ from the benefits listed on the IonQ website.** 

Benefits:

Vector Atomic values teamwork, open and honest discourse, and work-life balance. We offer competitive compensation and benefits including:

• Platinum-level family health coverage (medical, dental, vision)
• Health and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Employer 401(k) contributions
• 20 days of paid time off & 11 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Fully stocked kitchen

The approximate base salary range for this position is $123,577 to $161,794 per year. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity and benefits.  It's atypical to be hired at the top end of this range for the role, as actual pay is based on several factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.