Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Senior Embedded Software Engineer at unspun

We are looking for a hands-on, execution-driven Senior Embedded Software Engineer to ship and sustain production-quality embedded and edge software for our deployed Vega™ 3D weaving systems. Reporting to Automation Lead, you’ll own critical machine-control software that helps scale our technology during commercial deployments.

We’re building a new way to manufacture apparel: autonomous, software-defined, and radically more efficient. Vega™ is a world-first 3D weaving system that skips the flat 2D fabric stage entirely, going from yarn to finished product in one automated process— unlocking a step-change in speed, waste reduction, and the ability to make products on-demand. This role makes the revolution real: building & evolving the embedded software that keeps Vega™ reliable in the field. Think OTA updates, observability, diagnostics, and the hardening required for commercial scale.

• Lead development of embedded and Linux-based applications for industrial device control and communication

• Build and improve production-grade telemetry, monitoring, and field diagnostics for deployed Vega™ machines

• Design, implement, and operate secure over-the-air (OTA) updates and rollout mechanisms (versioning, staged rollouts, rollback, fleet health signals)

• Build and improve automated test infrastructure (unit/integration/HIL), validation plans, and release gating for production software

• Own deployment readiness: commissioning flows, upgrade playbooks, on-call/incident follow-up, and root cause analysis

• Partner cross-functionally with automation, hardware, product, and operations teams to deliver reliable systems end-to-end

You’ve shipped real products into the field and supported them through failures, upgrades, and operational realities… and probably have some stories of how those have gone sideways. You thrive in collaborative environments, communicate clearly, and take ownership from root cause to durable fix. You care deeply about quality, and you’re excited by building systems that bridge software and complex electromechanical hardware.

• 5+ years of embedded software development experience (or equivalent demonstrated impact)

• Strong C++ (or similar modern language) fundamentals: object-oriented design, memory management, concurrency, testing practices

• Experience developing firmware features for microcontrollers in embedded real-time systems (drivers, comms, middleware APIs, RTOS interfaces)

• Experience with FreeRTOS (or similar RTOS)

• Strong debugging and testing skills (gdb/lldb, unit/integration testing, test plans, field diagnostics)

• Experience deploying and supporting products in the field (manufacturing, robotics, industrial, or other uptime-critical environments)

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field… or equivalent experience

Bonus Points:

• Experience transitioning systems from R&D to production environments

• Experience with secure boot, signed firmware, and vulnerability response processes

• Experience designing or operating OTA update systems (security, signing, staged rollouts, rollback strategies, observability)

• Experience with fleet management at scale (device identity, config management, remote debugging)

• Experience with electro-mechanical systems and industrial robotics

We're relentless in pursuing our mission, intentional in our decisions, and fundamentally human in how we work together. We celebrate small wins, speak up to benefit many, and aren't afraid to make (and learn from) mistakes along the way.

The salary range for this role is $170,000 - $210,000 USD annually, plus 0.08% - 0.15% equity.

Benefits include:

• Self-regulated vacation policy

• Comprehensive health/dental/vision insurance

• Company sponsored 401k and FSA/HSA

• Monthly wellness or education grant up to $150

• Pre-tax commuter benefits

• Incentive stock options

unspun's compensation philosophy centers on transparency, fairness, and alignment with our company values. We aim to offer competitive pay that reflects both market standards and individual contributions, fostering an environment where employees feel valued and motivated. Our holistic approach ensures that compensation decisions are consistent and justifiable across all levels to attract and retain top talent, support employee growth, and maintain a positive organizational culture.

We won't roll our eyes if your socks don't match. We get it. But then, if you spend those extra few minutes in the morning matching your socks and shirt, we get that too. Our workspaces are sometimes spotless and sometimes chaotic, and we celebrate messy exploration. We work through complex problems but generate simple and elegant solutions. We strive to look at things differently, and never do anything solely because "that's the way it's always been done."

We're a team of designers and engineers, industry-veterans and serial entrepreneurs, artists and developers. We're aspiring chess masters and climbers, bakers and photographers. Originally spun out of Stanford and the University of Colorado, we now call the SF Bay Area home, with strong ties to Hong Kong. We are looking for teammates who share our desire to work on ambitious problems and leave the world better than we found it.

unspun is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to being a diverse team that reflects a broad range of background, thought, and experience. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, status as an individual with a disability, status as protected veteran, or any other legally protected characteristics. Women, minorities, and people from underrepresented backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

This is an onsite role, based at our microfactory in Emeryville, CA.