Firmware Engineer Contractor

Job description

Overview About MistyWest MistyWest is a hardware engineering consultancy that exists to create novel technologies that enable a healthier planet and bring prosperity to all humankind, with a focus primarily on hardware projects that advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We are hiring a Firmware Engineer (Contractor) to support an embedded product build. You will help develop core firmware features, including device sensing, power management, connectivity, and reliable system reporting.

Requirements

- Key Responsibilities

- Develop and maintain firmware for connected embedded devices, coordinating across multiple boards or modules as needed

- Implement reliable sensor handling and event-driven state logic

- Support wireless connectivity features, including provisioning/setup workflows and basic network health reporting

- Ensure secure communications and define retry, buffering, and recovery behaviors when connectivity is unavailable

- Deliver periodic device state reporting and time-sensitive event notifications aligned to service targets

- Optimize low-power operation through effective sleep/wake strategies and battery-aware behaviors

- Partner with hardware, mechanical, and software/cloud teams to support integration, troubleshooting, and validation

- Create and execute test plans for key functional and integration scenarios

- Produce clear documentation, including firmware design notes, configuration details, and test evidence for acceptance readiness

- Must-Have Qualifications

- 5+ years of embedded firmware experience

- Strong C/C++ experience for microcontrollers and/or embedded systems

- Experience with low-power, battery-operated products and power budgeting

- Hands-on experience with: GPIO, ADC, interrupts, timers, debouncing

- Experience implementing secure connectivity: Wi-Fi provisioning patterns (AP mode, captive portal, BLE assist, or similar)

- Strong software practices: Git, code reviews, clean architecture, testable firmware patterns

- Nice-to-Have

- RTOS experience (Zephyr, FreeRTOS, or similar)

- Experience with Wi-Fi positioning or location inference workflows

- Familiarity with regulatory-minded development (FCC/UL), and privacy/security standards

- Experience bringing products through integration testing and production readiness

- Python scripting for test automation or tooling

Benefits Benefits

- Highly flexible: negotiate your own rates, hours and work location.

- Hardware & Software Access: MistyWest can provide equipment and software support where needed

- Try us out! Find out if MistyWest would be a good permanent employer for your needs and career direction

- Amazing Community: plug into a great local and global community of engineers and product design enthusiasts for events, projects, potential work & personal development.