Embedded Software Engineering Lead

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Job Type

Full-time

Description

Ship firmware that runs in the wild, not just the lab, and lead the team around you to do the same.

We are seeking an Embedded Software Engineering Lead to lead embedded software development for LineVision's remote sensor platform, a ruggedized edge device combining optical sensing and on-device camera image processing deployed on transmission lines around the world. You will be the technical anchor on a small firmware team: writing production code, mentoring engineers, and owning the systems that keep a growing fleet operating reliably in the field. If you want to build hardware that ships, survives, and scales, join us at LineVision, Built In Boston Best Places to Work!

What will you do?

Core Responsibilities and Key Performance Objectives

• Develop and maintain embedded firmware across the full stack of the remote sensing platform: a Yocto embedded Linux build on an NXP iMX8 compute module, plus a companion FreeRTOS microcontroller that manages power, solar charging, sleep/wake cycles, and cellular data transfer. You own code quality, test coverage, and production readiness across both.
• Lead a small team of embedded engineers as a player-coach: writing code alongside the team, conducting code reviews, and setting technical standards for the group
• Own the over-the-air update pipeline and fleet management tooling, delivering reliable firmware updates to devices that wake on a constrained duty cycle over private cellular networks, where a deployment window is measured in seconds and a failed update can strand a unit in the field
• Own the kernel and board-level driver layer (U-Boot, MIPI camera, HID, and custom peripheral interfaces over UART), and drive integration of the optical sensing and image processing payload, working with hardware and data teams on the compute, power, and thermal trade-offs that govern a solar-powered device
• Serve as the embedded systems point of contact for cross-functional partners in Hardware, Quality, Field Operations, and DevOps

Within the first 3 months:

• Build hands-on familiarity with the platform architecture, codebase, and Yocto build system; understand the production fleet topology and OTA infrastructure
• Identify and resolve at least one active reliability or field issue, working directly with Field Operations to diagnose and ship a fix
• Stand up a device health telemetry pipeline and a regular review cadence, capturing the fleet signals (power and charge state, connectivity, wake-cycle behavior, OTA outcomes, error rates) that form the foundation for a fleet health dashboard and, longer term, predictive and preventative maintenance.

Within the first 6 months:

• Own delivery of a defined firmware milestone tied to the RS-1 product roadmap, taking it from design through production release
• Establish or improve at least one team practice - code review standards, testing methodology, or documentation - that raises the bar for the whole team
• Deliver a working fleet health dashboard on top of that telemetry, giving the team and Field Operations a live view of device state and early warning on units trending toward failure

Within the first year:

• Lead the team through a full firmware release cycle: from feature development to manufacturing test support to OTA fleet rollout
• Build a measurable improvement in fleet reliability metrics (reduced field incidents, faster root cause resolution, or improved OTA success rates)

How to succeed in this role

Key Competencies

• Critical Thinking: Analyze embedded systems problems independently, propose solutions that hold up in production, and navigate trade-offs across power, connectivity, thermal, and compute constraints with intellectual curiosity.
• Taking Ownership: Own embedded software delivery end-to-end -- from first commit through field deployment -- and communicate progress proactively to team and cross-functional partners.
• Empowering Others: Mentor junior firmware engineers through code review, technical guidance, and shared standards; recognize others' contributions and create space for the team to grow.
• Follow Through - Execution: Deliver quality firmware on schedule, hold the team accountable to production readiness standards, and follow through on commitments to cross-functional partners.

Essential Skills

• 7+ years of production embedded software experience, with demonstrated delivery of firmware into shipping hardware products that operate in the field (not only prototype or lab environments)
• Hands-on experience with Yocto embedded Linux and FreeRTOS as core development tools
• Proven experience building or maintaining OTA update infrastructure for deployed IoT/edge device fleets
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ and Python; comfort debugging across hardware/software boundaries using JTAG, GDB, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers
• Experience leading or mentoring engineers in a small team setting, with a track record of raising team output quality

What Sets the Best Candidates Apart

• Deep experience with power-managed sleep/wake architectures, where a multi-processor device must duty-cycle aggressively to survive on solar, and where firmware reliability directly determines field uptime
• Familiarity with multi-band, multi-carrier cellular connectivity (LTE/LTE-M) and remote device management for distributed field fleets operating over encrypted tunnels
• Track record of supporting manufacturing test development and production validation alongside firmware delivery
• Prior experience at a hardware-focused startup where engineers owned the full arc from design to deployment to sustained field support

Reporting & Team Structure

• Reports to the CTO; leads a small team of firmware engineers as a player-coach IC.
• Collaborates closely with Hardware Systems, Quality, Field Operations, DevOps, and Data teams.

Interview Process

• Apply Online.

• Round 1: Phone screen (Recruiter)

• Round 2: Hiring Manager Interview

• Round 3: Panel Interviews

• Panel 1: Technical competency & experience

• Panel 2: Teamwork, culture fit, and communication

• Final Round: Leadership Team & Hiring Manager Sign-Off

What does joining LineVision mean for you?

• Impact. Your talent, time, and energy will critically impact our success in accelerating our mission of providing utilities with grid intelligence to enable affordable, reliable power.
• Ownership. You will hold broad responsibilities with high autonomy and trust in a communicative, collaborative, and fast-paced environment.
• Flexibility. You will be empowered to maintain work-life balance with trust-based PTO and a flexible work schedule.
• Real World Innovation. You will join a motivated and high-performing team working with cutting edge, patented technology to help solve key obstacles to meet the demands of an AI-powered future.

Who we are…

LineVision is a grid-enhancing technology company enabling electric utilities to deliver affordable, reliable power and accelerate the electrification of the global economy. Our grid intelligence platform delivers the most accurate, network-wide dynamic line ratings and enables safer, more reliable grid operations with a combination of optical sensors and advanced environmental modeling. LineVision's global customer base includes eight of the ten largest US utilities, including National Grid, Southern Company, and Exelon.

We are LineVisionaries:

• We are Innovators: We light the way with tenacious creativity and do good work.
• We are Empowered: With high trust and high autonomy, the floor is yours, and the opportunity is ours.
• We are Welcoming: Come as you are, our doors are open. We are better together.
• We are Trusted Partners: We elevate our customer champions through shared thought leadership. We deliver on commitments.
• We are All In: We are building a community of passionate individuals who want to dent the universe.

At LineVision there's no such thing as a ''perfect'' candidate. We are looking for exceptional people who want to make a positive impact through their work and facilitate an organization where everyone can thrive. So whatever background you bring with you, please apply if this role would make you excited to come to work every day.

Meet our team, and understand our mission: https://www.linevisioninc.com/about-us

Salary Description

$145,000-165,000