Firmware Engineer

About us: iconic brand, tiny company.

Polaroid was founded in 1937 by one of the most seminal innovators of the 20th century, Edwin Land. His motto was, “don't undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible.” In 2008, Polaroid shuttered its last factory, but a group of diehard fans came together as The Impossible Project to save instant film. Over 10 years later that startup acquired what was left of Polaroid and today we’re again a small group of people passionate about changing the world through great products.

Job Summary

Responsible for the firmware architecture, system integration, and technical ownership of Polaroid’s next-generation instant camera platform, combining digital image capture technologies with analog instant film printing systems.

You will collaborate closely with Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Product Management, external firmware vendors, and development partners to ensure reliable firmware performance, seamless hardware-software integration, and successful product delivery.

This role plays a key part throughout the full product development lifecycle, from system definition and vendor management to debugging, validation, and long-term firmware capability building within the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and drive firmware system architecture, control flow, timing behavior, and state-machine design across imaging, exposure, UI, and system control modules.

• Own system-level integration between firmware, electrical, and mechanical subsystems to ensure reliable product performance.

• Act as the primary technical interface with external firmware vendors (ODM/JDM), defining requirements, specifications, validation criteria, and deliverables.

• Review vendor implementations, analyze firmware behavior, troubleshoot system issues, and validate functionality, including situations without direct source-code access.

• Perform system bring-up, debugging, testing, and validation across embedded hardware and firmware platforms.

• Analyze timing-critical functions such as exposure control, display operation, motor control, and user interface interactions using tools including UART, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.

• Develop and maintain technical documentation covering firmware architecture, interfaces, system behavior, and integration requirements.

• Build internal firmware knowledge and support the transition toward greater in-house firmware ownership and technical capability.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, external partners, and stakeholders throughout development while communicating technical decisions, risks, and project status.

• Support future platform development through UI/control logic contributions, calibration tool development, and next-generation firmware architecture planning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Embedded Systems, or a related field.

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in embedded firmware development for consumer electronics, preferably with imaging, camera, or digital imaging products.

• Strong proficiency in C/C++ firmware development on MCU, embedded SoC, RTOS, or embedded Linux platforms.

• Solid understanding of embedded system architecture, electronics fundamentals, and hardware-software system integration.

• Experience with common embedded communication interfaces, including UART, SPI, I²C, USB, GPIO, storage systems, and display interfaces.

• Hands-on experience using debugging and validation tools such as UART, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers for system bring-up and troubleshooting.

• Familiarity with camera systems, imaging pipelines, image processing concepts, ISP, JPEG, sensors, and image quality validation.

• Ability to interpret electronic component datasheets, register maps, configuration settings, and timing or electrical requirements for sensors, PMICs, MCUs, and SoCs.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and documentation skills, with the ability to work effectively in international cross-functional teams.

• Passion for photography and a strong interest in combining digital imaging technologies with analog instant film systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with external development partners, ODMs, JDMs, or contract manufacturers.

• Background in consumer electronics, camera systems, imaging products, or related industries.

• Experience with camera sensors, ISP integration, AE/AWB/AF tuning, image quality optimization, and imaging pipelines.

• Knowledge of real-time, timing-sensitive, or electromechanical control systems involving motors, exposure mechanisms, and power management.

• Experience supporting sensor bring-up, register-level configuration, calibration processes, and validation activities.

• Familiarity with display systems, user interfaces, and application-level firmware development.

• Experience with image storage, file systems, flash memory, SD card integration, and data management.

• Knowledge of connectivity technologies such as USB, Bluetooth, or wireless communication protocols.

• Experience contributing to full-system architecture, firmware platform development, and long-term product roadmap planning.

• Demonstrated ability to bridge hardware, firmware, and system-level development throughout the product lifecycle.

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