Topcon Positioning Group is headquartered in Livermore, California, USA (topconpositioning.com). We design, manufacture and distribute productivity tools for developing a brighter future. Whether cultivating the earth or building upon it, Topcon brings innovation in workflow automation and seamless connectivity of data to construction, geopositioning and agriculture industries focused on developing a sustainable tomorrow.
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Job Purpose:
The Senior Firmware Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, testing, and modernizing embedded software and firmware for GNSS receiver products and related systems. The role focuses on developing reliable, scalable, and high-performance C/C++ software, including embedded Linux system services, networking components, and interfaces with hardware and operating system resources. Working closely with software, algorithm, hardware, and systems engineering teams, the Senior Firmware Engineer contributes to architecture, implementation, integration, testing, and continuous improvement of embedded solutions. Operating with a high degree of independence, the role resolves complex technical issues, contributes to technical decisions and engineering standards, and may provide technical direction to other team members.
Firmware Design & Development
- Design, develop, test, and maintain embedded software and firmware components for GNSS receiver products.
- Develop reliable and high-performance C/C++ software, including Linux system services, networking components, and interfaces with operating system and hardware resources.
- Refactor and modernize legacy code into modular, maintainable, and testable architectures.
- Translate technical and algorithmic requirements into robust software implementations.
System Integration & Performance
- Integrate firmware with hardware, operating systems, GNSS technologies, and correction services such as RTK, PPP, and CSSR.
- Optimize resource utilization, runtime performance, scalability, and reliability across hardware targets.
- Collaborate with hardware and algorithm teams to support new product development and system integration.
- Diagnose and resolve complex system, software, and integration issues.
Testing, Debugging & Quality
- Develop and use advanced debugging, simulation, and diagnostic tools to identify and resolve complex technical issues.
- Conduct testing and debugging, including field testing and support for deployed products.
- Participate in code reviews, architectural reviews, automated testing, and documentation to ensure high engineering quality.
Engineering Practices & Continuous Improvement
- Contribute to CI/CD workflows, version control, code quality, and automated development and testing practices.
- Recommend and implement improvements to software development processes, architecture, maintainability, and engineering standards.
- Apply appropriate software development methodologies and practices throughout the development lifecycle.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Technical Leadership
- Collaborate effectively with Software, Hardware, Algorithms, Systems, QA, and other engineering disciplines.
- Provide technical guidance and work direction to other engineers as appropriate.
- Communicate technical risks, dependencies, trade-offs, and recommendations to relevant stakeholders.
Minimum Requirements for Job:
Education & Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
Technical & Professional Requirements
- 5+ years of professional experience in embedded software or firmware development, with strong C/C++ (including modern C++ standards) and CMake expertise.
- Strong experience with embedded Linux, Linux architecture, system APIs, networking, kernel interaction, multithreading, and real-time operating systems.
- Proven ability to design and develop modular, reliable, maintainable, testable, and high-performance embedded software.
- Experience with hardware/software integration, debugging, performance optimization, legacy code modernization, and software architecture.
- Experience with version control, CI/CD, automated testing, code quality, and development tools; Python knowledge for scripting, automation, and testing.
- Experience with GNSS technologies and correction services (RTK, PPP, CSSR) is highly desirable.
- Ability to work effectively within international and cross-disciplinary engineering teams, with intermediate or higher English proficiency.
Strategic Competencies
- Complex Problem Solving & Analytical Thinking – analyzes complex firmware, system, and integration issues and develops effective technical solutions.
- Collaboration & Communication – works effectively across software, hardware, algorithm, and other engineering disciplines in international environments.
- Quality & Continuous Improvement – promotes high engineering standards, maintainability, reliability, and continuous improvement.
- Adaptability & Learning Agility – effectively works with evolving technologies, architectures, products, and development practices. Technical Leadership & Influence – provides technical guidance and influences engineering decisions without relying on formal authority.
- Technical Decision-Making – evaluates technical alternatives, risks, and trade-offs and determines appropriate solutions for complex assignments.
- Cross-Functional Leadership – coordinates effectively across engineering disciplines to resolve dependencies and achieve product objectives.
- Accountability & Ownership – takes ownership of complex firmware components and drives issues through analysis, implementation, testing, and resolution.
Topcon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information, or other legally protected status.