Director of Embedded Systems

Director of Embedded Systems

Austin, TX (On-site | Flexible Hours)

About the Role

We’re looking for a Director of Embedded Systems to lead embedded and firmware development for a growing robotics and machinery engineering team in Austin.

This is a hands-on leadership role focused on building reliable, real-world systems that ship and perform in the field. You’ll own embedded architecture, work closely with hardware teams, guide engineers through technical challenges, and scale the embedded function as the company grows.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the embedded and firmware engineering team
• Own embedded system architecture and technical direction
• Work directly with hardware and mechanical teams on integration
• Review firmware, RTOS design, and system-level decisions
• Mentor engineers and support team growth
• Identify technical risks and resolve system issues early
• Oversee testing, validation, and deployment of embedded systems
• Support hiring and scaling the embedded team
• Partner with leadership on roadmap and engineering priorities
• Occasional hands on if necessary

Requirements

• 10–15+ years of embedded or firmware engineering experience
• 5+ years in technical leadership or team leadership
• Strong C/C++ embedded development experience
• Strong experience with RTOS (FreeRTOS, VxWorks, Zephyr, or similar)
• Experience with ARM, microcontrollers, or embedded Linux
• Experience working with hardware-integrated systems
• Experience delivering real-world systems from development to deployment
• Comfortable working in smaller startup teams
• Strong communication and leadership skills

Nice to Have

• Robotics or autonomous systems experience
• Defense, aerospace, or industrial machinery background
• Sensor integration or control systems experience
• Startup experience
• Experience building or scaling embedded teams

What You’ll Get

• Competitive salary + bonus
• Equity
• Full benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401k)
• Flexible on-site schedule in Austin
• Small engineering team with real ownership
• Opportunity to build and lead the embedded function