Firmware & Controls Engineer

About:

Pipedream Labs is on a mission to scale hyperlogistics this decade. We run autonomous robots through pipes buried underground to help remove emissions, congestion, and cost out of the current logistics system. We’re literally building from the ground up, and need fiercely independent thinkers and doers to help make the dream a reality.


Our goal is to make delivery so fast and effortless that almost anything you need can be delivered in single digit minutes or less. To do this, we need to bring in the best talent in the world and provide them the tools & support they’ll need to do the best work of their careers. While we have extremely high hiring standards, a candidate’s past projects, drive, and humility supersedes their degree(s), and their experience. Some of our first hires were previous founders who sold their respective companies, and some of them were still in college.


Values:

  • Be human

  • Be a good partner

  • Lead with passion

  • Stay curious

  • Simplify and execute


In this role you’ll be responsible for:


  • Leading Embedded Firmware development activities in C/C++ for robot control, communications, and operational safety.

  • Supporting and modifying existing firmware, or developing new firmware for power electronics and motor drive applications.

  • Supporting internal and external software architecture and operation design reviews.

  • Performing hands-on work encompassing debugging, troubleshooting, and testing of existing and new firmware.

  • Developing test plans, performing validation tests and ensuring compliance to specification.

  • Developing and implementing firmware lifecycle control process and documentation.

  • Providing timely software support for both in-house testing and customer field service support.

  • Working closely with the hardware and controls teams to architect, implement, test and deploy safety critical software on next generation products as well as existing systems.


A successful individual will have:


  • BSc or MSc in EE with 3 years of industry experience.

  • Strong background of at least 3 years in C/C++ firmware development for power electronics and motor drive applications.

  • Proven track record of writing, maintaining, monitoring, and updating embedded software that supports thousands of deployed units.

  • Written low level device drivers (ADC, PWM, Timers, GPIO, SPI, SCI, UART, CAN, etc.).

  • Written and debugged ROS/ROS2 drivers that operate with soft-real time constraints in a Linux environment.

  • Familiarity with Modbus, SPI, RS485 and CAN Bus J1939.

  • Familiarity with STM32

  • Ability to use and set up test equipment such as oscilloscopes, data loggers / analyzers, software development tools, CANalyzer.

  • Proven track record of software requirements management.

  • Familiarity with software revision control such as Git or SVN.

  • Familiarity with fundamentals of power electronics and electric machines.

  • Skills in classical and advanced control system theory, including modeling, simulation, stability analysis, control loop shaping, signaling, and processing.

A bonus for the candidate would be to have:

  • Safety Compliance Experience: Ensuring firmware and software design adhere to UL safety standard requirements for software in programmable components, aiming for reliable and secure operation of power electronic and motor drive systems.

  • Hands-on experience of Field Oriented Control and control system design (bonus points for deep VESC / ODrive experience).

  • Hands-on experience with ros2_control, Nav2 software development paradigms.

  • Fundamental knowledge of digital, analog and power electronic circuits.


Benefits:


At Pipedream we ask a lot of our employees, which is why we are willing to curate a work environment that respects your work-life balance needs and ultimately takes care of you on all ends. In addition to your competitive salary & medical/dental/vision/lifestyle plan, we’ll flood you with perks, including:

  • Schedule flexibility: you choose your hours, WFH as-needed

  • 4 weeks of PTO (mandatory), plus holidays

  • Stock Option Plan

  • Family Leave (maternity & paternity)

  • Our office is dog-friendly, located 10-mins away from Downtown Austin