What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Firmware Engineer, Opengear (Sandy, UT - Hybrid) position at Digi International Companies?
Opengear keeps networks running smoothly with our Network Resilience Platform. Leveraging our Smart Out of Band solution and automation capabilities, users gain unparalleled presence and proximity to devices. By providing an independent management plane, the Network Resilience Platform ensures secure remote access, enabling connectivity from anywhere. This allows for the effortless deployment, management, and remediation of networks—on the First Day, Worst Day, and Every Day. It's why over 75% of Fortune 500 companies trust us for their networks, whether on- or off-premises or in the cloud. Opengear is a global company with offices in Brisbane, Australia and Sandy, Utah.
Locations: Sandy, UT (Hybrid, three days per week).
This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and experienced Sr Firmware Engineer with a passion for continuous improvement, who is eager to lead and mentor a team of engineers and ensure that our company's DevOps practices are world-class. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of software development and deployment processes, experience in managing large-scale, highly available systems, and expertise in automating and streamlining development, testing, and deployment workflows.
- Bring up new hardware platforms from scratch — from bootloader porting through to a bootable Linux system with validated peripherals.
- Develop, port, and maintain bootloaders (U-Boot, Coreboot, or equivalent) including device tree authoring, flash layout design, and boot chain configuration.
- Build and maintain Yocto/BitBake BSP layers — machine configurations, kernel recipes, device driver recipes, and rootfs image definitions.
- Configure, patch, and debug Linux kernels for embedded platforms — including device tree, driver enablement, and kernel module development.
- Write and maintain Linux device drivers and platform drivers for custom hardware (serial controllers, network switches, SPI/I2C devices, LEDs, sensors, TPM).
- Develop embedded firmware in Rust for platform tools and bootloader components.
- Create and maintain manufacturing self-test software to validate hardware during production.
- Implement and maintain secure boot chains including TPM integration, boot signing, and firmware verification.
- Collaborate closely with hardware, systems, and manufacturing teams on PCB bring-up, schematic review, and hardware validation.
- Participate in design reviews, code reviews, and contribute to technical documentation.
- 5 years of hands-on experience in embedded Linux firmware development — specifically at the kernel, BSP, and bootloader level (not application-level Linux).
- Strong C programming skills applied at the bootloader and kernel level (U-Boot patches, kernel driver modifications, Coreboot, bare-metal). Production experience with U-Boot or equivalent bootloader — porting to new platforms, device tree authoring, flash layout, boot chain bring-up.
- Production experience with Yocto Project / BitBake / OpenEmbedded — writing recipes, managing BSP layers, machine configurations, cross-compilation.
- Hands-on Linux kernel work — kernel configuration, device tree authoring and modification, enabling/patching drivers, udev rules.
- Experience with ARM SoC platforms (e.g., Marvell Armada, NXP i.MX, Xilinx Zynq, TI Sitara).
- Board bring-up experience — taking a new PCB from first power-on through to a booting Linux system.
- Familiarity with hardware interfaces: PCIe, SPI, I2C, UART, USB, network switches (DSA), SFP modules.
- Experience with hardware debugging tools — serial console, JTAG, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers.
- Proficiency with Git version control and CI/CD systems.
- Strong C programming skills applied at the bootloader and kernel level (U-Boot patches, kernel driver modifications, Coreboot, bare-metal).
- BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience.
- Rust programming experience — particularly applied to embedded or systems-level problems (professional, open source, or substantial personal projects).
- FPGA development experience — VHDL or Verilog gateware design, simulation (GHDL, ModelSim), synthesis tools (Xilinx Vivado, Quartus).
- Develop and maintain FPGA gateware (VHDL) for serial port multiplexing and peripheral interfaces, including simulation and test.
- Develop and maintain CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins) for automated firmware builds, tests, and release management.
- Linux device driver development — writing or significantly modifying character, platform, or network drivers.
- TPM and secure boot experience — PCR measurement, provisioning, boot signing, Intel BootGuard or ARM TrustZone/TF-A.
- Embedded Controller (EC) or auxiliary microcontroller firmware development.
- Experience with Coreboot or other x86 firmware (UEFI/BIOS alternative).
- Manufacturing test software development — hardware self-tests, production validation.
- Jenkins pipeline development or equivalent CI/CD automation experience.
- Python scripting for build tools, test automation, or hardware validation.
Nice to Have:
- Familiarity with cellular modem integration (ModemManager, QMI, AT commands).
- Familiarity with RAUC or similar OTA update frameworks.
- Contribution to open-source bootloader or kernel projects.
- Experience working with contract manufacturers and production test environments.
- Experience with network switch configuration (DSA framework, switchdev).
*Please note that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. This includes, but is not limited to, work visas, employment-based visas, or residency sponsorship. Candidates must have valid work authorization in the United States at the time of application. Visa applications of any kind will not be considered.
Digi International offers a distinctive Total Rewards package including a short-term incentive program, new hire stock award, paid parental leave, open (uncapped) PTO, and hybrid work environment in addition to our competitive medical, health & wellbeing and compensation offerings.
The anticipated base pay range for this position is $95,000– $149,000. Pay ranges are determined by role, job level and primary job location. The range displayed reflects the reasonable range we anticipate paying for this position and reflects the cost of labor within several U.S. geographic markets. The specific salary offered within the range will depend on various factors including, but not limited to the candidate’s relevant and prior experience, education, skills, and primary work location. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each position. Pay ranges are typically reviewed and updated annually.
At Digi, we embrace diversity and inclusion among our teammates. It is critical to our success as a global company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. We are committed to providing an environment of respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates.
Salary : $95,000 - $149,000