Senior Engineer, Embedded Software/Firmware-CA

About Synchron

Synchron’s vision is to build non-surgical brain–computer interfaces at global scale that protect the fundamental human rights of freedom of expression and autonomy. Our first mission is to develop motor decoders that restore the ability of 15 million people with paralysis to interact with the digital world. Our second mission is to develop whole-brain cognitive decoders that enable hundreds of millions of people with cognitive decline to preserve and expand their agency as cognition changes over time. In pursuing these goals, we aim not only to help humans flourish, but also to drive fundamental discoveries in human intelligence. Our team operates at the intersection of healthcare and technology, translating breakthrough research into real-world, safety-critical systems.

Senior Engineer, Embedded Software / Firmware
 Implantable Neuroelectronics Team
Location: On-Site – San Diego, CA
Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Role

We are seeking a principal embedded software engineer to assume technical ownership of firmware and system architecture for our implantable neuroelectronics platform. This individual will serve as the engineering authority for the Implantable Recording & Transmission Unit (IRTU), with end-to-end accountability across neural acquisition, power management, wireless telemetry, safety architecture, and real-time embedded performance.
 
 This is a hands-on role with visibility across the organization. The successful candidate must be capable of debugging low-level firmware directly while defining architectural direction required to scale toward pivotal trial and commercialization.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Ownership

• Define and own firmware architecture across implantable and external neuroelectronic systems
 • Architect deterministic, low-latency neural acquisition pipelines under strict power and thermal constraints
 • Lead hardware–software co-design across analog front end, analog to digital conversion, ASIC, RF communication, and battery subsystems
 • Design and validate safe boot, watchdog, fault-handling, and firmware update mechanisms suitable for implantable devices
 • Establish system-level performance budgets (power, latency, memory, RF throughput)

System Integrity & Reliability

• Maintain end-to-end accountability for the neural signal chain from electrode interface through digital command output
 • Lead structured root-cause analysis across electrical, firmware, RF, and mechanical domains
 • Define verification and validation strategies for safety-critical firmware
 • Identify and prioritize technical risks ahead of pivotal trial milestones

Regulatory & Design Controls

• Serve as firmware technical lead within design controls framework (IEC 62304, ISO 13485, 21 CFR 820)
 • Ensure traceability between system requirements, firmware architecture, and verification evidence
 • Partner with Regulatory and Quality to support audit readiness and pivotal trial submissions

Team & Infrastructure Development

• Help to build and mentor a high-performance embedded engineering team
 • Establish coding standards, CI/CD pipelines, version control discipline, and automated testing infrastructure
 • Eliminate single-point-of-failure technical knowledge risk across the platform

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience in electrical/computer engineering, computer science or related technical field
 • 5 years of embedded systems experience
 • Expertise in low-power microcontrollers and real-time systems
 • Strong C/C & python firmware development experience
 • Experience with wireless telemetry (BLE or custom RF systems)
 • Demonstrated ownership of complex hardware–software systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Implantable medical device experience
 • Neural recording, stimulation, or bioelectronic medicine background
 • ASIC integration experience
 • Long-lived battery-powered system design
 • Experience in regulated or safety-critical environments (medical device, aerospace, or equivalent)

Compensation

The base salary range for this role is $140,000 – $160,000 depending on experience, skills, and qualifications.

In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or equity grants, subject to board approval and company policy.

Visa Sponsorship 

We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position at this time.

Benefits (for W-2, full-time, exempt employees in the US only) ***Intern positions not eligible

• Subsidized medical and dental insurance coverage for you and your dependent(s) 
• Life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability 
• 401k 
• Discretionary unlimited PTO 
• Flexible Spending Account for you and your dependent(s), with eligible plan elections
• Commuter benefits for NY employees

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) 

Synchron is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. 

If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please let us know. 

Join Us

At Synchron, you will be part of a transformative mission and you will work alongside driven people who believe in the power of collaboration and innovation to make a lasting impact. If you are excited to stretch your skills and contribute to something meaningful, apply and now and build the future with us.