What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Embedded SWE - Powering Autonomous Vehicles position at WIT Recruiting?
Lead Embedded Software Engineer, LiDAR Firmware (Onsite, San Francisco)
Help build the embedded systems behind next generation digital LiDAR. This role is for an engineering leader who can think at the architecture level, dive into low level firmware, and ship reliable software that powers real world sensing products used in autonomy, robotics, drones, industrial automation, mapping, and research.
The company builds high performance LiDAR sensors and perception tools for engineers and roboticists. The technology has reimagined LiDAR from complex, component heavy analog designs into modern, highly integrated digital hardware, combining chip scale laser arrays with CMOS sensing. The result is a full family of high resolution sensors with strong imaging performance at a dramatically more accessible cost.
What You’ll Do
This is a rare chance to lead the embedded direction of a modern digital LiDAR platform and build systems that operate at the intersection of hardware, real time performance, and production reliability. You will be shaping the firmware that enables high resolution perception in machines that move through the world, from autonomous vehicles to robotics platforms deployed in the field.
Location
This is an onsite role based in San Francisco, California.
About WIT Recruiting
WIT Recruiting provides services for contract staffing, permanent placement, dedicated recruitment (RPO), and customized recruiting events.
Empowering Teams, Elevating Talent
WIT Recruiting is a Women Impact Tech vertical dedicated to building high-performing teams across all industries and talent pools. As the recruiting arm of WIT, we leverage our proven expertise in recruiting to deliver exceptional talent solutions (without the limits of traditional pipelines).
#WITRecruiting
Help build the embedded systems behind next generation digital LiDAR. This role is for an engineering leader who can think at the architecture level, dive into low level firmware, and ship reliable software that powers real world sensing products used in autonomy, robotics, drones, industrial automation, mapping, and research.
The company builds high performance LiDAR sensors and perception tools for engineers and roboticists. The technology has reimagined LiDAR from complex, component heavy analog designs into modern, highly integrated digital hardware, combining chip scale laser arrays with CMOS sensing. The result is a full family of high resolution sensors with strong imaging performance at a dramatically more accessible cost.
What You’ll Do
- Own the embedded firmware architecture for a LiDAR platform, from boot to sensor operation, diagnostics, and field updates.
- Lead a team of embedded engineers, providing technical direction, coaching, and hands on execution alongside individual contributors.
- Design and implement core modules in C and C , with Python used for tooling, testing, automation, and developer workflows.
- Drive bring up and integration across embedded SoCs, sensor subsystems, and supporting hardware.
- Partner across firmware and systems teams to align on long term technical strategy, reliability goals, and release planning.
- Build for performance and robustness, ensuring the firmware meets real time constraints and supports demanding production environments.
- Set clear schedules and execution plans, balancing fast iteration with high quality delivery.
- Embedded Linux based firmware systems for LiDAR sensors
- Low level device control and hardware abstraction layers
- High performance sensor pipelines and reliability features
- Manufacturing and production support tooling
- Bring up workflows for new SoCs and hardware revisions
- Developer friendly test, debug, and release infrastructure
- Expert level C and C , with the ability to design maintainable systems and write efficient low level code.
- Strong Python proficiency for tooling, automation, test harnesses, and developer productivity.
- Deep Linux experience, including debugging, performance tuning, and system level development.
- Proven embedded bring up experience on complex platforms, not just application level embedded work.
- Experience working with embedded SoCs and the realities of production hardware.
- Engineering leadership experience shipping robust firmware, with responsibility for technical direction and delivery.
- Clear communicator who can align stakeholders, document decisions, and lead technical discussions.
- Execution focused mindset with the ability to prioritize, set milestones, and deliver in a fast moving environment.
- Rust experience or genuine enthusiasm to adopt Rust where it improves safety and reliability.
- Security experience, including secure boot, threat modeling, or hardening embedded systems.
- RTOS development background.
- Functional safety exposure, including FuSa or ISO 26262.
- CI/CD ownership, HIL setups, test infrastructure, or automated validation pipelines.
- Networking experience, especially on embedded Linux systems.
- FPGA development or close collaboration with FPGA teams.
This is a rare chance to lead the embedded direction of a modern digital LiDAR platform and build systems that operate at the intersection of hardware, real time performance, and production reliability. You will be shaping the firmware that enables high resolution perception in machines that move through the world, from autonomous vehicles to robotics platforms deployed in the field.
Location
This is an onsite role based in San Francisco, California.
About WIT Recruiting
WIT Recruiting provides services for contract staffing, permanent placement, dedicated recruitment (RPO), and customized recruiting events.
Empowering Teams, Elevating Talent
WIT Recruiting is a Women Impact Tech vertical dedicated to building high-performing teams across all industries and talent pools. As the recruiting arm of WIT, we leverage our proven expertise in recruiting to deliver exceptional talent solutions (without the limits of traditional pipelines).
#WITRecruiting