Embedded Systems Engineer, Autonomous Vehicles

About the Role

FieldAI is seeking an Embedded Systems Engineer for its Federal Team to support the design, implementation, integration, and deployment of wheeled robotic platforms. This role involves contributing to the architecture, configuration, and validation of compute systems that form the backbone of robotic platforms, spanning low-level firmware, Linux-based configuration, and system performance analysis.

Key Responsibilities

• Compute System Design
• Architect and configure embedded compute platforms (ARM/x86, SBCs) for robotic applications, including evaluation, testing, and selection.
• Set up and customize Linux environments (Ubuntu, Yocto, JetPack), middleware (ROS), and I/O interfaces.
• Integrate compute systems with sensing and robotic systems.
• Analyze thermal, power, and bandwidth constraints to meet deployment and runtime requirements.
• Compute System Implementation
• Bring up sensors and peripherals using a range of protocols (USB, Ethernet, GMSL, I²C, SPI, CAN).
• Build and maintain drivers, ROS nodes, and data acquisition pipelines for new hardware components.
• Create configuration files, launch scripts, and firmware update workflows.
• Conduct system-level tests such as thermal profiling, latency measurement, and power draw analysis.
• Maintain flashing procedures, I/O maps, and debug kits.
• Manage compute and I/O budgets.
• Compute System Production & Servicing
• Procure compute hardware with vendors.
• Develop QA checks for incoming units.
• Support payload integration and scaling.
• Support root-cause analysis for boot, connectivity, and throughput issues.
• Implement watchdogs, health checks, and other evaluation tools.
• Monitor compute system performance across CPU, GPU, memory, I/O, and networking.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Embedded Systems: Experience with embedded platforms (Jetson, Raspberry Pi, x86 NUCs, custom SBCs).
• Linux: Proficiency with Linux system configuration, scripting, and headless deployment tools.
• Firmware: Strong skills in firmware development for microcontrollers, including bare-metal and RTOS environments.
• Programming: Proficient in C++ and Python for embedded and application-level development.
• Communication Protocols: Experience with USB, Ethernet, I²C, SPI, CAN, GMSL, and similar interfaces.
• ROS Ecosystem: Familiarity with ROS, device drivers, TF, and data streaming/publishing.
• Debugging: Comfort with hardware/software debugging tools (oscilloscopes, logs, power monitors, analyzers).
• Systems Thinking: Ability to diagnose and optimize across compute, thermal, timing, and I/O layers.
• U.S. Person Eligibility: Required for the Federal Team (U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee).

Qualifications

• Education: B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

What Will Set You Apart

• Experience taking systems from prototype to large-scale production.
• Experience developing systems for harsh field environments.
• Experience working on robotics deployed in real-world settings such as autonomous vehicles, drones, or ruggedized robots.
• Fluency across software, electrical, and mechanical systems.
• Knowledge of autonomy stacks used in robotics and how compute performance impacts autonomy algorithms.

This is a fully onsite role at FieldAI's Mission Viejo, CA office.

Compensation range: $70,000 - $300,000, based on experience and qualifications.