Staff Firmware Engineer

Title Staff Firmware Engineer

Department R&D

Location Niwot, CO (Hybrid)

About Us

Established in 1972, Particle Measuring Systems is a global leader for micro-contamination monitoring equipment improving the performance of clean manufactures in the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries. We’re a growing technology company in Niwot, Colorado, the heart of the Rocky Mountains. We offer an exceptional and rewarding work environment in a great place to live. Our employees enjoy challenging projects in the development and manufacture of light scattering particle counters and diverse technologies and applications.

Your Impact

We are looking for a Staff Firmware Engineer who will contribute to the success of the R&D Team, applying their expertise in firmware engineering to support the achievement of team and company goals and deliver innovative, reliable solutions. In this role, the successful candidate will collaborate effectively with colleagues and cross-functional teams, demonstrate strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, and maintain a commitment to professional excellence, quality and continuous improvement.

The Role

As a Staff Firmware Engineer, you will serve as a senior technical contributor within R&D, developing embedded firmware for Particle Measuring Systems’ advanced instruments across the full product lifecycle. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to translate requirements into robust, scalable, and secure firmware solutions, while providing technical leadership through architecture, design reviews, mentorship, and continuous improvement of development processes and tools. This role requires strong problem-solving skills, clear technical communication, and a commitment to quality, reliability, and engineering excellence.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead and/or participate in an Agile Scrum team, completing firmware work items in areas including communications interfaces, GUI interfaces and particle counting code.

• Drive requirements discovery and decision-making, partnering with internal and external stakeholders to capture, clarify, and prioritize business, customer, and technical needs; develop design and engineering reference documentation.

• Manage, interpret, refine, and prioritize complex user stories in the backlog; interfacing with the team and with management stakeholders to understand customer needs and technical needs and to discover and implement appropriate resolutions of items.

• Architect complex reusable solutions using object-oriented design in C++ or Rust.

• Continuously improve firmware development processes and tools, identifying gaps, proposing solutions, and driving adoption to increase quality and efficiency across the team.

• Provide expert technical leadership for firmware team, mentoring engineers through structured feedback, design reviews, training, and hands-on collaboration.

• Serve as a cross-functional technical leader, proactively interfacing across engineering, marketing, manufacturing and service to ensure firmware solutions meet product requirements.

• This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Responsibilities may evolve over time, and other related duties may be assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the company.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or Computer Science.

• Ten or more years of embedded firmware development experience.

• Ten or more years of experience as a technical lead or similar.

• Experience serving as Scrum Master or Product Owner in an Agile environment.

• Experience gathering and authoring requirements.

• Demonstrated track record of process and tool improvement within an engineering environment.

• Strong C++ or Rust programming language skills.

• Object-oriented design skills.

• Development experience with Embedded Linux at Application level.

• Experience implementing software version control and bug tracking systems.

• Ability to read and understand schematic diagrams.

• Experience in cyber security.

• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop engineers.

• Excellent communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Scrum Master or Product Owner.

• C programming language experience.

• Expertise in Git, Jira, DevSuite, Jama, or similar.

• Strong experience with QT, Linux Kernel and driver development.

• ARM-based SoC firmware design.

• Experience with TCP/IP, WiFi and Bluetooth protocol development.

• AI and ML algorithm selection and application.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• This role primarily operates in an office/lab/manufacturing environment.

• Must be able to sit, stand, and use a computer for extended periods of time.

• This is a hybrid position, “in-office” approximately 50% of the time.

• Occasional lifting of up to 20 lbs. may be required.

• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary range: $150000 - 165000

• Our compensation philosophy: we offer competitive pay based on market data, including local, national, and industry benchmarks. For new hires, offers are generally within the established min- to mid-point of the range for the role, with flexibility to recognize experience, skills, and education. Our approach ensures fair pay internally while remaining competitive externally and allows room for growth.

• Comprehensive benefits package:

• Health coverage: medical, dental, vision, fsa, onsite clinic (CO employees), life insurance

• 401(k) retirement plan with company match

• Vacation, holiday, and leave policies

• Tuition reimbursement, Employee recognition programs, Employee assistance programs

Particle Measuring Systems is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to building an inclusive and supportive workplace where everyone can thrive.