Principal Embedded Engineer About the Role An exciting start-up disrupting the consumer hardware industry is building a new category of AI-native devices. Firmware sits at the core of their products, and they are looking for a Principal Embedded Engineer to help build the embedded platform that will power every device they create. In this role, you will work at the very beginning of the product development lifecycle - from early breadboard prototypes through to globally shipped consumer products. You'll help enable rapid hardware experimentation while architecting production-grade firmware designed to scale. They value engineers who enjoy building things, experimenting with side projects, and who have a strong instinct for great product experiences. Responsibilities Own the Firmware Platform - Architect and implement the core firmware layer underpinning every device, balancing flexibility for rapid prototyping with long-term production reliability. Lead Prototype Bring-Up - Stabilise early hardware prototypes and develop firmware that enables fast iteration across sensing, interaction and connectivity. Ship Connected Consumer Devices - Develop secure provisioning, Wi-Fi/BLE connectivity, encrypted cloud communication and device management capabilities for globally deployed products. Integrate Multi-Modal Sensing - Build robust pipelines for microphones (I2S audio), gesture or proximity sensors and camera modules, managing acquisition, buffering, latency and power constraints. Design for Scale & Longevity - Implement OTA update systems, rollback strategies, version control and diagnostics to support large fleets of devices in the field. Bridge Hardware & Software - Collaborate closely with hardware engineers, designers and backend teams to ensure firmware supports the intended product experience. Set the Embedded Standard - Define firmware architecture, tooling, CI workflows, testing practices and documentation that future embedded engineers can build upon. What They’re Looking For Production Firmware Experience (ESP32 / RTOS) - Strong experience developing production firmware in C/C++ on ESP32-class microcontrollers using ESP-IDF or similar environments. Connected Consumer Hardware - Experience shipping connected hardware products into real consumer environments, with knowledge of provisioning, security, OTA updates and post-launch support. End-to-End Lifecycle Ownership - Comfortable working across the full product lifecycle - from early prototyping through certification, manufacturing and long-term maintenance. Sensor & Audio Integration - Experience integrating microphones, cameras and other sensors, including driver development and real-world performance tuning. Hardware Debugging Skills - Confident reading schematics, debugging hardware with oscilloscopes or logic analysers and diagnosing cross-layer issues. Systems Thinking - Ability to design firmware with a holistic view - managing memory, latency, concurrency, power consumption and failure scenarios. AI-Augmented Development - Experience using AI-assisted development tools as part of the engineering workflow and an interest in building developer-friendly platforms. Collaborative Approach - Comfortable working cross-functionally with engineers, designers and product teams to translate product ideas into working hardware. Curious Builder - Enjoys tinkering, building side projects and exploring new technologies. Benefits £60,000 - £80,000 depending on experience 30 days annual leave including public holidays Pension scheme Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loans Hybrid working (in-office culture with flexibility & wfh Fridays) Supportive and collaborative team environment