Senior Firmware Engineer

Helion

The Role

Overview

Develop firmware for embedded control and diagnostics in fusion power machines.

Key Responsibilities

  • performance optimization
  • toolchain improvement
  • board bringup
  • rapid prototyping
  • firmware development
  • protocol implementation

Tasks

-Optimize performance, reliability, and timing synchronization across distributed embedded systems. -Contribute to continuous improvement of embedded toolchains, build systems, and test automation. -Bring up new boards, sensors, and actuators — debugging with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG interfaces. -Rapidly prototype novel control and measurement concepts to support new machine architectures. -Work closely with hardware and software engineers to translate system requirements into embedded designs. -Design and refine embedded command interfaces, configuration utilities, and automated test frameworks. -Develop, test, and maintain firmware for real-time embedded systems used in machine control and diagnostics. -Collaborate across disciplines to ensure firmware integrates seamlessly with high-level software and data systems. -Implement and maintain low-level communication protocols (UART, SPI, I²C, CAN, EtherCAT, etc.).

Requirements

  • python
  • rtos
  • bs electrical
  • git
  • linux
  • 8+ years

What You Bring

-Scripting experience in Python for automation, hardware bring-up, or testing. -Experience with real-time MCU development (bare metal or RTOS-based). -BS or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science. -Strong understanding of digital communication protocols (UART, SPI, I²C). -Experience with version control systems (Git). -Experience developing and debugging on Linux-based systems. -Solid grasp of embedded systems fundamentals: power, timing, data, and memory budgets. -Familiarity with mixed-signal circuit design and debugging using oscilloscopes, DMMs, and logic analyzers. -8+ years of experience developing embedded systems in C, C++, and/or Rust.

Benefits

-Short term disability, long term disability, and life insurance -Annual wellness stipend -10 Paid holidays, plus company-wide winter break -Medical, Dental, and Vision plans for employees and their families -31 Days of PTO (21 vacation days and 10 sick days) -Paid parental leave and support (up to 16 weeks) -Up to 5% employer 401(k) match

The Company

About Helion

-Pursues a bold vision: taming the power of stars on Earth through fusion energy. -Develops magneto-inertial fusion technology, merging plasma at extreme speeds and capturing energy directly. -Pioneers in aneutronic fusion, recycling byproducts to generate helium-3, a sustainable fuel source. -Shifts from lab-scale to industrial-scale fusion with the Polaris device, supported by legal agreements. -Aims for rapid iteration with reactor designs capable of one pulse per second, enabling modular fusion systems.

Sector Specialisms

Energy

Nuclear/Fusion