Senior Firmware Engineer

About RBR

Since 1973, RBR has been designing and manufacturing oceanographic instruments in Ottawa, Ontario to measure our blue planet. The effects of climate change are being seen from the ocean’s abyss to the polar ice caps and our sensors quantify this change to support better analysis, improved planning, and more effective mitigation strategies. Our instruments measure water parameters in some of the harshest environments on the planet! They are mounted on underwater drones, dropped out of planes, and sent to the bottom of the ocean – sometimes for years at a time – all in an effort to get precise and accurate data to support climate research! We have been fortunate to be able to partner with some of the world's leaders in the field of ocean science, like Fisheries and Oceans Canada, The Scripps Institution of Oceanography, The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, The Norwegian Polar Institute, and The British Antarctic Survey, just to name a few!

At RBR, our people care about the environment, our community, their work, and - of course - each other! We value curiosity, experimentation, and doing the right thing, and while we do some serious work to support world-changing science, we don’t take ourselves too seriously – we like to let our hair down and cut loose too!

About the role

As a Senior Firmware Engineer at RBR, you'll have the exciting opportunity to collaborate with an awesome group of R&D gurus in the areas of firmware, electronics, mechanical, software, systems, sensor engineering, as well as oceanography at the forefront of oceanographic sensors and systems development. We are seeking a dynamic problem solver who can work independently, take responsibility, and deliver high-quality software. As a key member of a small team of technical experts, you must be dedicated, an effective communicator, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

What you'll do

• Define and support the design and development of embedded firmware applications
• Implement and adhere to software development methodologies
• Implement and maintain software versioning and revision control
• Analyze trade-offs in system design to meet conflicting requirements
• Take ownership and drive execution end to end while maintaining schedule compliance
• Stay up to date on industry developments in software engineering technologies, processes, and disciplines
• Translate design specifications into system designs and implementations, actively participate in design and code reviews
• Contribute your expertise to overall software design architecture and feature design
• Collaborate with hardware and software teams to translate requirements into working designs
• Participate in the conceptual development of new products and projects as the technical interface between the R&D team and OEM/Systems customers

What you bring

• A Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or an equivalent field
• Preferred 8+ years of experience in firmware development, with proficiency in the following areas:
• Software development in both C++ and C
• Software Architecture
• Troubleshooting and debugging using JTAG tools, IDE, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes
• Knowledge of protocols such as RS232, SPI, I2C, I3C, USB and Bluetooth
• Experience with embedded systems test methodologies, continuous integration, and quality management principles
• Experience with low-power microcontrollers, STM32/ARM preferred
• Proficiency with Embedded Operating Systems (RTOS, eg. Zephyr) and Linux
• The ability to read, comprehend, and annotate electronic schematics, including digital, mixed-signal, and analog devices
• Knowledge of signal-processing algorithms is a plus
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational abilities and the capacity to work both independently and as part of a team
• Adaptability to work in an interrupt-driven environment, managing multiple projects and shifting priorities
• Experience working in an Agile development process and familiarity with Jira/Confluence tools

Current perks at RBR

🌴 20 days of vacation, plus a company-wide holiday shutdown and paid sick days

⏰ Flexible working hours & work from wherever Wednesdays (most roles eligible)

🩺 Benefits from day 1 & RRSP contribution matching

💰 Company-wide bonus program

🏋🏽 Annual fitness reimbursement program

🚴 Greener commuting incentive program (bike-to-work, carpool, or transit passes)

🚗 EV reimbursement program + on-site charging stations

💝 Charitable donation matching

🌮 Monthly Friday lunches (on us)!

At RBR, we celebrate and support diversity in our workplace, we are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We seek to recruit the best and most talented people for the job. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.