Firmware Engineer

Location: Ottawa, Canada (on-site) Reports to: Firmware & Systems Manager Role status: Existing role About RBR: Making waves since 1973 At RBR, we’ve been designing cutting‑edge instruments to measure our blue planet for over 50 years. Built to withstand some of the harshest environments on Earth, our instruments are deployed from the ocean’s deepest trenches to the polar ice caps, capturing essential data on water temperature, salinity, pH, and more. This data empowers researchers in the global fight against climate change, and our technology supports groundbreaking science with partners like Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Woods Hole, the Scripps Institution, and the British Antarctic Survey. At RBR, we care deeply about our work, each other, the environment, and the global communities we serve. We value teamwork, continuous improvement, and having fun along the way. From Friday lunches to social events, we’re a crew that thrives on taking on complex and exciting challenges that have a meaningful impact on the blue planet Ready to make waves with us? Apply below About the role Join our talented R&D team as a Firmware Engineer and help shape the future of oceanographic research At RBR, you'll collaborate with experts across firmware, systems, electronics, mechanical, software, and sensor engineering—all while contributing to cutting‑edge oceanographic instruments. We're looking for a versatile problem solver who takes ownership, delivers top‑notch firmware, and thrives in a fast‑paced, innovative environment. If you love learning, exploring new technologies, and creating tools that empower oceanographers worldwide, we want to hear from you What you'll do Design and develop embedded firmware applications, contributing to architecture and implementation Implement and uphold best practices in software development methodologies Implement and maintain software versioning and revision control Evaluate and balance trade-offs in system design to meet diverse requirements Take ownership of your projects from concept to deployment, ensuring they stay on schedule Translate design specifications into system designs and implementations, participating actively in design and code reviews Share your expertise to enhance software architecture and feature design Collaborate with hardware and software teams to translate requirements into working designs Contribute to the conceptual development of innovative products and projects Stay up-to-date on industry developments in software engineering technologies, processes, and disciplines What you bring A Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or an equivalent field Preferred 5+ years of firmware development experience, with strong proficiency in: Programming skills in both C and C++ Working with low‑power microcontrollers (STM32/ARM preferred) Embedded Real‑Time Operating Systems (Zephyr is a plus) Troubleshooting and debugging using JTAG tools, IDE, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes Communication protocols such as RS232, SPI, I2C, I3C, USB, and Bluetooth Embedded systems test methodologies, continuous integration, and modern git workflow principles Reading and annotating electronic schematics, including digital, mixed‑signal, and analog devices Experience with Linux terminals Experience working in an Agile development process; familiarity with Jira/Confluence tools would be an asset Strong organizational skills 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 Excellent verbal and written communication skills Nice to have Some knowledge of Bash and Python scripting Familiarity with containerized development environments Experience with Hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing Interest in, and knowledge of new and developing embedded technologies (platforms, languages) Knows which end of a soldering iron is the hot one :) Can wield a screwdriver Current perks at RBR 20 days of vacation, plus a company‑wide holiday shutdown and paid sick days