Firmware Engineer

Who we are Helsing is a defence AI company. Our mission is to protect our democracies. We aim to achieve technological leadership, so that open societies can continue to make sovereign decisions and control their ethical standards.   As democracies, we believe we have a special responsibility to be thoughtful about the development and deployment of powerful technologies like AI. We take this responsibility seriously.   We are an ambitious and committed team of engineers, AI specialists and customer-facing programme managers.  We are looking for mission-driven people to join our European teams – and apply their skills to solve the most complex and impactful problems. We embrace an open and transparent culture that welcomes healthy debates on the use of technology in defence, its benefits, and its ethical implications.   The role We are looking for an experienced and passionate firmware engineer with a hands-on and problem-solving mindset to join us at our office in Barcelona. You will work on solving real challenges in a fast-paced environment, working closely with a multidisciplinary team of electrical, controls, and higher-level software engineers to build reliable, observable, and debuggable robotics systems. You will operate at the boundary between hardware and software, with a strong electrical engineering mindset, helping to architect the future of robotics through best-in-class, modern software engineering practices. This is an individual contributor role. You will be the main owner of the firmware across our robotics platforms — from concept through implementation, validation, and long-term maintenance. It is not a management position, and we're looking for someone who thrives working autonomously and taking end-to-end technical ownership, while collaborating closely with the wider hardware and software teams. Day-to-day Design, implement, and maintain embedded firmware for real-time systems: control, sensing, and system monitoring Own the full firmware lifecycle: architecture, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance Debug complex system-level issues where the root cause may span software, firmware, hardware, or component behavior Use hardware debugging tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and DMMs to diagnose timing, signaling, and electrical issues Act as the technical bridge between hardware and software, collaborating closely with EEs, controls, motion planning, and systems engineers Advise leadership on firmware-related technical decisions and strategy Drive technical decision making and implementation through hands-on and technically deep work Ownership Areas Control systems, including power Stages and Motor control, embedded communications, system health monitoring/logging, and hardware bring-up. Tech Stack MCUs: TI c28x MCUs Languages: C / C++ Supporting Systems: Linux host OS, NodeJS / TypeScript, Docker Tooling: GitHub Actions, CI/CD Protocols:  CANOpenFD, BISSC, SSI, UART, I2C.  You should apply if you Have ≥ 5 years of experience developing embedded firmware for real-time systems Have a BSc in Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent (MSc preferred) Are proficient in C/C++ for embedded targets, with a strong grasp of MCU internals, peripherals, and real-time constraints Are comfortable using hardware debugging tools (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, DMMs) and reading schematics Are able to work fully independently, owning firmware from concept to validation Are proficient in both English & Spanish Join Helsing and work with world-leading experts in their fields   Helsing’s work is important. You’ll be directly contributing to the protection of democratic countries while balancing both ethical and geopolitical concerns The work is unique. We operate in a domain that has highly unusual technical requirements and constraints, and where robustness, safety, and ethical considerations are vital. You will face unique Engineering and AI challenges that make a meaningful impact in the world Our work frequently takes us right up to the state of the art in technical innovation, be it reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, or deployment infrastructure. The defence industry is entering the most exciting phase of the technological development curve. Advances in our field of world are not incremental: Helsing is part of, and often leading, historic leaps forward In our domain, success is a matter of order-of-magnitude improvements and novel capabilities. This means we take bets, aim high, and focus on big opportunities. Despite being a relatively young company, Helsing has already been selected for multiple significant government contracts We actively encourage healthy, proactive, and diverse debate internally about what we do and how we choose to do it. Teams and individual engineers are trusted (and encouraged) to practise responsible autonomy and critical thinking, and to focus on outcomes, not conformity. At Helsing you will have a say in how we (and you!) work, the opportunity to engage on what does and doesn’t work, and to take ownership of aspects of our culture that you care deeply about What we offer Competitive salary and VSOP options Relocation support : up to €2,500 and 4 weeks temporary accommodation Learning : €500/£450 yearly allowance Health & wellness : gym membership and mental health support (Nilo.health) Social : regular company events and monthly social allowances Enhanced parental leave : 22 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers & 6 weeks for secondary caregivers Family support: 5 days of paid family emergency leave, 100% remote work option during pregnancy and phased return to work A hands-on onboarding program (affectionately labelled “Infraduction”), in which you will be building tooling and applications to be used across the company. This is your opportunity to learn our tech stack, explore the company, and learn how we get things done - all whilst working with other engineering teams from day one     Helsing is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.   Helsing's Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found here .     

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