Embedded Systems Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Embedded Systems Engineer
Location: San Francisco, CA (HQ)
Team: Engineering • Full‑time • Pre‑seed
About Hoplynk
Hoplynk is building the communications and networking layer for the intelligent edge, ensuring resilient connectivity for autonomous systems and mission-critical operations in any environment. We’re a pre-seed startup spun out of Stanford University and based in San Francisco developing an embedded software/firmware stack that delivers multipath, failure-aware networking across heterogeneous links so critical systems stay online when networks don’t.
The Role
You’ll be our first embedded specialist and a founding engineer. You’ll own the end-to-end firmware architecture, from boot and BSP to drivers, OTA, and diagnostics, to ship reliable systems in the field and iterate quickly.
What You’ll Do and Own
Spearhead system architecture: SoM selection and partitioning; bootloader (U-Boot); build system (Yocto/Buildroot).
Build, debug, and deploy software across diverse devices and environments.
Ship robust OTA: A/B updates with signatures, staged rollouts, and health checks; manage release channels and images.
Implement on-device observability: structured logs, metrics, trace/crash capture, and health telemetry.
Integrate testing & debug with software and hardware teams (bring-up, fixtures, pre-compliance, CI for firmware).
Develop high-performance drivers (NICs, wireless, GNSS, I/O) optimized for constrained power/thermal/memory.
Collaborate with Networking on MPTCP scheduling and QoS under device constraints.
Document clearly: designs, trade-offs, test plans, and benchmarks.
What You’ll Bring
Deep embedded Linux experience shipping hardware-backed products from EVT → DVT → PVT, owning BSP/boot, drivers, OTA, and production diagnostics (C/C++; Rust/Python a plus).
Strong with Yocto or Buildroot, U-Boot/verified (secure) boot, device tree, kernel configuration, and release engineering for constrained devices.
EE-adjacent skills: read schematics/layouts, define DFT/test-point maps, guide fixtures; understanding of power sequencing, EMI/ESD, and thermal constraints.
Clear, concise communication and documentation habits.
Nice to Have
NIC/wireless driver integration; secure elements/TPM; JTAG/SWD; low-power modes and brownout handling; pre-compliance workflows; OpenWrt experience; robotics/autonomy devices.
Tools & Tech You’ll Touch
Yocto/Buildroot · U-Boot & verified/secure boot · Linux kernel & device tree · RAUC/Mender · systemd · C/C++/Rust/Python · logs/metrics/trace pipelines · NTP/PTP · CI/CD for firmware
How We Work - Hoplynk’s Values
We believe that shared values are the foundation for success. At Hoplynk, we value:
Candor: Say the hard thing kindly, early, and with evidence. Speak up during decisions.
Humility: Strong opinions, loosely held. Change your mind with facts. Teach and learn in the open; celebrate team wins over heroics.
Initiative: Run toward the smoke. Own problems end-to-end. Ship in small, safe steps with clear, observable outcomes.
Average salary estimate
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