Firmware Engineer

Join Smartbox and make a meaningful impact as our newest team member!

Are you a passionate Firmware Engineer who wants to play a part in creating technology that gives a voice to those without speech? Smartbox is seeking a dedicated and talented individual like you to join our team and make a real difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

At Smartbox, we take pride in being a leading company in assistive communication technology. Our innovative products, combining specialised hardware, advanced software, and engaging content, are used by individuals with diverse needs worldwide. All around the world, our products, accomplishments and aspirations are a reflection of our teams’ values: passionate, caring, empowering, achieving together and enabling change.

We believe that everyone deserves a voice, and our inclusive culture reflects this belief. By joining Smartbox, you will become part of a team that values diversity, fosters collaboration, and supports a community of users who rely on our technology to communicate effectively.

In addition to the rewarding nature of our work, you will collaborate with talented professionals who share a common goal of pushing the boundaries of innovation while considering the environmental impact of our products and processes. We strive to develop sustainable solutions that minimise our carbon footprint and promote a greener world. By joining Smartbox, you will have the chance to shape a more inclusive society while actively contributing to our sustainability efforts. Together, let's make a difference that extends beyond communication technology and leaves a positive mark on our planet.

How will you be making a difference?

• Test software: Ensuring comprehensive automated test coverage of your code, writing automated tests, GUIs, and utility apps in languages such as Python and C#.

• Libraries and apps: Creating software libraries and demo apps in C-compatible languages such as C#, C++, or Rust to control our firmware subsystems.

• Technical strategy: Executing and collaborating on our strategy for highly reliable, mission-critical hardware and firmware.

• Validation & debugging: Implementing and improving our device test plans, debugging, and validating upcoming firmware and software.

• Quality assurance: Promptly analysing and correcting quality issues.

• Project management: Taking ownership of firmware and software projects from start to finish.

• Firmware and software development:

• Designing, developing and maintaining embedded software in C for Zephyr RTOS and Embedded Linux

• Applying best practices in embedded software architecture and testing

The successful applicant will also be asked to perform other duties on an ad-hoc basis and will need a proactive attitude to this.

Essential qualifications/skills/experience

• Degree or equivalent experience in an engineering subject (Electronics, Computer Science, Software), Physics, Mathematics, or other scientific subject.

• 4+ years of experience in software development in one or more of the following languages: C, C++, Rust.

• 4+ years of experience in embedded software development in C.

• Knowledge of Computer Science fundamentals in data structures, algorithm design, problem-solving, and complexity analysis.

• Strong grounding in embedded software architecture, with a focus on maintainability, modularity, fault-tolerance and testability.

• Confident and experienced with automated testing, including unit, integration and system tests, mocking and automation frameworks.

• An understanding of API design and the creation of clear, stable abstractions for hardware/firmware interaction.

• Skilled at debugging in constrained environments and using hardware/software debugging tools.

• A proven track record of innovation and quality software development throughout the entire software product lifecycle.

• Ability to solve complex technical problems in elegant and maintainable ways, demonstrating systems thinking across hardware, firmware and application layers.

• Experience with embedded platforms (for example: Embedded Linux, Arduino, STM32, Nordic, Zephyr RTOS).

• A passion and drive for excellence in software craftsmanship.

• Linux, Bash/shell, CI (Continuous integration) experience.

• Ability to read electronics schematics.

• A collaborative and supportive team player – contributing actively to shared goals and supporting colleagues across disciplines.

• Practical, proactive mindset - comfortable taking initiative and working through ambiguity in a fast-moving team.

Useful qualifications/skills/experience

• A passion for improving lives through assistive technology.

• Experience in high-performance applications such as game development or network.

• Experience in MISRA-C.

Additional information:

• In this role, you will have the flexibility to work between your home and our office locations in Malvern and Bristol. For this role, we require the candidate to work in the Bristol office twice a week as a minimum.

• You will gain in-depth knowledge of our products and see first-hand the impact they have on empowering people every day.

• You will have the opportunity to collaborate with teams across the business and contribute to shared goals.

Why join us?

Here at Smartbox, we are positive and inclusive about making adjustments, providing flexible working, and encouraging all staff to engage in a diverse range of year-round learning and personal development opportunities. In addition, you will work alongside highly motivated colleagues in an environment of strong teamwork, whilst also having fun. This is a hugely rewarding role and a career to be proud of, where every day you will go home knowing you made a positive difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

Rewards and benefits

At Smartbox, our employees always do their best, which is why we give so much in return. In addition to your competitive salary, private medical insurance, and whopping 25 days of holiday plus public holidays, we’ll shower you with perks, including:

Dress: We want you to feel comfortable in the office; smart casual is perfect.

Food: You can find free healthy office snacks in our kitchens.

Hybrid working: Two days a week in the office, for the rest of the week, feel free to skip the commute and hit your deadlines from home. Laptop and home working IT kit provided.

Flexible work schedule: balance is key to innovation, and we want to make sure you are at the top of your game with a schedule that will work for you (prior agreement from your line manager is required).

Give back to the community: Each year, every member of staff will get the opportunity to spend one paid day volunteering for a good cause of their choice.

You, our best asset: We believe in investing in you and your development. Stay with us and grow with us! We will reward you with more holidays for your long service!

Wellness: Stretch away the stress every morning with our online trainers, available via our cooperative perk website or hit the gym. We provide gym discounts too!

Wellbeing: You gain unlimited access to a benefit and Wellbeing app, Yulife, providing store discounts and wellbeing services.

Mental health: You will have access to the 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme for a wide range of support, advice and resources about Family, Health, Life, Money and Work.

Peace of mind: Every employee benefits from a company pension, group life assurance, and income protection.

Fun: Complimentary theatre and cinema tickets to Malvern Theatres. We organise many free social events, including team outings and get-togethers.

Eco-friendly: You can sign up for a cycle scheme (save 25%-39% on a new bike or E-bike by cycling to work), or lease an electric car through a salary sacrifice scheme after 2 years of service.

Bonus potential: We work hard, and Smartbox recognises that with a discretionary annual bonus.

Finances: Enjoy a wide variety of savings and discounts with Corporate Perks. You can save on electronics, food shopping, fashion, fitness, entertainment and all things travel.

Our commitments

At Smartbox, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment where every individual's unique background and perspective are valued and respected, but how are we doing it?

We are proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status by the UK Government’s Department of Work and Pensions. We are also the Founding Partner of Purple Tuesday. You can find out more on thinksmartbox.com.

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment practices are barrier-free and as inclusive as possible. This includes making adjustments during the job application process and throughout your future career with us. Please email [email protected] to discuss any such adjustments that we can make.

At Smartbox, it’s not about fitting into our culture – it’s about adding to it. Our diverse team brings together unique talents and inspires each other to create amazing products that reflect the diversity of our users and customers.

We’d love to hear from you

Our ever-evolving team powers the business across the world and brings the next generation of AAC solutions to life. Together we experiment, innovate and create across the full product lifecycle. And, in a collaborative and close-knit culture, we support each other to search for better. We support our community and contribute to a sustainable future for our business and the planet.

Join us as a Firmware Engineer and take our technology and your career into new territories.

Share your operational expertise and passion for making an impact within your cover letter and CV. We look forward to receiving your application.

For a full job description, please visit: https://thinksmartbox.com/join-the-team/

Agencies

Please respect that at this current time, we wish to try to recruit directly from the market rather than engage support from an agency.