Key skills
Embedded firmware engineeringCC++ESP-IDFCMakeKconfigPartition tablesNVSOTA frameworksFreeRTOS task managementI2CSPIUARTADCGPIOMatter protocol implementationESP32 platformESP-Matter SDKConnectedhomeip stackWi-Fi transportThread (802.15.4) transportDebugging commissioning flowsProtocol-level debuggingSecure bootFlash encryptionDevice attestationReading Matter specificationsReading Thread specificationsReading 802.15.4 specificationsHardware debugging toolsJTAGSWDLogic analyzersProtocol sniffersCSA certification processZigbeeZ-WaveBLE MeshCI/CD for firmware buildsAutomated test harnessesS3CI/CDProblem Solving
About this role
Very is a fully distributed technology firm that creates efficient, scalable solutions for various clients. They are seeking a Lead Embedded Firmware Engineer to take end-to-end ownership of device firmware stack development, including schematic review and production firmware. The role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams and debugging complex interoperability issues across Matter ecosystems.
Responsibilities:
- Developing production-grade firmware for Matter-enabled devices from bring-up to certification
- Own firmware development across the full device lifecycle, including schematic review, board bring-up, driver integration, OTA updates, and certification readiness
- Participate in hardware debugging and validation using tools such as JTAG/SWD, logic analyzers, and protocol sniffers to diagnose low-level issues across firmware, hardware, and network layers
- Collaborate closely with hardware engineers and cross-functional teams to deliver production-ready devices
- Debug complex, real-world interoperability issues across Matter ecosystems (Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa), requiring deep protocol-level understanding and hands-on problem solving
Requirements:
- 10+ years professional embedded/firmware engineering in C/C++
- Significant experience with ESP-IDF — not Arduino wrappers, but real ESP-IDF work: CMake/Kconfig build system, partition tables, NVS, OTA frameworks, FreeRTOS task management, and low-level driver integration (I2C, SPI, UART, ADC, GPIO)
- Direct, demonstrable work implementing Matter on ESP32-series silicon (ESP32, ESP32-C3, ESP32-S3, or ESP32-H2) using Espressif's ESP-Matter SDK or the upstream Connectedhomeip stack
- Hands-on with at least one Matter transport at the firmware level — Wi-Fi or Thread (802.15.4)
- Experience debugging commissioning flows, interop failures, and protocol-level issues across ecosystems (Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa)
- Familiarity with secure boot, flash encryption, and device attestation in the Matter context
- Comfortable reading specs (Matter, Thread, 802.15.4) and translating them into working firmware
- Must reside in the continental US (to facilitate overnight shipping to our clients and the majority of our software team)
- Must be authorized to work in the US without sponsorship
- Can debug complex firmware and hardware interactions under real-time constraints
- Are comfortable working with incomplete specifications and ambiguous device behavior
- Take ownership of problems end-to-end, from root cause analysis through production resolution
- Communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders in a client-facing environment
- Contributions to open-source Matter or ESP-IDF repositories
- Experience taking a Matter device through CSA certification
- Background in adjacent protocols — Zigbee, Z-Wave, BLE Mesh — demonstrating breadth across the connected device landscape
- History of working in a consultancy or product development firm where they've shipped across multiple product lines, not just one internal product
- Comfort with hardware debug toolchains — JTAG/SWD, logic analyzers, protocol sniffers
- Experience standing up CI/CD for firmware builds and automated test harnesses