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Senior Embedded/Firmware Engineer (with Linux)

intent
Contract type
Freelance
Work mode
Remote · Europe
Experience
Mid-level · 4+ years

Job description

Freelance Embedded/Firmware Engineer role at intent, working on client projects involving embedded Linux, bootloaders, kernel and driver development. The first three months are a freelance trial period with the possibility of joining the core team on a permanent contract.

At a glance

Employment
Freelance · Independent contractor
Work mode
Remote · Europe
Languages
English – B2
Pay
PLN 120 – 180 / hour

What you'll do

  • Design, develop, and maintain a custom embedded Linux distribution using Yocto or Buildroot
  • Bring up new hardware platforms, working closely with the hardware team to debug issues from schematics to software
  • Develop and maintain the BSP and bootloaders (e.g., U-Boot), and customize the Linux kernel, including writing and debugging drivers (e.g., I2C, SPI, UART, MIPI-CSI/DSI)
  • Write robust, efficient C/C++ code for system services and applications
  • Optimize system performance: boot time, memory usage, and power consumption
  • Implement and maintain system security features such as Secure Boot and encrypted filesystems
  • Debug firmware and hardware-adjacent issues using JTAG/SWD, serial logs, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and vendor tooling
  • Collaborate with hardware, mobile, QA, backend, product, and client-side engineering teams to solve cross-functional device problems
  • Participate in requirements discussions, technical planning, architecture decisions, estimations, and delivery planning
  • Test firmware releases, investigate issues found during development or QA, and maintain technical documentation
  • Share knowledge and contribute to better engineering practices within the Firmware & Hardware chapter

What we're looking for

  • 4+ years of professional experience in embedded or firmware development
  • Strong hands-on experience with C / C++ for embedded systems
  • Hands-on experience with embedded Linux build systems such as Yocto Project or Buildroot
  • Good understanding of the Linux kernel, device drivers, and the device tree
  • CI/CD experience for embedded projects (e.g., GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab CI)
  • Experience with bootloaders, particularly U-Boot
  • Experience with embedded constraints: timing, memory, peripherals, boot time, and power consumption
  • Ability to debug firmware and hardware-adjacent problems using practical tools: JTAG/SWD, serial logs, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes
  • Comfort reading schematics, datasheets, technical documentation, and errata
  • Familiarity with common embedded interfaces such as UART, SPI, I2C, GPIO, or similar
  • Proficiency with Bash and/or Python for automation and testing
  • Solid Git skills and comfort collaborating on GitHub: pull requests, code reviews, shared repos
  • Good command of written and spoken English, minimum B2
  • Ownership, self-reliance, and responsibility for assigned work
  • Clear communication, with engineers, PMs, QA, and clients
  • A problem-solving mindset over line-counting

Nice to have

  • Experience with different platforms (even exotic ones)
  • Embedded Linux toolchains, drivers, and user-space apps
  • Experience with microcontrollers (ARM Cortex-M) and RTOS such as FreeRTOS or Zephyr
  • Bluetooth / BLE beyond the basics: GATT design, pairing and bonding, connection parameters, throughput and power trade-offs, and secure OTA/DFU
  • Networking: TCP/IP, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and IoT protocols such as MQTT
  • Multimedia and audio: GStreamer, V4L2, ALSA, I2S, codecs, graphics acceleration
  • Security: Secure Boot, OP-TEE, TrustZone, encrypted filesystems, cryptography
  • Sensor integration (IMU, PPG, biosignals) and power profiling
  • Containerization on embedded devices (e.g., Docker)
  • A portfolio of personal projects on a GitHub or GitLab profile

Your team

Firmware & Hardware chapter

You'll be part of the Firmware & Hardware chapter for knowledge-sharing, and simultaneously on a project squad led by a PM for day-to-day delivery.

Benefits

No sugarcoating: during the freelance period there's no paid leave or medical benefits. Those come with the permanent contract, and we're transparent about that upfront

  • 120-180 PLN/h net B2B, depending on your experience
  • Truly flexible hours (most of the team works 10-18 CET, but you organize your day)
  • Fully remote (all Europe)
  • Access to our internal knowledge-sharing: tech talks, experiments, side projects

How to get hired

  1. 1HR call (~45 min, casual)
  2. 2Technical meeting (~90 min, with the technical team)
  3. 3Final feedback within a few days

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About intent

We've been designing and co-creating connected devices since 2008. Wearables, smart audio, health-tech hardware, and IoT products for clients like Oura, BOSE, Neurable, and McIntosh. We're a 60+ person, fully remote team that works at the intersection of physical and digital products.

Key facts

  • 60+ person
  • 2008
  • Warsaw, Poland
  • Fully remote team
  • Has an office in Warsaw
  • Team operates between 10:00 and 18:00 CET
  • Firmware sits in the middle of hardware, mobile, cloud, QA, and product decisions

Partners & customers

OuraBOSENeurableMcIntosh

What they value

  • Fast, honest signals
  • Problem-solving mindset over line-counting
  • Knowledge-sharing