Embedded Systems Engineer (Washington, D.C.)
hoplynk
Hoplynk is a pre-seed startup focused on developing a communications and networking layer for autonomous systems. The Embedded Systems Engineer will be a founding engineer responsible for building and maintaining a Rust-based embedded firmware stack, working closely with networking and systems teams to ensure reliable connectivity in critical environments.
Qualification
- Deep experience in embedded Linux firmware and system software development.
- Strong proficiency in Rust with a solid understanding of low-level concepts and safety-critical systems.
- Experience with Yocto or Buildroot, U-Boot, secure or verified boot, and device tree configuration.
- Proven experience designing and maintaining OTA and firmware update systems.
- Ability to debug hardware-software issues with tools such as JTAG, serial consoles, and analyzers.
- Familiarity with production testing, bring-up, and hardware verification workflows.
- Clear communication and documentation habits, with a practical mindset for shipping reliable systems.
Responsibility
- Own the architecture and implementation of the Rust-based embedded firmware stack.
- Set up and maintain build systems using Yocto or Buildroot for multiple SoMs and platforms.
- Design and implement reliable OTA updates with A/B partitions, signatures, and rollback.
- Build firmware observability tools including structured logs, metrics, and diagnostics.
- Bring up new hardware: bootloader setup, device trees, kernel configuration, and board support.
- Develop and optimize low-level Rust drivers for networking, wireless, and I/O interfaces.
- Build firmware CI and testing systems including hardware-in-loop and automated flashing.
- Define release engineering and field reliability processes for real deployments.
