Staff Motor Control Firmware Engineer

Are you passionate about advancing medical technology and making a difference in cardiac care? This is an exciting opportunity to join a pioneering team developing a groundbreaking robotic platform for transcatheter valve deployment. You will have the chance to build and refine firmware for a sophisticated 12-axis robotic system, directly contributing to life-saving innovations. Imagine working from a location near beautiful surf and redwood forests, where your expertise helps empower surgeons with unprecedented precision and control. If you’re looking for a role where your skills impact patient outcomes and you can grow alongside a visionary company, this is a perfect fit.

Our client is a leader in innovative medical device development focused on minimally invasive cardiac treatments. They are supporting the next phase of robotic-assisted procedures, and seek a talented Firmware Engineer to bring their motor control systems to life. You will play a critical role in developing and deploying embedded firmware that ensures the actuators operate smoothly, safely, and reliably, in close collaboration with electrical engineers and control teams.

Role Summary:

In this position, you will own the firmware that controls high-performance motors within a life-saving medical device. You’ll work in a hybrid environment, combining onsite collaboration in Santa Cruz, CA, with future flexibility for remote work. Your efforts will directly influence device safety, precision, and overall performance, impacting both the engineering team and, ultimately, patient outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and implementation of BLDC motor control algorithms, including FOC and commutation logic.
• Manage the development of bare-metal firmware in C for microcontrollers, ensuring deterministic real-time operation.
• Support PWM generation, Hall sensor feedback processing, and closed-loop control for precise motion.
• Build current sensing, fault detection, and safety mechanisms for reliable motor operation.
• Drive communication integration via protocols such as CAN bus for system synchronization.
• Analyze and tune motor performance, working at the bench with oscilloscopes and test equipment.
• Collaborate with hardware teams on motor driver hardware, PCB development, and sensor integration.
• Ensure robust firmware architecture, testing, and documentation to meet regulatory standards.

Experience & Requirements:

• BS/MS in Electrical or Computer Engineering or a related field.
• 8+ years’ experience developing embedded firmware, specifically for motor control systems.
• Proven track record shipping motor control solutions from development to production.
• Deep expertise in programming with C for Cortex-M microcontrollers, especially STM32.
• Strong understanding of motor control methods, including FOC, Hall sensor feedback, and control loops.
• Hands-on skills with hardware debugging tools such as oscilloscopes, JTAG, and logic analyzers.
• Excellent knowledge of communication protocols like CAN, SPI, UART.
• Ability to work across hardware and software domains, including schematics and soldering.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with industrial fieldbus protocols and motor driver ICs.
• RTOS experience (e.g., FreeRTOS).
• Familiarity with PCB schematic reading and hardware debugging.
• Knowledge of functional safety standards such as IEC 61508 or ISO 13849.

Compensation:

This role offers a base salary between $200,000 and commensurate with experience.

Apply now to be part of a growing team shaping the future of advanced cardiac interventions through innovative robotics. This is more than a job — it’s an opportunity to save lives with technology you help create.

Human Review Note: When you apply, a real person from our team will review your details and reach out. We value transparency, fairness, and meaningful human connections in everything we do.