Firmware Engineer at Neuralink
Fremont, California, United States

Company Description:

We are creating the future of brain-computer interfaces: building devices now that have the potential to help people with paralysis regain mobility and independence and invent new technologies that could expand our abilities, our community, and our world.

Team Description:

At Neuralink, we’re engineering the future of automated surgeries, focusing on the safe and effective implantation of our groundbreaking Neuralink implant. Our team — a cross-functional mix of roboticists, engineers from various disciplines, and medical professionals — collaborates on developing a surgical flow from first principles. In this critical role, you’ll straddle the cutting-edge worlds of robotics, software, and neuroscience.

Job Description and Responsibilities:

This is a new and foundational role for our team that will allow you to create new embedded systems from scratch while challenging and refining the old. As a Firmware Engineer, your responsibilities will encompass:

• Developing and optimizing embedded software for robotic surgery applications
• Streamlining our codebase by refining and, when necessary, retiring legacy embedded software
• Rigorous testing and validation of software systems to meet the highest safety and reliability standards
• Participating in peer code reviews
• Writing drivers and applications to extend the functionality of our robotics
• Specifying hardware and software choices as we develop future hardware platforms
• Sharing your findings and progress with the team in a collaborative environment

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated track record of success in a science or engineering field, evidenced by outstanding projects, innovations, or advanced problem-solving
• Proven experience in software development, preferably with exposure to embedded systems

Preferred Qualifications:

Embedded Software Development:

• 2+ years of experience with embedded systems
• Proficient with common communication protocols (SPI, UART, I2C, etc.)
• Comfortable/working knowledge of more advanced protocols such as PCIe, MIPI CSI/DSI, USB, and 802.3
• Proficient in at least one embedded language such as C, C++, or Rust
• Proficient with embedded toolchains and workflow
• Experience building and bringing-up MCUs or FPGAs
• Experience with embedded stacks for ARM cores
• Experience developing on embedded Linux platforms
• Experience with embedded Linux kernel configuration and device tree setup
• Experience with kernel driver development
• Experience with ARM bootloaders
• Experience coding drivers for actuators and sensors
• Experience with high speed data acquisition and processing 

Electrical Engineering:

• Foundational understanding of MCU architectures and peripheral integration
• Solid knowledge in electrical engineering and DSP
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics and datasheets, along with proficiency in using lab equipment

Pay Transparency:

Based on California law, the following details are for California individuals only:

California base salary range:

$116,000—$235,000 USD

For Full-Time Employees, your compensation package will include two major components: salary and equity. Guidance on salary for this role will be determined according to the level at which you enter the organization, with the ability to gain more over time as you contribute. In addition, Full-Time Employees are eligible for the following benefits listed below.

What We Offer:

• An opportunity to change the world and work with some of the smartest and most talented experts from different fields
• Growth potential; we rapidly advance team members who have an outsized impact
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance through a PPO plan
• Paid holidays
• Commuter benefits
• Meals provided
• Equity + 401(k) plan *Temporary Employees & Interns excluded
• Parental leave *Temporary Employees & Interns excluded
• Flexible time off *Temporary Employees & Interns excluded

Multiple studies have found that a higher percentage of women and BIPOC candidates won’t apply if they don’t meet every listed qualification. Neuralink values candidates of all backgrounds. If you find yourself excited by our mission but you don’t check every box in the description, we encourage you to apply anyway!
Neuralink provides equal opportunity in all of our employment practices to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital status, military status, genetic information or any other category protected by federal, state and local laws. This policy applies to all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, compensation, promotion, transfer, disciplinary action, layoff, return from layoff, training and social, and recreational programs. All such employment decisions will be made without unlawfully discriminating on any prohibited basis.

If you need a reasonable accommodation at any point in the interview process, please let us know. Reasonable accommodations are modifications or adjustments to the application or hiring process that would enable you to fully participate in those processes. Examples of reasonable accommodations include but are not limited to:

• Documents in alternate formats or read aloud to you
• Having interviews in an accessible location
• Being accompanied by a service dog
• Having a sign language interpreter present for the interview