ELECTRICAL EMBEDDED HARDWARE & FIRMWARE ENGINEER

KAVX is seeking a highly skilled engineer with deep expertise in firmware development, embedded software, and hardware design for high-performance Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems. This role requires a strong foundation in embedded architecture, real-time systems, and signal processing, along with the ability to integrate firmware with complex hardware.

As an Electrical Embedded Hardware & Firmware Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing firmware and embedded software that directly interacts with microcontrollers, FPGAs, and precision timing components. You will work closely with systems engineers, RF designers, and hardware teams to develop next-generation high-precision timing and synchronization solutions.

We’re looking for a passionate and collaborative professional who thrives working as a team and executing New Product Introductions (NPIs), who communicate issues and risks, provide technical support, and progress to management and customers.

 

LOCATION:    ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA

REPORTS TO: ENGINEERING MANAGER

RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

  • Architect, develop, and optimize real-time embedded firmware for high-precision timing and navigation applications.
  • Design and implement low-level drivers, peripheral interfaces, and real-time control algorithms for microcontrollers and embedded processors.
  • Develop DSP algorithms for signal filtering, synchronization, and stability control in PNT systems.
  • Debug and troubleshoot firmware and hardware issues using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and network analyzers.
  • Perform root cause analysis and develop test procedures to validate firmware against system requirements.
  • Collaborate with hardware engineers to define system-level architecture, ensuring seamless integration between firmware and hardware components.
  • Analyze and implement serial communication protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C, USB, and Ethernet.
  • Develop embedded real-time operating system (RTOS) applications for deterministic task execution.
  • Evaluate and benchmark new processors, FPGAs, and timing components for next-generation designs.
  • Author firmware documentation, maintain design traceability, and participate in formal design reviews.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
  • U.S. Citizenship required for ITAR compliance.
  • Strong proficiency in embedded C, assembly, and low-level programming.
  • Experience with microcontroller architectures (ARM Cortex-M, PIC, MSP430, etc.) and embedded processor interfacing.
  • Knowledge of real-time scheduling, interrupt handling, and memory management in embedded systems.
  • Experience with timing devices, PLLs, oscillators, and frequency synthesis for precision timing applications.
  • Ability to analyze and optimize firmware performance, power consumption, and signal integrity.
  • Experience with FPGA-based system integration and hardware/firmware co-design.
  • Strong analytical skills for debugging firmware and hardware interaction issues.
  • Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, or LabVIEW for system modeling, data analysis, and test automation.
  • Understanding of hardware design principles, including PCB layout, power management, and signal integrity.

PREFERRED SKILLS:

  • Experience with VHDL/Verilog for FPGA-based processing and control logic.
  • Familiarity with Kalman filtering, sensor fusion, or other advanced signal processing techniques.
  • Experience working with high-speed serial interfaces (PCIe, USB 3.0, LVDS, JESD204).
  • Familiarity with Linux-based embedded systems and bootloader development.
  • Background in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and hardware validation techniques.

WHY JOIN KAVX?

  • Work on cutting-edge PNT technologies that push the limits of precision timing and embedded engineering.
  • Join a team of highly skilled engineers in an environment that values technical excellence and innovation.
  • Collaborate on challenging low-level firmware, hardware design, and system integration problems.
  • Develop products that directly impact mission-critical applications in aerospace, defense, and telecommunications.

If you have a passion for low-level embedded systems, firmware development, and high-performance hardware, we want to hear from you!

And if you’re the kind of engineer who gets excited about optimizing interrupt latencies and debugging firmware at 2 AM with an oscilloscope in one hand and a coffee in the other—well, welcome home.

contact person

Melissa Gibbons Human Resources Manager