Firmware Manager
Job description
Agility’s commercially deployed humanoids operate alongside teams in warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers—tackling physically demanding and repetitive tasks while enabling workers to focus on higher-value work. With industry-leading safety standards and years of proven deployment data, we're pioneering a new era of automation that enhances human potential.
About The Role
The firmware team at Agility develops low-level embedded software for controls and sensors throughout our robots. The Firmware Engineering Manager leads this team of high performing engineers to plan robot firmware architecture, design subsystems, and develop robust and reliable firmware for our full line of robots. In this role, you will collaborate with cross functional teams to understand the unique requirements for our products and play a key role in ensuring that we have robot designs that are robust and production-ready. Your team will facilitate the bridge between hardware and higher level robot control algorithms, to test systems, and to other stakeholders by documenting interfaces and providing support to other engineers.
About The Work
- Build and lead a team of senior embedded software engineers.
- Champion the existing team's talent and represent their needs to senior leadership.
- Mentor engineers and foster technical rigor and ownership.
- Manage performance cycles, create individualized development plans.
- Contribute to the C++ firmware architecture that drives our robot’s low-level sensor network, controls, and power management systems
- Work with cross-disciplinary teams to solve complex problems involving the integration of software and hardware in robot systems.
- Review code, manage sprint planning, plan releases, prioritize workloads.
About You
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
- 10+ years experience in robotics, autonomous vehicles, aerospace, industrial automation, or similar high-complexity software and systems environments
- 2+ years experience leading and managing engineering teams.
- Proven ability to build and lead high-performing engineering teams while establishing scalable processes and operational rigor.
- Expertise in best practices for writing performant and maintainable software
- Effective communicator capable of influencing technical and executive stakeholders and driving alignment across software and hardware development teams.
- Ability to incorporate and use AI tools to enhance productivity and efficiency.
- Experience writing modern C++ (17, 20)
- Experience using FreeRTOS or similar
- Ability to balance technical depth with strategic leadership in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
- Familiarity with standard agile and software development processes (issue tracking tools (Jira), feature branching, version control (Git), continuous integration and deployment.
- Experience with unit testing such as with GTest and coverage analysis
- Authorization to work in the USA
Location
- This is a hybrid position based out of our Fremont, CA office. Candidates should anticipate regular travel to Salem, OR, averaging ~15% with bursts of extended stays during critical project phases.
The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to: job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Agility Robotics is a multi-state employer and this salary range may not reflect positions who work in other locations. These ranges may be modified in the future.
Anticipated Base Salary Range$198,000—$257,000 USDIn addition to base pay, our competitive total rewards package consists of the following for full-time employees:
- 401(k) Plan: Includes a 6% company match.
- Equity: Company stock options.
- Insurance Coverage: 100% company-paid medical, dental, vision, and short/long-term disability insurance for employees.
- Benefit Start Date: Eligible for benefits on your first day of employment.
- Well-Being Support: Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Time Off:
- Exempt Employees: Flexible, unlimited PTO and 12 company holidays, including a winter shutdown.
- Non-Exempt Employees: 10 vacation days, paid sick leave, and 12 company holidays, including a winter shutdown, annually.
- On-Site
Perks
Catered lunches four times a week and a variety of healthy snacks and refreshments at our Salem and Pittsburgh locations. - Parental Leave: Generous paid parental leave programs.
- Work Environment: A culture that supports flexible work arrangements.
- Growth Opportunities: Professional development and tuition reimbursement programs.
- Relocation Assistance: Provided for eligible roles.
- Annual Discretionary Bonus: Provided for eligible roles.
All of our roles are U.S.-based. Applicants must have current authorization to work in the United States.
Agility Robotics is committed to a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Each individual has the right to work in a professional atmosphere that promotes equal employment opportunities and prohibits unlawful discriminatory practices, including harassment. Therefore, it is the policy of Agility Robotics to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Agility Robotics prohibits any such discrimination or harassment.
Agility Robotics does not accept unsolicited referrals from third-party recruiting agencies. We prioritize direct applicants and encourage all qualified candidates to apply directly through our careers page. If you are represented by a third party, your application may not be considered. To ensure full consideration, please apply directly.
Skills mentioned

Agility Robotics embarked on its journey in 2015, spinning out of Oregon State University's esteemed Dynamic Robotics Laboratory. This venture was the culmination of years of pioneering research led by co-founder Jonathan Hurst, who, alongside Damion Shelton and Mikhail Jones, envisioned a future where robots could seamlessly integrate into human environments. The lab's foundational work in dynamic stability and bipedal locomotion laid the critical groundwork for Agility's innovative creations. Their first robot, Cassie, a bipedal platform without an upper body, was introduced in 2016 and quickly gained recognition in the research community, even setting a Guinness World Record for the 100-meter dash by a bipedal robot. This early success paved the way for the development of Digit, a full-size humanoid robot launched in 2017. Digit was a significant leap forward, equipped with a torso, arms, and a comprehensive perception system, making it suitable for a broader range of applications in academic and research settings. The evolution of Digit continued as Agility Robotics explored practical, real-world applications. A notable early collaboration involved Ford Motor Company, where Digit was tested for last-mile delivery solutions, working in tandem with autonomous vehicles. Recognizing the immense potential in the logistics and warehouse sectors, Agility further refined Digit's capabilities, focusing on bulk material handling tasks. The current iteration of Digit, unveiled in 2023, represents a sophisticated humanoid designed for work. This launch coincided with the announcement of RoboFab, Agility's dedicated humanoid robotics factory in Salem, Oregon, signaling a commitment to large-scale production. Strategic partnerships with industry giants like Amazon and GXO Logistics soon followed, deploying Digit in fulfillment and distribution centers to tackle repetitive tasks. These collaborations underscore Agility's mission to build robot partners that augment the human workforce, allowing humans to focus on more complex and fulfilling endeavors. With a strong emphasis on safety and a cloud-based automation platform called Agility Arc for fleet management, Agility Robotics is at the forefront of commercializing humanoid robots, aiming to make them a commonplace and beneficial presence in various industries.
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