Firmware Engineer, Systems

Job Description

Job Description

The Mission

At GRAM, we believe the next great leap for humanity will be physical, not digital. What AGI is to bits, Self-Replication (SR) is to atoms. As an SR research and deployment company, our mission is to make humanity galactic by enabling physical exponential growth. To achieve this, we are conducting foundational research across general-purpose robotics, artificial intelligence, biology, and materials science to enable SR within our lifetimes.

Our first step is to challenge the consensus that robots should look like us. We believe true progress comes from optimizing for function over form. We are creating a new embodiment for intelligence, designed from first principles to build the future physical economy, on and off-world.

The Role

At GRAM, we are not integrating off-the-shelf components; we are building a novel physical being from the ground up. This role is for the engineers who build the machine itself : the bones, muscles, and nerves of our Insectoid robot. You will be responsible for inventing the core hardware that pushes the boundaries of performance and efficiency, creating a system that is greater than the sum of its parts.

This is a unique opportunity to solve fundamental challenges in mechatronics, power density, and biomechanics for a completely new robotic morphology. You will work at the intersection of mechanical design, electronics, and firmware to bring our vision to life, creating the physical foundation upon which all of our advanced AI will run.

Key Responsibilities :

Develop robust, real-time firmware in C / C++ for the microcontrollers at the heart of our robotic system.

Write low-level drivers for a variety of peripherals, including sensors (IMUs, encoders), actuators (motors), and communication buses (SPI, I2C, CAN, EtherCAT).

Implement and optimize high-frequency motor control loops and other time-critical processes within a real-time operating system (RTOS).

Develop and maintain bootloaders, over-the-air (OTA) update mechanisms, and diagnostic tools for the embedded systems.

Work hand-in-hand with the electrical engineering team to bring up new PCBs and debug complex hardware / software integration issues.

About You

You are a first-principles thinker who is energized by solving problems that have no playbook. You are drawn to ambitious, long-term missions and want to build technology that fundamentally changes our physical capabilities. You thrive in a high-agency environment where you are given the ownership and resources to tackle core challenges.

Basic Qualifications :

MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with 3+ years of experience in embedded firmware development.

Expert proficiency in C and C++ for resource-constrained embedded systems.

Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS), such as FreeRTOS.

A strong understanding of microcontroller architectures, memory maps, and peripherals.

Experience with hardware debugging at the bench with tools like oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG / SWD debuggers.

Preferred Qualifications :

Experience developing safety-critical firmware for robotic systems.

Deep expertise in developing high-performance firmware for BLDC motor control.

Knowledge of and experience with various communication protocols used in robotics (CAN, EtherCAT, etc.).

A proven track record of shipping reliable firmware for a complex hardware product that has been deployed in the real world.

Location

This is an on-site role at our research lab in El Segundo, California. We offer significant relocation assistance for exceptional candidates.

Interview Process

After submitting your application, we review your portfolio and any exceptional work you've shipped. If your application demonstrates the caliber we seek, you'll enter our interview process, which is designed for speed and substance. We aim to complete it within one week from start to finish.

Compensation

Your total compensation reflects both the significance of early-stage equity and competitive market rates. The following is the general framework for all roles at GRAM.

• Company-Wide Base Salary Range : $75,000 - $300,000 USD, calibrated to your impact potential
• Equity : Substantial ownership stake befitting founding team members
• Benefits : Health, dental, and vision coverage; all meals are paid for; relocation assistance

GRAM is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate solely on capability and drive.

Why Join?

We are an early, focused team of scientists and engineers building the system that builds itself. GRAM is funded by leading investors and long-term visionaries. We operate without bureaucracy. Ownership and leadership flow to those who demonstrate exceptional capability, and every team member works directly on our core technology. We are based in El Segundo, the heart of America's industrial future, focused on solving one of the most important problems of our time.