Embedded Firmware / Software Engineer – USB-C Power Delivery | On-site Opportunity | Bellevue, WA | Fastwater Staffing

Responsibilities

TBD — based on skills and experience

• Embedded Firmware / Software Engineer – USB-C Power Delivery to bring up new hardware platforms built around USB-C Power Delivery controllers and develop firmware from initial PCB power-on through production-quality implementation.
• This is a low-level embedded firmware engineering role focused on hardware interaction, not application-level software development. You will develop and debug embedded C firmware on ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers, configure companion ICs over I2C, SPI, and UART, and work directly at the hardware bench alongside electrical and hardware engineers.
• The ideal candidate can move comfortably between embedded C development, PCB bring-up, USB-PD functionality, peripheral communication, and hardware-level debugging.

PCB Bring-Up & Hardware Validation

• Bring up new printed circuit boards (PCBs) from initial power-on through functional firmware.
• Validate power rails, clocks, and hardware interfaces during board bring-up.
• Connect and configure SWD/JTAG debuggers.
• Enable and validate microcontroller peripherals.
• Work closely with hardware engineers to isolate hardware versus firmware issues.
• Support development from initial prototype bring-up through production-quality firmware.

Embedded Firmware Development

• Develop and debug embedded C firmware on ARM Cortex-M-class microcontrollers.
• Implement register-level peripheral programming.
• Configure and communicate with companion ICs over I2C, SPI, UART, and other peripheral interfaces.
• Work within memory-constrained environments, accounting for flash and RAM limitations.
• Analyze datasheets, register tables, and schematics to configure and troubleshoot hardware.
• Document firmware configurations, implementation decisions, and design considerations.
• USB-C & Power Delivery Implementation
• Implement and debug USB-C and USB-PD functionality, including:
• Source and sink roles
• Dual-role power (DRP)
• Power-contract negotiation

Fault handling and recovery

• Validate USB-PD behavior and troubleshoot power-delivery issues.
• Support the implementation and verification of reliable USB-C Power Delivery functionality.
• Work with hardware engineers to resolve issues involving USB-PD controllers and associated circuitry.
• Hardware Debugging & Testing
• Debug firmware and hardware directly at the bench using:
• Oscilloscopes
• Logic and protocol analyzers
• Digital multimeters
• SWD/JTAG debuggers

UART logging

• Investigate hardware and firmware issues using schematics, register maps, and measurement results.
• Validate peripheral communication and hardware functionality.
• Support troubleshooting throughout development and testing.

Documentation & Engineering Collaboration

• Maintain clear documentation of firmware configurations and design decisions.
• Collaborate closely with hardware and electrical engineering teams.
• Communicate debugging findings and support root-cause investigations.
• Use Git for source control and firmware development workflows.
• Contribute to firmware quality and production readiness.
• USB hubs
• DisplayPort Alt Mode
• Redrivers
• Retimers

Requirements

• U.S. Person — U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder)
• Must be able to work on-site in Bellevue, WA, 3 days per week
• Strong hands-on experience developing

embedded C firmware

• for 32-bit ARM Cortex-M or similar microcontrollers.
• Experience with register-level peripheral programming.
• Hands-on PCB and firmware bring-up experience.

USB-C / USB Power Delivery (USB-PD)

• Experience communicating with companion ICs through I2C, SPI, and/or UART.
• Proficiency with bench-level debugging equipment, including oscilloscopes, logic/protocol analyzers, multimeters, SWD/JTAG debuggers, and UART logging.
• Ability to work from datasheets, register tables, and schematics.
• Proficiency with Git.
• We’re looking for an engineer who is genuinely comfortable working at the hardware bench and has personally brought up and debugged embedded hardware.
• The ideal candidate can explain how they powered on a new board, validated power and clocks, initialized the microcontroller, configured peripherals, debugged hardware and firmware issues, and verified USB-C Power Delivery behavior.
• Embedded C + ARM Cortex-M + PCB Bring-Up + USB-C/USB-PD + I2C/SPI/UART + Bench Debugging
• Candidates whose experience is limited to application-level software development, without hands-on firmware and hardware bring-up experience, may not be a fit.
• Strong proficiency in
• embedded C
• Experience developing firmware on
• 32-bit ARM Cortex-M or similar microcontrollers

Interrupts

• Working knowledge of USB-C and USB Power Delivery.
• Ability to read and work from datasheets, register maps, and schematics.
• Proficiency with Git.
• Strong troubleshooting and hardware/firmware debugging skills.
• Ability to collaborate closely with hardware and electrical engineering teams.
• Experience creating or customizing a Board Support Package (BSP).
• Experience with firmware bootloaders and update mechanisms, including DFU or equivalent.
• VBUS control
• Over-voltage protection (OVP)
• Under-voltage protection (UVP)
• Over-current protection (OCP)
• Fault detection and recovery
• Enable and soft-start sequencing
• Billboard devices
• Experience taking embedded products from prototype hardware through production.

Preferred

• Register-level peripheral programming
• Memory-constrained embedded development

Flash and RAM limitations

• Understanding of USB-PD source, sink, and dual-role power (DRP) configurations.
• Understanding of USB-PD power-contract negotiation and fault handling.
• Hands-on experience with hardware and PCB bring-up.
• Experience communicating with and configuring companion ICs through I2C, SPI, UART, or similar interfaces.
• Experience using oscilloscopes, logic/protocol analyzers, multimeters, SWD/JTAG debuggers, and UART logging.
• Experience with Infineon or Cypress MCU SDKs/IDEs and associated middleware.
• ModusToolbox, STM32Cube, or similar development environments

Experience with power-path or regulator firmware, including

• Infineon EZ-PD / PMG1 or Cypress CCGx USB-PD controllers
• Experience with ModusToolbox.
• Experience implementing continuous integration (CI) for embedded firmware builds.
• Familiarity with USB-IF Power Delivery compliance requirements and USB-C specifications.

Location

Bellevue, WA

Employment Type

6-Month W-2 Contract | Potential for Full-Time Conversion

Work Arrangement

Hybrid — 3 Days/Week On-Site

Schedule

Monday–Friday