Freelance Embedded Systems Engineer Jobs in Bothell, WA

Vale Concepts is building the next generation of robotic matcha machines: reliable, intelligent, serviceable systems that bring craft-quality beverage preparation into real-world retail environments.

We're looking for an embedded robotics engineer to help design and build the distributed embedded system that powers these machines. You'll work across firmware, real-time control, device orchestration, reliability, telemetry, and over-the-air software delivery. This is a hands-on engineering role for someone who wants to own core architecture, ship production hardware, and build systems that operate reliably in the field.

The ideal candidate has strong embedded systems fundamentals, experience with Rust on microcontrollers or constrained devices, and a track record of building reliable software for physical systems. Experience with CAN bus, OTA updates, robotics, telemetry, aerospace, automotive, industrial automation, or high-reliability hardware products is especially relevant.

We also expect every engineer on the team to embrace modern AI-assisted software development practices: using AI tools to accelerate implementation, improve code quality, explore designs, write tests, generate documentation, and raise the pace of engineering without compromising rigor.

Design and implement firmware and embedded software for a distributed robotic system spanning multiple MCUs, sensors, actuators, and control boards.

Build robust communication and orchestration layers across devices, with a strong preference for CAN bus or similar field-proven embedded networks.
Develop reliable over-the-air update systems, bootloaders, rollback mechanisms, diagnostics, and recovery flows for machines deployed in the field.
Own key parts of the runtime architecture for a robotic matcha machine, including device state management, safety handling, telemetry, fault detection, and serviceability.
Write production-quality Rust for embedded targets, with thoughtful use of C/C++ where appropriate.
Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, robotics, product, and operations teams to turn prototypes into dependable production systems.
Develop test infrastructure for embedded software, including hardware-in-the-loop testing, simulation, CI, fault injection, and long-duration reliability testing.
Use AI development tools as a normal part of your workflow to increase engineering leverage, improve code review, prototype faster, and maintain high standards.
Help define engineering practices for embedded reliability, release management, observability, and field debugging.

Strong experience building embedded systems for real-world hardware products.

Fluency in Rust, C, or C++, with a strong preference for Rust experience on MCUs, embedded Linux, or constrained devices.
Experience designing distributed systems across multiple embedded controllers, boards, or devices.
Comfort working close to hardware: reading schematics, debugging buses, using oscilloscopes or logic analyzers, and collaborating with EE teams.
Experience with at least some of: CAN bus, embedded networking, motor control, sensor integration, robotics, industrial automation, aerospace systems, automotive systems, or telemetry-heavy products.
Practical understanding of reliability engineering for deployed hardware: watchdogs, safe states, error handling, diagnostics, logging, update safety, recovery paths, and field support.
Experience with OTA update systems, bootloaders, firmware release processes, or secure software delivery.
A bias toward ownership, clear communication, and shipping durable systems rather than demos.
Enthusiasm for AI-assisted software development and a willingness to continuously improve how engineering work gets done.

Nice to have

Experience with Embassy, RTIC, Zephyr, FreeRTOS, embedded Linux, or similar embedded runtimes.
Experience with Rust embedded crates, HALs, async embedded Rust, or no-std development.
Experience with CANopen, UAVCAN/Cyphal, J1939, or custom CAN protocols.
Experience with robotics platforms, motion systems, pumps, valves, thermal systems, food automation, or mechatronics.
Experience building telemetry, observability, and diagnostics systems for fleets of deployed machines.
Experience in aerospace, drones, automotive, industrial controls, consumer hardware, or high-volume field-deployed hardware.
Prior work on safety-critical or high-reliability systems.

How we work

We are a small, ambitious team building physical systems that have to work every day in the real world. We value engineers who can move from architecture to implementation to debugging on the bench. We care about simplicity, reliability, maintainability, and fast iteration.
We also believe AI is becoming a core engineering multiplier. We expect candidates to be curious and practical about using AI tools for coding, testing, design exploration, debugging, documentation, and review while maintaining strong technical judgment.

Why join

You'll help define the embedded architecture for a new category of robotic beverage systems.
You'll work on a tangible product where software directly controls real-world motion, sensing, preparation, and reliability.
You'll have meaningful ownership from prototype through production deployment.
You'll join early enough to shape technical direction, engineering culture, and the way we build AI-accelerated hardware products.

Location

This role is **on-site in Seattle, WA**. We believe close collaboration between software, electrical, mechanical, robotics, and operations teams is essential for building great physical products.

Compensation

$118,000 - $155,000 per year

Benefits

• Company funded ORCA card
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Annual bonuses
• Joining a fun startup in Seattle