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Motor Control Firmware Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Motor Control Firmware Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

... motor control chip selection and firmware requirements * Own the testing protocol to validate ... our Test Engineer to execute) * Help us precisely control a range of actuators including off-the ...

Apptronik

Firmware Engineer - Actuation

Austin, TX

JOB SUMMARY We are seeking a Firmware Engineer to help develop actuation and motor control firmware for humanoid robots. You will collaborate with our existing actuation firmware team to design ...

Apptronik

Firmware Engineer - Actuation

Austin, TX · On-site

JOB SUMMARY We are seeking a Firmware Engineer to help develop actuation and motor control firmware for humanoid robots. You will collaborate with our existing actuation firmware team to design ...

Weave Robotics, Inc.

$150 - $200/hr

The Role As an Actuator Firmware Engineer at Weave, you'll develop the firmware that powers the ... Responsibilities Design, develop, and maintain motor control firmware for early prototypes through ...

New

Copeland LP

Lead Motor Control Engineer

Sidney, OH · On-site

$125 - $150/hr

Develop, support and test embedded motor control firmware for variable speed drive products* Assist ... Execute Engineering design Changes (ECNs) to support customers with product firmware/hardware ...

Copeland LP

NY · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

Develop, support and test embedded motor control firmware for variable speed drive products ... Execute Engineering design Changes (ECNs) to support customers with product firmware/hardware ...

Copeland

Lead Motor Control Engineer

Sidney, OH · On-site

$95K - $125K/yr

Develop, support and test embedded motor control firmware for variable speed drive products ... Execute Engineering design Changes (ECNs) to support customers with product firmware/hardware ...

Copeland

Lead Motor Control Engineer

Sidney, OH · On-site

$95K - $125K/yr

Develop, support and test embedded motor control firmware for variable speed drive products ... Execute Engineering design Changes (ECNs) to support customers with product firmware/hardware ...

Motivo Engineering, LLC

Firmware Engineer

California, MO · On-site

$100 - $125/hr

What is a Firmware Engineer at Motivo? At Motivo, Firmware Engineers are highly valued and ... An ideal candidate possesses a strong understanding of control theory, MCU interfacing, and motor ...

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Motor Control Firmware Engineer information

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$75K

$167.4K

$205K

How much do motor control firmware engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for motor control firmware engineer in the United States is $167,438.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $143,000.00 and $205,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a motor control firmware engineer?

A Motor Control Firmware Engineer is a specialist who designs, develops, and tests embedded software that controls the operation of electric motors in various applications, such as automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics. They work closely with hardware engineers to integrate software with motor drivers and sensors, ensuring efficient, reliable, and safe motor operation. Their responsibilities often include coding real-time control algorithms, optimizing performance, and troubleshooting issues related to motor behavior. This role requires a solid understanding of embedded systems, motor control theory, and programming languages like C or C++.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a motor control firmware engineer?

To excel as a Motor Control Firmware Engineer, you need strong knowledge of embedded systems, control theory, C/C++ programming, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with microcontroller platforms, real-time operating systems (RTOS), debugging tools, and standards such as ISO 26262 is often required. Excellent problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills help you collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and troubleshoot complex issues. These competencies ensure the reliable development and optimization of motor control systems, which are critical to product performance and safety.

What are some common challenges motor control firmware engineers face when working with new hardware platforms?

Motor Control Firmware Engineers often encounter challenges when adapting their code to new or custom hardware platforms, such as integrating with unfamiliar microcontrollers, handling unique sensor configurations, or optimizing firmware for specific motor types. Debugging low-level performance issues and ensuring real-time responsiveness under hardware constraints can be particularly demanding. Close collaboration with hardware engineers and thorough testing are essential to ensure reliable and efficient motor operation.

What is the difference between Motor Control Firmware Engineer vs Embedded Software Engineer?

AspectMotor Control Firmware EngineerEmbedded Software Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical, Computer Engineering, or related; experience with firmware developmentBachelor's in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related; programming skills
Work EnvironmentDesigning firmware for motor control systems, often in industrial or consumer electronicsDeveloping embedded software across various devices, including appliances, automotive, and IoT
Industry UsageAutomotive, robotics, industrial automation, consumer electronicsAutomotive, medical devices, consumer electronics, aerospace

While both roles involve embedded programming, a Motor Control Firmware Engineer specializes in developing firmware specifically for motor control applications, focusing on real-time control algorithms and hardware integration. An Embedded Software Engineer has a broader scope, working on software for various embedded systems across multiple industries. The Motor Control Firmware Engineer role is more specialized in motor control hardware and firmware design.

What are popular job titles related to Motor Control Firmware Engineer jobs?

For Motor Control Firmware Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Motor Control Firmware Engineer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $167,438 per year, or $80.5 per hour.

Motor Control Firmware Engineer

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Skip
See more jobs at Skipexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 19 days ago

Job description

ABOUT US:
Skip is on a mission to make life joyful through powered movement.
Movement is a powerful way to build physical, mental and social health. Yet it is elusive for 2 billion people due to age, injury, or disability. We are building productsthat will restore mobility for millions and enable a new frontier of joyful movement experiences. We want to build a future where a grandparent can easily outrun their grandkids and no one is left behind at the trailhead.
Skip is a 22-person early-stage start-up that spun out of Google X in 2023. With deep cross-disciplinary expertise and key partnerships (e.g. with Arc'teryx) we are uniquely positioned to launch the first commercially successful wearable robotic device, the MO/GO, develop a platform to launch future Movewear products and transform millions of lives in the coming years.
THE ROLE:
We are seeking a highly motivated and adaptable individual who will explore the peaks and valleys of all problems that may come up while building a new generation of wearable robots for everyday life.
The mechatronics systems engineer would primarily be responsible for the design, development, testing and validation of our powertrain, including motor control for novel actuators, and complex battery management. The team has just finished an "EVT" build, so we have functional prototypes but they need to be tested, improved and optimised with a whole-system approach.
We are a team of 22 phenomenal senior engineers and product leaders, where everyone contributes directly to product development. As such this will start as an individual contributor role, with leadership for critical systems, and directing work for people contributing to the system (e.g. working closely with our test engineer and gearbox designer).
Some of the specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
  • Understand every element of our mechatronics system; being the go-to person for troubleshooting
  • Guide design and development decisions for future iterations of the product, and future systems; including battery and motor specifications, motor control chip selection and firmware requirements
  • Own the testing protocol to validate performance of the mechatronics at volumes and standards relevant to consumer products (and work with our Test Engineer to execute)
  • Help us precisely control a range of actuators including off-the-shelf BLDCs, custom PMSM and axial flux motors, cycloid gearboxes, and series elastic actuators, including writing firmware for our motor control chip (currently c2000; but likely to change over time)
  • Characterize and model our actuators for open-loop and closed-loop torque control. Create thermal models and evaluate the thermal limits of the actuator.
  • Own the process of productising our novel actuation systems as standalone products and components of a broader platform
  • Wear prototypes several hours a week to participate in data collection, on-body testing and provide feedback
  • Bring joy to the team, participate in embarrassing team events, tolerate KZ's terrible music

Basic Qualifications
  • 5+ years' experience working in robotics or mechatronics
  • Extensive experience controlling PMSM, including Ti and STM chipsets
  • Experience with design for systems at scale, with a focus on testing and validation
  • Demonstrable expertise in C/C++ for high performance applications
  • Expertise with Linux, command-line tools, Python scripting
  • Strong experience developing real-time firmware for multi-sensor systems
  • Knowledge of low level hardware and OS internals at a kernel level
  • Attention to detail, even in the middle of overly-long lists
  • Experience with troubleshooting tools (JTAG, SWD, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers)
  • Ability to work at the Skip Bay Area office >3 days/week
  • Sense of humour, tolerant of Aussie & Canadian spelling

Bonus Points
  • Experience with powered consumer electronics (e.g. drones, robot vacuums)
  • Experience in start-up environments and using AI coding tools to leverage your skills for broader impact
  • Personal motivation to improve human movement

This is a full time hybrid position working at the Skip office in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco.
Skip is an equal opportunity employer. Our hiring decisions are based on need and competence to satisfy said need. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected status.
Any and all offers of employment extended by Skip are conditional on candidates' ability to provide satisfactory proof of eligibility to maintain full-time employment in the United States.

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