Embedded Software Engineer

Wippi is India's first screen-free smart audio companion for kids. Every Wippi card, featuring iconic characters, comes alive with rich stories, songs, and magical audio interactions when placed inside the device and activated with a simple button press. We blend physical storytelling with AI magic - to spark imagination, values, and joy.

We are looking for a Firmware engineer to own and build Wippi's firmware from the ground up. This is a founding role where you will spend a significant portion of your time writing, debugging, and shipping embedded firmware, while also setting technical direction and building a small, high-quality team.

You will be directly responsible for the reliability, performance, and scalability of firmware running on our devices — from prototype boards to millions of devices in the field.

This role is ideal for someone who wants technical ownership, enjoys deep embedded work

Key Responsibilities

1) Firmware development

• Write, review, and maintain production-grade embedded firmware (embedded C/C++)
• Implement and debug core device functionality: boot flow, power management, audio pipelines, LEDs, buttons, connectivity, and peripherals
• Actively debug system-level issues using serial logs, hardware tools, and real devices
• Optimize firmware for reliability, performance, and low-power usage
• Own firmware builds, flashing, release processes, and OTA updates

2) Firmware Architecture and future roadmap

• Design and evolve firmware architecture to support current and future Wippi devices
• Make pragmatic architecture decisions balancing speed, stability, and scale
• Define coding standards, firmware versioning, and release discipline
• Ensure clean interfaces between firmware, hardware, cloud, and AI systems

3) Quality and Reliability

• Own firmware stability across development, pilot runs, and mass production
• Lead EVT/DVT/PVT firmware readiness and factory bring-up
• Debug manufacturing and field issues hands-on alongside vendors and internal teams
• Establish firmware test strategies, regression checks, and production validation flows

5) Cross functional collaboration

• Work closely with hardware, product, AI, cloud, and QA teams
• Translate product requirements into firmware execution plans
• Act as the firmware owner in leadership and external partner discussions

Required skills and experience

• Experience 3+ years of experience in embedded firmware development, with a strong hands-on track record.
• Deep expertise in embedded C/C++ and microcontroller-based systems (ESP32 or similar)
• Strong understanding of hardware–firmware interaction (power, audio, peripherals
• Experience shipping firmware into real consumer devices at scale
• Proven ability to debug complex issues across firmware, hardware, and manufacturing
• Experience mentoring or leading engineers while staying hands-o
• Comfort working in fast-moving, ambiguous startup environment

Preferred qualifications

• Experience in early-stage startups or zero-to-one hardware product
• Background in audio devices, low-power systems, or IoT product
• Experience with OTA updates and device management
• Exposure to factory firmware bring-up and production testing
• Willingness to occasionally travel for manufacturing support

Why Join Wippi

• Lead and build firmware hands-on for India's first AI-native kids tech brand
• Work on the latest tech stack and work on core innovations.
• Significant equity with leadership compensation
• High ownership and direct impact on shipped production
• Work at the intersection of embedded systems, AI, and storytelling
• Shape engineering culture from day one
• Build technology that positively impacts how kids grow and learn