Embedded Systems Engineer (Hardware & Firmware)

We are hiring an Embedded Engineer who can own hardware design and firmware development end-to-end. This is a hands-on, build-things role, not a management or architecture-only position.

The core responsibilities for the job include the following:

Hardware Design:

• Own PCB schematic design and layout for new product SKUs and revisions of existing products.
• Select components and define BOMs evaluating MCUs, sensors, power management ICs, GNSS/GSM modules, CAN transceivers, and passives for cost, availability, and performance.
• Design and integrate sensor interfaces: temperature (NTC, OneWire, RS485), humidity, wind speed, rain gauge, IMU/accelerometer.
• Design relay and control circuitry for applications like compressor controllers (cold chain).
• Work with the testing team to validate prototypes, debug hardware issues, and iterate to production-ready designs.
• Manage the full cycle from schematic to prototype to production-ready board.

Firmware Development:

• Write, maintain, and extend firmware in C/C++ on ARM Cortex-M and similar MCUs.
• Work with our existing RTOS (picoOS), adding new peripheral drivers, sensor integrations, and communication protocols.
• Implement and maintain CAN/CAN-FD protocol stacks for vehicle and BMS integrations.
• Handle OTA/DFU firmware update mechanisms for devices deployed in the field.
• Implement power management, sleep modes, and battery optimisation for field-deployed IoT devices.
• Debug device-side issues: sensor data anomalies, communication failures, and field edge cases.

Collaboration and Documentation:

• Work closely with the software team to define firmware-to-server data protocols and ensure clean handoffs between device and backend.
• Document every design decision, schematic, BOM, firmware architecture change, and integration. If it's not documented, it didn't happen.
• Participate in weekly team meetings and proactively share progress, blockers, and technical context with the broader team.
• Support procurement with technical specifications and alternate-part recommendations.

Requirements:

• Demonstrated hands-on experience in embedded systems, both hardware design and firmware development. We care about what you've built and shipped, not how many years you've spent.
• Proficiency in PCB schematic design and layout using Altium Designer, KiCad, Proteus, or equivalent.
• Strong embedded C/C++ firmware development skills on ARM Cortex-M or similar architectures.
• Experience with RTOS-based development (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or custom RTOS).
• Working experience with CAN / CAN-FD protocols.
• Hands-on experience interfacing sensors over I2C, SPI, UART, RS485 and one-wire.
• Experience with GSM/LTE cellular modules and GNSS receivers.
• Solid understanding of power supply design, battery management, and low-power optimisation.
• Ability to read datasheets, evaluate components, and make BOM decisions independently.
• Ability to independently develop AIS140-compliant vehicle tracking devices, including understanding of AIS140 protocol requirements, hardware design for compliance, and integration with government-mandated VLTD specifications.
• Working knowledge of EMI/EMC design principles, testing, and regulatory compliance (BIS, CE). You should be able to design boards that pass EMI/EMC testing, not learn about it after a product fails certification.
• Proficiency in using AI tools for engineering work. This is not optional; it is core to how we work at Ajjas. Must-have AI skills:
• AI reasoning and research: Claude and/or ChatGPT for schematic review, datasheet analysis, protocol debugging, component selection, and technical decision-making.
• AI-assisted firmware development: Cursor (AI-native IDE) and/or GitHub Copilot for writing, editing, and refactoring embedded C/C++ code with AI inline assistance.
• Hands-on: You've designed boards and written firmware that shipped.
• Experience in IoT / telematics / connected-device products.
• Familiarity with OBD-II protocols and vehicle data.
• Experience with BLE and BMS (Battery Management System) integrations.
• Knowledge of OTA/DFU mechanisms for field-deployed devices.
• Experience taking a product from prototype through production and field deployment.
• Experience with AI-assisted PCB/EDA tools, any of the following:
• Flux AI cloud-native PCB design with AI-driven layout and automation.
• Quilter AI autonomous PCB routing and layout generation.
• ProtoFlow AI-assisted schematic capture (free, exports to KiCad).
• Cadence Allegro X or Altium AI features AI-driven placement, DRC, and routing assistance.
• Experience using Claude Code or similar agentic AI tools for complex, multi-file firmware tasks and architectural refactoring.

Who you are as a person:

• You document your work without being asked. Design decisions, schematics, firmware changes you write things down as you go.
• You change reactively. You don't wait to be assigned work; you see what needs doing and you do it.
• You are a team player. You show up to meetings, share context, help colleagues when they're stuck, and care about the team's success, not just your own deliverables.
• You communicate clearly and early, especially when something isn't working or is going to take longer than expected.
• You are comfortable working across the stack - hardware, firmware, and the boundary with software - without treating any layer as beneath you.