Lead Firmware Engineer

TDK is a supplier to some of the most diverse, technology based and original equipment manufacturers worldwide including global organisations within the Industrial, Medical and Test & Measurement markets.

An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Standard Products Development team for a Lead Firmware Engineer who wants to drive innovation, take on high-level responsibility, and shape the digital future of our power solutions. You will lead the design and implementation of firmware and digital control algorithms for standard power supplies, ensuring our products are competitive, reliable, and delivered with a “Right First Time” mindset. You will provide technical vision and mentorship for the firmware team while collaborating closely with our hardware engineers .

The main duties and responsibilities of this role are :

•Design and develop high-performance firmware for standard AC/DC and DC/DC power supplies

•Architect and implement digital control loops (e.g., PID, 3p3z) and state machines for power conversion topologies.

•Develop and maintain communication protocols including PMBus, CAN bus, I2C, and SPI for telemetry and control.

•Define firmware requirements, architectural designs, and comprehensive test plans to meet cost, reliability, and performance targets.

•Verify firmware through hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, simulation (MATLAB/Simulink), and hands-on debugging with power hardware.

•Ensure firmware compliance with applicable safety and regulatory standards (e.g., IEC 62368-1, UL) and functional safety requirements.

•Technically lead firmware development projects to agreed timescales and budgets, driving excellence in code quality and documentation.

•Support manufacturing launches, provide post-launch field support, and drive continuous improvement through firmware updates and optimisations.

•Evaluate new microcontrollers (MCU), Digital Signal Processors (DSP), and firmware technologies for applicability in future product ranges.

•Provide mentorship and technical leadership to junior engineers; produce clear technical reports and documentation.

Skills, experience and qualifications required:

•Degree (BEng/MEng/BSc) in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field with equivalent experience.

•Proven experience (typically 10+ years) in firmware development, specifically for power electronics or industrial control systems.

•Expert knowledge of C/C++ for embedded systems and experience with DSPs or ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers.

•Expert understanding of digital power conversion concepts, including PWM peripherals, ADC synchronisation, and interrupt management.

•Proven ability to lead firmware projects from a “blank sheet” through to production; excellent fault-finding and diagnostic skills using logic analysers and oscilloscopes.

•Experience with version control (e.g., Git), CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing frameworks.

•Familiarity with simulation and modelling tools such as MATLAB/Simulink for control loop design and auto-coding.

•Practical experience with firmware safety standards and rigorous verification processes.

•Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interfacing with hardware teams and internal project stakeholders.

•Proven experience in mentoring staff and providing constructive technical leadership.

Working week: 37.5 hours per week - Mon to Thu 07:45 – 16:30 / Fri 07:45 – 12.15

Salary Range: Up to £60k per annum DOE