Senior Software and Firmware Manager

Location: Chandler, Arizona

Employment Type: Full-Time

Citizenship Requirement: US Citizen Required

ABOUT COREKINECT

CoreKinect is a technology company specializing in the design, development, and manufacturing of connected IoT devices and platforms. We develop end-to-end solutions that combine embedded hardware, firmware, wireless communications, cloud infrastructure, and data-driven applications to support demanding real-world deployments.

Our engineering teams work across the full product lifecycle, from early-stage architecture and hardware development through firmware, cloud integration, validation, manufacturing, and field deployment. We operate in a fast-paced, hands-on environment where engineers and technical leaders have direct visibility into the products they build and the impact of their work.

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are seeking an experienced Software / Firmware Manager to lead the development of embedded firmware, software systems, and cloud-connected products. This role requires a strong technical background in embedded systems, firmware architecture, cloud-based software, and team leadership.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience with embedded firmware development, FUOTA, LoRa / LoRaWAN, Zephyr driver development, and strong software knowledge in C#, cloud computing, and database architecture. This person will be responsible for guiding a multidisciplinary engineering team, setting technical direction, improving development processes, and ensuring high-quality delivery across firmware and software platforms.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership & Management

• Lead and mentor a team of firmware, software, and embedded systems engineers.

• Own planning, prioritization, and execution of firmware and software development projects.

• Work closely with product management, hardware engineering, QA, operations, and executive leadership to align engineering delivery with business goals.

• Drive sprint planning, technical reviews, architecture discussions, and release planning.

• Establish best practices for code quality, testing, documentation, release management, and long-term maintainability.

• Identify technical risks early and develop mitigation plans.

• Support hiring, onboarding, performance management, and professional development of engineering team members.

Firmware & Embedded Systems

• Lead development of embedded firmware for connected devices and IoT platforms.

• Provide technical direction for embedded firmware architecture, board support packages, bootloaders, drivers, and communication protocols.

• Oversee development using Zephyr RTOS, including custom driver development and integration.

• Guide implementation of FUOTA strategies for secure and reliable firmware updates in the field.

• Support development and optimization of LoRa / LoRaWAN communication systems.

• Ensure firmware is designed for reliability, power efficiency, scalability, and production readiness.

• Collaborate with hardware teams on bring-up, debugging, validation, and manufacturing support.

Software, Cloud & Data Systems

• Lead software development initiatives involving C#, backend systems, APIs, and cloud-connected services.

• Provide architectural guidance for scalable cloud platforms and data pipelines.

• Oversee database design, performance, reliability, and long-term data architecture.

• Ensure secure and reliable communication between embedded devices, cloud platforms, and customer-facing applications.

• Support integration between firmware, backend services, databases, and user interfaces.

• Drive best practices for cloud deployment, observability, monitoring, and system reliability.

Quality, Process & Delivery

• Define and improve software and firmware development processes.

• Ensure proper use of source control, branching strategies, code reviews, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing.

• Promote strong documentation practices across firmware, software, architecture, and release processes.

• Work with QA and validation teams to define test strategies for embedded devices, cloud services, and end-to-end systems.

• Manage release schedules and ensure software and firmware releases meet performance, reliability, and security requirements.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 7+ years of experience in software, firmware, embedded systems, or related engineering roles.

• 3+ years of experience leading or managing technical engineering teams.

• Strong experience with embedded firmware development for connected devices.

• Hands-on experience with Zephyr RTOS and embedded driver development.

• Experience with LoRa / LoRaWAN communication technologies.

• Experience with FUOTA or secure over-the-air firmware update systems.

• Strong programming experience in embedded C/C++.

• Software development experience with C#.

• Experience with cloud computing platforms, backend services, APIs, and distributed systems.

• Strong understanding of database architecture, data modeling, and system scalability.

• Experience with Git-based development workflows, CI/CD, automated builds, and release management.

• Ability to guide both high-level architecture and detailed technical implementation.

• Excellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with IoT platforms, connected hardware products, or remote monitoring systems.

• Experience with low-power embedded systems and wireless communication protocols.

• Experience with device provisioning, telemetry, diagnostics, and secure communications.

• Familiarity with cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud.

• Experience with SQL and NoSQL database systems.

• Experience with manufacturing test systems, hardware bring-up, and production support.

• Experience working in Agile / Scrum development environments.

• Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices for embedded and cloud-connected systems.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical leader who can operate at both the architecture and team-management level. They are comfortable reviewing firmware code, discussing cloud architecture, guiding database design, and helping teams make practical engineering decisions. They can build scalable systems, improve engineering discipline, and mentor engineers while keeping projects moving toward business objectives.

BENEFITS

• A small, technical team where your work is visible and your opinion carries weight.

• Exposure to the full hardware development cycle, from first silicon to manufacturing handoff.

• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience.

• Health, dental, and vision benefits.