Staff Hardware/Embedded Systems Engineer

Staff Hardware / Embedded Systems Engineer

📍 Location: Rochester, NY

🏢 Company: Oculi

About Oculi

Oculi is pioneering next-generation vision systems by integrating sensing and intelligence directly at the edge. Our technology pushes the boundaries of what’s possible with embedded AI and imaging by combining innovative silicon design with real-world, high-performance applications.

We are looking for a Staff-level engineer to lead critical efforts in silicon bring-up, system validation, and application enablement for our cutting-edge devices.

Role Overview

As a Staff Engineer at Oculi, you will play a key role in bringing new silicon to life—owning debugging, performance validation, and real-world use-case deployment. You’ll work across hardware, firmware, and system layers to ensure our devices meet ambitious benchmarks in efficiency, accuracy, and robustness.

This is a hands-on, high-impact role requiring both deep technical expertise and system-level thinking.

Key Responsibilities

• Silicon Bring-Up & Debug
• Lead first-silicon bring-up, validation, and root-cause analysis.
• Debug complex issues spanning analog, digital, firmware, and system integration layers.
• Develop and execute structured validation and characterization plans.
• Performance Evaluation
• Measure and analyze chip performance (power, latency, throughput, accuracy).
• Identify bottlenecks and drive optimizations across hardware and firmware.
• Build tools and frameworks for ongoing performance monitoring.
• Hardware development
• Oversee PCB design.
• Drive custom test and evaluation system development.
• Embedded & Firmware Development
• Program and optimize MCUs and embedded systems for real-world use cases.
• Develop low-level drivers, test firmware, and control interfaces.
• Enable rapid prototyping and demonstration platforms.
• System Integration & Use Case Development
• Translate product requirements into functional system demonstrations.
• Integrate sensors, processors, and supporting hardware into cohesive systems.
• Collaborate with AI/algorithm teams to deploy models on-device.
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Partner with silicon design, software, and product teams to close the loop between design and field performance.
• Mentor junior engineers and influence engineering best practices.
• Drive technical decision-making at the system level.

Required Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in hardware, silicon validation, or embedded systems.
• Proven experience with silicon bring-up and debugging.
• Strong hands-on experience with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, etc.).
• Solid programming skills in C/C++ (embedded) and scripting (Python preferred).
• Experience working with MCUs, SoCs, or custom ASICs.
• Deep understanding of hardware/software interaction.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with image sensors, computer vision hardware, or edge AI systems.
• Familiarity with power/performance optimization techniques.
• Experience with FPGA prototyping or pre-silicon validation.
• Knowledge of high-speed interfaces (MIPI, SPI, I2C, etc.).
• Experience bringing products from lab to production.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• You thrive in ambiguity and enjoy solving complex, cross-domain problems.
• You are highly hands-on and comfortable in the lab.
• You can bridge deep technical detail with big-picture system thinking.
• You take ownership and drive results in fast-moving environments.

Why Oculi

• Work on breakthrough technology at the intersection of sensing and AI.
• Make a visible impact on product direction and performance.
• Join a highly collaborative, technically rigorous team.
• Competitive compensation, equity, and benefits.