Senior Embedded Software Engineer
At a glance
Senior Embedded & Firmware role at knightscope. Sunnyvale · full-time · $150,000–$180,000 base.
techroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Design and take responsibility for the wearable product’s check-in/check-out software, from prototypes through production preparation
- Connect readers and sensors to the edge device, then build the APIs, messaging, database and cloud links
- Work with mechanical, electrical and systems engineers to resolve design choices across hardware and software
- Support testing and make practical tradeoffs as the product moves from early concepts toward production
What you bring
- At least seven years in software engineering, including work on IoT or hardware-connected systems
- A bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, electrical engineering or a related discipline
- You can work with RFID readers, interpret tag data and apply basic RFID or NFC protocols
- You have experience with a listed cloud platform and can use SQL to store check-in records
Who this fits
This senior, hands-on role suits an engineer who can own software across device, data and cloud layers and make decisions amid ambiguity. It is full-time and on-site in Sunnyvale.
From the employer
About Knightscope
Knightscope (NASDAQ: KSCP) is a security technology company building the nation's first Autonomous Security Force — autonomous machines, AI-driven software, and elite security professionals operating as one integrated managed service. The Company is on a mission to make the United States of America the safest country in the world. One Team. One Force.
Job Summary
Knightscope is seeking a Mid/Senior Software Engineer to join our product development team and support a new hardware program. In this role, you will architect and own the software for a wearable technology product’s check-in/check-out system—from early prototyping through production readiness—including the overall architecture, sensor/reader integration on the edge device, the data pipeline (APIs and messaging), database design, and cloud connectivity. You will work cross-functionally with mechanical, electrical, and systems engineers in a fast-paced, gate-driven product development environment and play a critical role in shaping a first-of-its-kind platform.
Location Requirement: Full-time, on-site at Sunnyvale HQ
About the Role
The role is an ownership-driven position within a multidisciplinary program team, requiring a hands-on engineer who is comfortable operating in ambiguity and driving decisions across mechanical, electrical, and software boundaries. You will be expected to make thoughtful tradeoffs and carry designs from early concept and prototyping through to production.
This individual will own the full software scope of a new wearable hardware product, including architecting the check-in/check-out process, sensor/reader integration on the edge device, the data pipeline (APIs and messaging), database design, cloud connectivity, and testing support.
Please include the Disney character that best describes you in your resume—and make sure to ask your interviewers the same. They are expecting it.
Key Responsibilities
Hardware / IoT Knowledge
- Experience with RFID/NFC protocols (ISO 14443, ISO 18000, EPC Gen2)
- Familiarity with serial communication (UART, SPI, I2C) to talk to readers
- Basic electronics understanding
- Experience with Raspberry Pi, Arduino, or industrial edge devices
- Ability to connect and configure an RFID reader to a computer or edge device
Networking & Integration
- REST API development (to send check-in data to a server)
- MQTT or WebSockets (common IoT messaging protocols)
- Basic networking knowledge (TCP/IP, WiFi, LAN)
Software Engineering Fundamentals
- Version control (Git)
- Basic database design (SQLite, PostgreSQL, MySQL)
- System design – designing reliable, real-time systems
- Understanding of event-driven architecture
Required Qualifications
- B.S. or M.S. degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or a related field.
- 7+ years of software engineering experience, including building IoT or hardware-integrated systems
- Python, C or C++ (if firmware/hardware-level coding)
- Understanding of how RFID readers communicate
- Ability to read and parse tag data
- Basic knowledge of RFID protocols (EPC Gen2 or NFC standards)
- SQL basics — storing check-in/check-out records (who and when)
- Experience with cloud platforms (AWS IoT, Azure IoT Hub, Google Cloud IoT)
- Familiarity with Docker or basic DevOps
- Computer Vision basics (OpenCV) as a complementary skill
- Experience with access control systems
Compensation & Benefits
- Base Salary: $150,000 - $180,000
- Equity: Stock options
- Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off
- Location Requirement: Full-time, on-site at Sunnyvale HQ
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