Staff Firmware Engineer (m/f/d), Platform R&D

The role

You will provide technical leadership in the development of bespoke, safety- and security-critical embedded systems for defence products. You will shape firmware architecture and implementation across the product-development lifecycle.

What you will do

• Own and evolve the foundational architecture, design, and implementation of safety- and security-critical real-time embedded firmware for defence products.
• Translate complex system, safety, and security requirements into clear, verifiable firmware designs.
• Design and implement robust bare-metal and RTOS-based components.
• Develop secure-update mechanisms and integrate hardware-security features.
• Build highly testable, deterministic firmware.
• Investigate and resolve complex hardware-software integration faults using systematic debugging techniques.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership and mentor cross-functional teams.

Required qualifications

• 10+ years of professional experience developing bare-metal and RTOS-based firmware for safety- or security-critical real-time systems in regulated sectors.
• Deep expertise in low-level embedded systems (interrupts, scheduling, determinism, fault tolerance).
• Strong C and modern C++ programming skills.
• Python for automation.
• Experience across the full development lifecycle within a V-model or equivalent assurance framework.
• Hands-on experience with safety- or security-relevant development: certified or qualified toolchains, static analysis, coverage-driven testing, and automated CI for firmware.
• Ability to debug hardware-software integration issues using schematics, wiring diagrams, JTAG or equivalent probes, oscilloscopes, logic analysers and protocol analysers.
• Professional fluency in English.

Nice to have

• German language proficiency

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package including a bonus opportunity
• 27 vacation days to start, increasing with tenure up to 30 days
• Employer-supported pension contribution
• Learning & development support and team events budget
• Employee discounts and flexible benefits budget via Probonio
• Hybrid working setup depending on role and team needs
• Structured salary bands, levelling framework, and bi-annual development conversations
• Referral bonus program
• dog-friendly office
• relocation support where applicable

About the company

ARX is a dual-use technology company that specializes in developing autonomous unmanned systems and sensors for the European defence sector. The company develops unmanned ground systems and sensors to assist NATO Armies and civilian first responders.