Junior Embedded Hardware & Firmware DeveloperBuilding Automation and Connected Devices
Location: Aurora, Ontario — on-site
Employment Type: Full-time
Salary: C$70,000–C$100,000 annually, depending on experience and demonstrated technical ability
About the Role
We are seeking a hands-on Junior Embedded Hardware & Firmware Developer to help design and build connected devices for commercial building monitoring and automation.
This multidisciplinary position combines electronic circuit design, printed circuit board development, embedded firmware, sensor integration, prototype assembly, product testing and manufacturing support.
Your first project will focus on developing interface boards that allow existing installed building equipment to communicate with our platform. These interfaces may connect to sensors, relays, dry contacts, RS-485 devices, environmental monitors and common building-control signals.
You will spend meaningful time working at an electronics bench—assembling prototypes, soldering components, measuring signals, debugging boards and determining why hardware does not behave as expected. You will also work with software developers and product stakeholders to integrate devices with Linux-based edge systems and software applications.
This position is ideal for a recent graduate or early-career developer who has built real electronic projects and wants broad experience across hardware, firmware and connected-product development.
Responsibilities
- Translate product requirements into block diagrams, technical specifications and initial hardware designs.
- Create and revise electronic schematics and PCB layouts using KiCad, Altium Designer or similar PCB-design software.
- Select and evaluate microcontrollers, sensors, communication components, power supplies, connectors and protection components.
- Develop and debug embedded firmware primarily in C and C++, using Python where appropriate for testing and automation.
- Interface microcontrollers with sensors and peripherals using technologies such as I²C, SPI, UART, GPIO, RS-485 and Ethernet.
- Assemble, solder, rework, bring up and troubleshoot prototype circuit boards using multimeters, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers and other laboratory equipment.
- Develop and test interfaces for relays, dry contacts, 24 V signals and, where required, 0–10 V or 4–20 mA signals.
- Help integrate embedded devices with Linux-based edge systems and communications such as MQTT, Modbus RTU/TCP and BACnet.
- Conduct functional, communication and reliability testing, and investigate hardware, firmware and field-wiring problems.
- Maintain schematics, PCB revisions, source code, bills of materials, component specifications, test records and manufacturing documentation.
- Participate in hardware and firmware design reviews before boards are fabricated or products are released.
- Assist with prototype manufacturing, pilot installations and occasional field testing at sites in Southern Ontario.
Required Qualifications
- Diploma or degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, mechatronics, electronics engineering technology or a related field, or equivalent demonstrated experience.
- Approximately zero to three years of relevant experience, including co-op, internship, academic-team or personal-project experience.
- Understanding of analog and digital electronics, circuit analysis and basic power-supply concepts.
- Experience developing embedded firmware in C or C++ for a microcontroller.
- Experience creating or modifying electronic schematics and PCB layouts.
- Familiarity with common embedded interfaces such as I²C, SPI, UART and GPIO.
- Ability to use an oscilloscope, multimeter and other basic electronics laboratory equipment.
- Basic soldering, prototype-assembly and hardware-debugging skills.
- Experience with at least one complete electronics project that you personally helped design, build and troubleshoot.
- A methodical approach to diagnosing hardware and software problems.
- Ability to document technical work and communicate clearly with technical and non-technical team members.
- Ability to work on-site in Aurora, Ontario.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in any of the following areas would be beneficial but is not required:
- ARM Cortex-M, STM32, ESP32, Nordic Semiconductor or similar microcontrollers.
- FreeRTOS, Zephyr or another embedded real-time operating system.
- RS-485, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy or Power over Ethernet.
- MQTT, Modbus, BACnet or other industrial and building-automation protocols.
- Environmental, air-quality, energy, water or equipment-monitoring sensors.
- Relays, dry contacts, 0–10 V or 4–20 mA interfaces.
- Linux, Git and Python.
- Bootloaders, firmware updates or device provisioning.
- PCB assembly, design for manufacturing or manufacturing-test development.
- Component sourcing and bill-of-material management.
- Basic mechanical CAD or enclosure design using SolidWorks, Fusion 360 or similar software.
- Experience working with prototype suppliers, contract manufacturers or certification laboratories.
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for someone who enjoys working with physical technology and is comfortable moving between hardware and software.
The successful candidate will be curious, practical and willing to investigate problems at every level—from a firmware bug or communication failure to an incorrect footprint, damaged component, poor solder joint or field-wiring problem.
You do not need to know every technology listed in this posting. We are more interested in your ability to learn, troubleshoot and clearly explain what you have personally built.
Candidates with two to three years of hands-on experience and several completed PCB design and bring-up cycles will be particularly well positioned for the role.
What We Offer
- Hands-on experience across PCB design, embedded firmware, sensors, communications and connected-device development.
- Exposure to the complete product-development process, from initial concept through prototype testing and manufacturing.
- Experience with building-automation technologies and industrial communication protocols.
- Direct involvement in product architecture, component selection and system integration.
- Technical design reviews and guidance on major architecture, safety and compliance decisions.
- Increasing technical ownership as your knowledge and capabilities develop.
- An on-site electronics workspace for development, assembly, testing and debugging.
Compensation
The expected base-salary range is:
C$70,000–C$90,000 annually
Compensation will be based on relevant experience, co-op placements, project portfolio and demonstrated hardware and firmware capability.
Candidates near the top of the range will generally have two to three years of relevant experience, have designed and brought up several PCBs, and be able to contribute across both hardware and embedded firmware with limited day-to-day supervision.
How to Apply
Please submit your résumé along with examples of relevant technical work. Examples may include:
- PCB designs or electronic schematics.
- Photographs or descriptions of working prototypes.
- Embedded firmware or GitHub repositories.
- University, co-op, maker or personal electronics projects.
- Test documentation or technical reports.
- A brief explanation of a difficult hardware or firmware problem you solved.
We place greater value on what you have personally designed, built, tested and debugged than on the number of technologies listed on your résumé.
Pay: $70,000.00-$100,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
