Senior Firmware Engineer I
Axon · Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam · 4d ago
Join Axon and be a Force for Good.
At Axon, we’re on a mission to Protect Life. We’re explorers, pursuing society’s most critical safety and justice issues with our ecosystem of devices and cloud software. Like our products, we work better together. We connect with candor and care, seeking out diverse perspectives from our customers, communities and each other.
Life at Axon is fast-paced, challenging and meaningful. Here, you’ll take ownership and drive real change. Constantly grow as you work hard for a mission that matters at a company where you matter.
Your Impact
As a Sr. Firmware Engineer I on the Platform Firmware team, you are a project technical leader. You lead the technical execution of career-defining programs — from Board Support Package (BSP) development to next-generation Robotics and Camera-based products — setting quality standards, guiding peers, and managing dependencies across Firmware, Electrical Engineering, and other embedded teams.
Our firmware environments primarily use Embedded Linux on SoCs/SoMs, with Embedded Android and RTOS-based microcontrollers used across some product lines. Depending on the program, you may work with C, C++, Rust, Golang, or Python.
You own full projects or major portions of a multi-engineer project, exercising independent technical judgment across the entire project lifecycle. You build deep expertise in your domain, begin influencing roadmap and architectural decisions, and navigate ambiguity with minimal supervision — coordinating effectively across contributors and stakeholders to get complex, cross-team work done.
Where You'll Work
Work Location: This role is based out of our Ho Chi Minh City office and follows a hybrid schedule: onsite Tuesday through Friday and remote on Mondays, unless an approved accommodation applies. We place a high value on in-person collaboration and building a strong in-office culture.
Travel: Firmware engineering requires hands-on collaboration with Hardware Engineering. While the role is remote near a Local Axon Hub, travel obligations for board bring-up, hardware validation, and manufacturing support are required during critical build milestones. We forecast a modest amount of travel over an 18-month period; the remainder of time is discretionary between home and office.
What You'll Do
Reports to: Engineering Manager, Platform Firmware
Direct Reports: None
- Lead the technical execution of firmware projects for current and next-generation Axon devices, setting quality standards and guiding peers.
- Own full projects or major portions of multi-engineer projects end-to-end, from design through validation and production support.
- Develop firmware for Embedded Linux or Embedded Android on SoCs and SoMs, and for microcontrollers and RTOS-based systems where required.
- Drive architecture and design decisions for connectivity technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth/BLE, Sub-GHz, and Cellular LTE/5G.
- Set direction for battery, power, and thermal-management subsystems with a critical eye toward safety and reliability.
- Lead board bring-up, hardware integration, and debugging efforts in close partnership with Electrical Engineering.
- Set testing strategy and maintain advanced unit, integration, and automated tests for scalability, resiliency, and safety-critical behaviors.
- Manage cross-team dependencies across Firmware, Embedded Product, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing, Compliance, and external vendors.
- Author and review Software Design Reviews, Pre-Mortems, and After Action Reviews for your projects.
- Lead incident resolution and drive improvements in operational readiness for systems in your scope.
- Conduct interviews (Engineering with AI and/or system design), primarily for L8/L9 candidates, producing clear, calibrated feedback.
- Mentor L7 engineers toward promotion readiness, and proactively share feedback, practices, and context with the team.
- Use agentic AI across design, implementation, testing, debugging, and documentation, holding results to architectural, performance, and maintainability standards.
- Coordinate multiple AI agents effectively while managing coordination overhead, cost, and reviewability; coach others on validation practices and pilot shared standards for AI-assisted development.
What You Bring
- B.S. in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
- 5++ years of real-world industry firmware or embedded experience developing on IoT products.
- Strong programming ability in one or more of C, C++, Rust, Golang, or Python, with the judgment to guide language and tooling choices for a project.
- Extensive hands-on experience owning firmware or embedded software projects end-to-end for IoT, consumer electronics, robotics, automotive, networking, or similar products.
- Strong experience with both kernel and user-space Embedded Linux, including exposure to Yocto, OpenWRT, or other embedded distros for Board Support Packaging (BSP).
- Strong understanding of computer architecture, peripherals, operating systems, concurrency, and networking concepts, with the ability to make sound trade-offs across these domains.
- Strong ability to read datasheets and schematics and independently debug issues that span hardware and software.
- Strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented design patterns.
- Proven track record setting technical direction, coordinating cross-team dependencies, and navigating ambiguity with minimal supervision.
- Experience mentoring engineers and contributing to interview processes.
- Working experience using agentic AI tools across design, implementation, testing, debugging, and documentation, holding output to architectural, performance, and maintainability standards.
- Experience coordinating multiple AI agents effectively while managing coordination overhead, cost, and reviewability.
- Track record of raising team AI effectiveness — coaching others on validation and piloting shared standards for AI-assisted development.
Nice to Have
- Experience with Embedded Android/AOSP.
- Experience with RTOS and microcontroller firmware.
- Experience with Cellular LTE, 5G modems.
- Experience with battery, power management, safety, and thermal subsystems.
- Experience with Robotics and/or 9-Axis Orientation Algorithms.
- Experience developing manufacturing, provisioning, or calibration software.
- Experience building or extending automated hardware/firmware test systems.
- Prior experience leading cross-functional programs or driving architecture/design reviews.
Benefits that Benefit You
- Medical and Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Robust Paid Time Off policy
- Bonuses
- Lunch allowance
- Cell phone stipend
- Free LinkedIn Learning account or similar learning platforms
- Access to 24/7 online emotional and mental support
- Gym membership
- Free motorbike parking
- Stocked fridges and pantries — free coffee, cold beverages, snacks
- Annual company outing trip
- Monthly team social activities
Don’t meet every single requirement? That's ok. At Axon, we Aim Far. We think big with a long-term view because we want to reinvent the world to be a safer, better place. We are also committed to building diverse teams that reflect the communities we serve.
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they check every box in the job description. If you’re excited about this role and our mission to Protect Life but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed here, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Important Notes
The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all duties, responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. The job description may change or be supplemented at any time in accordance with business needs and conditions.
Some roles may also require legal eligibility to work in a firearms environment.
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Axon’s mission is to Protect Life and is committed to the well-being and safety of its employees as well as Axon’s impact on the environment. All Axon employees must be aware of and committed to the appropriate environmental, health, and safety regulations, policies, and procedures. Axon employees are empowered to report safety concerns as they arise and activities potentially impacting the environment.
We are an equal opportunity employer that promotes justice, advances equity, values diversity and fosters inclusion. We’re committed to hiring the best talent — regardless of race, creed, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances — and empowering all of our employees so they can do their best work. If you have a disability or special need that requires assistance or accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please email recruitingops@axon.com. Please note that this email address is for accommodation purposes only. Axon will not respond to inquiries for other purposes.
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