Embedded Systems Engineer (Hardware & Firmware)

We are hiring an Embedded Engineer who can own hardware design and firmware development end-to-end. This is a hands-on, build-things role, not a management or architecture-only position.
The core responsibilities for the job include the following:
Hardware Design:
Own PCB schematic design and layout for new product SKUs and revisions of existing products.
Select components and define BOMs evaluating MCUs, sensors, power management ICs, GNSS/GSM modules, CAN transceivers, and passives for cost, availability, and performance.
Design and integrate sensor interfaces: temperature (NTC, OneWire, RS485), humidity, wind speed, rain gauge, IMU/accelerometer.
Design relay and control circuitry for applications like compressor controllers (cold chain).
Work with the testing team to validate prototypes, debug hardware issues, and iterate to production-ready designs.
Manage the full cycle from schematic to prototype to production-ready board.
Firmware Development:
Write, maintain, and extend firmware in C/C++ on ARM Cortex-M and similar MCUs.
Work with our existing RTOS (picoOS), adding new peripheral drivers, sensor integrations, and communication protocols.
Implement and maintain CAN/CAN-FD protocol stacks for vehicle and BMS integrations.
Handle OTA/DFU firmware update mechanisms for devices deployed in the field.
Implement power management, sleep modes, and battery optimisation for field-deployed IoT devices.
Debug device-side issues: sensor data anomalies, communication failures, and field edge cases.
Collaboration and Documentation:
Work closely with the software team to define firmware-to-server data protocols and ensure clean handoffs between device and backend.
Document every design decision, schematic, BOM, firmware architecture change, and integration. If it's not documented, it didn't happen.
Participate in weekly team meetings and proactively share progress, blockers, and technical context with the broader team.
Support procurement with technical specifications and alternate-part recommendations.
Requirements:
Demonstrated hands-on experience in embedded systems, both hardware design and firmware development. We care about what you've built and shipped, not how many years you've spent.
Proficiency in PCB schematic design and layout using Altium Designer, KiCad, Proteus, or equivalent.
Strong embedded C/C++ firmware development skills on ARM Cortex-M or similar architectures.
Experience with RTOS-based development (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or custom RTOS).
Working experience with CAN / CAN-FD protocols.
Hands-on experience interfacing sensors over I2C, SPI, UART, RS485 and one-wire.
Experience with GSM/LTE cellular modules and GNSS receivers.
Solid understanding of power supply design, battery management, and low-power optimisation.
Ability to read datasheets, evaluate components, and make BOM decisions independently.
Ability to independently develop AIS140-compliant vehicle tracking devices, including understanding of AIS140 protocol requirements, hardware design for compliance, and integration with government-mandated VLTD specifications.
Working knowledge of EMI/EMC design principles, testing, and regulatory compliance (BIS, CE). You should be able to design boards that pass EMI/EMC testing, not learn about it after a product fails certification.
Proficiency in using AI tools for engineering work. This is not optional; it is core to how we work at Ajjas. Must-have AI skills:
AI reasoning and research: Claude and/or ChatGPT for schematic review, datasheet analysis, protocol debugging, component selection, and technical decision-making.
AI-assisted firmware development: Cursor (AI-native IDE) and/or GitHub Copilot for writing, editing, and refactoring embedded C/C++ code with AI inline assistance.
Hands-on: You've designed boards and written firmware that shipped.
Experience in IoT / telematics / connected-device products.
Familiarity with OBD-II protocols and vehicle data.
Experience with BLE and BMS (Battery Management System) integrations.
Knowledge of OTA/DFU mechanisms for field-deployed devices.
Experience taking a product from prototype through production and field deployment.
Experience with AI-assisted PCB/EDA tools, any of the following:
Flux AI cloud-native PCB design with AI-driven layout and automation.
Quilter AI autonomous PCB routing and layout generation.
ProtoFlow AI-assisted schematic capture (free, exports to KiCad).
Cadence Allegro X or Altium AI features AI-driven placement, DRC, and routing assistance.
Experience using Claude Code or similar agentic AI tools for complex, multi-file firmware tasks and architectural refactoring.
Who you are as a person:
You document your work without being asked. Design decisions, schematics, firmware changes you write things down as you go.
You change reactively. You don't wait to be assigned work; you see what needs doing and you do it.
You are a team player. You show up to meetings, share context, help colleagues when they're stuck, and care about the team's success, not just your own deliverables.
You communicate clearly and early, especially when something isn't working or is going to take longer than expected.
You are comfortable working across the stack - hardware, firmware, and the boundary with software - without treating any layer as beneath you.

Experience
2-6 yrs