Firmware Engineer

We are seeking a talented Firmware Engineer to design, implement, and maintain bare-metal and RTOS-based firmware for smart card readers and controllers. This role involves optimizing high-frequency RFID/NFC field processing and integrating mobile credentials securely.

• Design, implement, and maintain bare-metal and RTOS-based firmware for smart card readers and controllers.
• Optimize high-frequency (13.56 MHz) RFID/NFC field processing, including ISO/IEC and MIFARE/DESFire protocols.
• Integrate and secure mobile credentials, including Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, using Secure Elements (SE) and Secure Application Modules (SAM).
• Implement secure physical and logical communication protocols between readers, controllers, and cloud environments, such as OSDP, TLS/TCP/IP, RS-485, BLE, and Ethernet.
• Develop robust firmware update mechanisms (OTA/FOTA) over network protocols while ensuring tamper resistance and zero downtime.
• Troubleshoot complex networking issues across local serial buses, IP networks, and RF interfaces.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers during schematic review, board bring-up, signal integrity testing, and power management optimization.
• Drive automated firmware testing, unit testing, and CI/CD pipelines for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments.
• Lead root-cause analysis for field escalation issues related to RF performance, timing dependencies, or protocol compliance.

• 5+ years of professional embedded software development experience using C and C++.
• Strong background with real-time operating systems such as FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar, and ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers.
• Proficiency with logic analyzers and oscilloscopes.
• Experience with low-level drivers and Ethernet.
• Hands-on experience with NFC chipsets like the ST25R-series.
• Expertise in industrial or secure communication protocols including OSDP, RS-485, TCP/IP, UDP, TLS/DTLS, MQTT, or BLE stack development.

• Direct background in the Physical Access Control System (PACS) industry.
• Deep knowledge of symmetric/asymmetric encryption (AES, ECC, RSA), PKI, secure boot, and hardware root-of-trust implementations.
• Experience with static code analysis and RF test equipment such as Proxmark and network analyzers.
• Exposure to compliance and certification standards like UL 294, FCC, CE, and ISO/IEC standards.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally ranging from 0 to 10 days per year.

This position operates in a hybrid work environment based in Broomfield, requiring onsite presence three times a week and the option to work from home twice a week. You will be part of a dynamic and ambitious team, interacting with multiple departments, all focused on meaningful work that emphasizes safety and security.

This is a Permanent position based out of Broomfield, CO.

The pay range for this position is $120000.00 - $150000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Benefits include great rates on company-sponsored medical, dental, and vision with HSA-eligible plans available, generous retirement with up to 6% 401k match, and holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

This is a hybrid position in Broomfield,CO.

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 19, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.