Staff Embedded Engineer (NPI Tech Lead)

Provide technical leadership and architectural ownership for firmware platforms and system-level components used across one or more WHOOP product lines. Design, develop, and test embedded firmware in C, contributing hands-on to critical areas while ensuring solutions scale across platforms and product generations. Autonomously identify, define, and drive solutions to ambiguous, cross-cutting firmware and system-level problems with long-term departmental impact. Influence firmware, hardware, and manufacturing roadmaps by identifying technical risks, opportunities, and strategic investments across multiple quarters. Lead the resolution of complex, cross-team issues spanning firmware, hardware, manufacturing, and system integration, including root cause analysis and long-term prevention. Define and uphold firmware architecture standards, documentation practices, and design review expectations adopted across the Embedded group. Lead code and design reviews across teams, setting the bar for clarity, correctness, maintainability, and long-term quality. Define and drive scalable testing, validation, and CI strategies that improve firmware quality and developer velocity across teams. Influence hardware design decisions by evaluating components, defining firmware-hardware interfaces, and proactively identifying system-level tradeoffs. Drive alignment across Electrical, Signal Processing, Mobile, Manufacturing, and Product teams, resolving ambiguity and ensuring cohesive system design. Mentor and sponsor senior engineers and emerging technical leaders, multiplying impact by raising the technical bar across teams. Identify and drive strategic investments that improve performance, power efficiency, stability, and reliability across firmware platforms. Leverage AI and emerging development tools to improve firmware development practices, establishing best practices across the Embedded group. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. 8+ years of embedded firmware development experience, including ownership of system-level architecture or platform components across multiple products or generations. Expert-level proficiency in C and embedded systems development on 32-bit RISC architectures (e.g., ARM Cortex). Strong experience with low-power embedded system design and optimization. Experience working with operating systems (OS) and real-time operating systems (RTOS). Deep understanding of system communication protocols such as I2C, SPI, USART/UART, and BLE. Strong experience with electronics debugging tools including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, power supplies, and power measurement equipment. Proven experience leading technically ambiguous, cross-team initiatives and influencing technical direction without formal authority. Strong understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals, including reading schematics and hardware specifications. Experience with version control using git and modern CI/CD workflows. Experience with unit, integration, and system-level testing for embedded systems. Experience working on high-volume consumer electronics products preferred. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. Recognized technical leader who operates as a force multiplier across teams and consistently drives alignment, execution, and long-term technical direction.