Phare Labs exists to make homes around the world safer. We make advanced hardware and software that protects rented homes and, most importantly, the people who live in them. We’re building something that matters, are growing quickly, and are looking for a talented engineer to join us. Sound like you? Keep reading!

About the role

As we continue to grow, we’re looking for a Lead Embedded Software Engineer to join us. In this role, you’ll help us build the software inside Phare C1 – our hardware product – from the ground up. This role isn’t about making minor improvements or marginal gains; it’s about building the software our systems will run on for the next decade or more from scratch.

As such, we’re looking for someone who loves a challenge, who thrives in a startup environment, and who has the skills and expertise to drive our firmware architecture and design forward. This is a technical, hands-on role; it’s ideal for an engineer who works well in small teams, who enjoys working across the full product life cycle, and who wants to play a key role in shaping a product that will make a difference in the lives of those who use it.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and testing of embedded software in C/C++ for Phare C1.
• Contribute to the overall architecture and design for Phare C1, collaborating with PCB design teams to deliver a reliable, scalable system.
• Develop and debug using various embedded system tools and techniques.
• Implement product quality systems through code reviews, testing, and continuous integration practices.
• Support, mentor, and help other team members.

Must-Have Qualifications

Successful applicants will have:

• Strong experience in embedded software development with C/C++ and object-oriented design.
• Knowledge of embedded systems architecture andreal-time operating systems (preferably FreeRTOS).
• Experience with PCB design and hardware integration.
• Hands-on experience with debugging tools, hardware interfaces, and low-level programming.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

Given what we’re building, it would be nice if you had:

• Experience with LTE / BLE / Wi-Fi / Z-Wave or other SubGHz wireless communication protocols.
• Undertaken hardware certification processes before, such as FCC / CE / UL , etc.
• Previous experience in a leadership role.

If you don’t have these experiences yet, don’t worry. They’re not mandatory.

Compensation

Compensation will, of course, depend on the experience of the person we hire. As a guide, we expect it to land somewhere between $80,000 and $125,000 per year. For the right candidate, we will deviate from that range.

How We Work

We work in small teams, wear multiple hats, and adapt to changing priorities quickly. We’re spread across two continents; some of us work in our London office, others work remotely. We believe in measuring output rather than input and offer flexibility with working hours and location.

We’re also committed to building a team that is as diverse as our user base and encourage engineers from all backgrounds to apply. However, we will only consider applicants who have worked the phrase “purple elephant” into their application somehow (e.g., in your CV, cover letter if you choose to submit one, a LinkedIn Message or email to the founders, etc.). This helps us screen out the surprising number of applicants who don’t read the job description. Bonus points if you can make us laugh.