Embedded Software/Firmware Engineer

Snap Inc is a technology company. We believe the camera presents the greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. Snap contributes to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together.

The Company operates Snapchat, a visual messaging app that enhances your relationships with friends, family, and the world, and Specs Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary dedicated to making computing more human, in addition to Bitmoji, Saturn, and other digital services.

Specs Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Snap Inc. dedicated to making computing more human. The company develops Specs, advanced eyewear that seamlessly integrates digital experiences into the physical world.

Specs feature see-through lenses that place digital objects directly into three-dimensional space, powered by Snap OS, a proprietary, context-aware operating system designed for natural interaction with your hands and voice.

Specs Inc. also provides Lens Studio, a full suite of advanced developer tools that powers immersive augmented reality experiences across Specs, Snapchat, and other services.

We’re looking for an Embedded Software/Firmware Engineer to join the Spectacles team!

What you’ll do

• Develop embedded software and firmware for micro-display systems, display chips, and related tools with clear ownership scope across implementation, integration, validation, and release

• Design, implement, and validate software features for display ASICs, modules, microcontrollers, and host-side tools

• Set up, maintain, and improve embedded software and firmware build environments, build flows, and development tooling for efficient validation and release

• Build test plans and test code to verify new features before release to production and partner teams

• Work across emulator, board, and silicon environments to debug and validate system behavior, with strong focus on hardware debuggability, root-cause analysis, and issue isolation at the system level

• Collaborate closely with software, firmware, ASIC, EE, and production teams to bring up and verify new hardware and software features

• Develop and maintain tools, libraries, interfaces, and build workflows used by internal teams for validation, debugging, and production enablement

• Investigate issues across software, firmware, tools, and hardware, and drive root-cause analysis through resolution

• Create clear bug reports and Jira tickets for issues related to software, firmware, tools, and hardware interactions

• Document software flows, build/setup procedures, test procedures, board/tool usage, and user-facing interfaces for internal developers and partner teams

• Contribute to code reviews and help improve code quality, testability, maintainability, and build reliability across software, firmware, and tooling

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong programming skills in C/C++ and Python; C# experience is a plus

• Strong understanding of embedded systems, including boards, chips, interfaces, software/firmware interactions, and system-level debuggability

• Experience setting up and maintaining build environments, build tools, and development workflows for embedded software, firmware, and related tools

• Experience working across hardware and software boundaries, including bring-up, debugging, and validation

• Familiarity with communication interfaces such as USB, I2C/I3C, SPI, UART, MIPI, SWD, and PCIe

• Ability to work closely with cross-functional teams including EE, ASIC, production, and software partners

• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills in complex multi-component systems

• Experience using AI-assisted engineering tools such as Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot, or similar tools to improve productivity and development velocity

• Great interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively through written, verbal, and visual communication

Minimum Qualifications

• BS/BA degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field

• 5+ years of experience in embedded software or firmware development

• Experience developing in C/C++ and Python for embedded systems, firmware, or system-level tools

• Experience debugging hardware/software integration issues in embedded or consumer electronics systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing software or firmware for display, imaging, or other consumer-electronics systems

• Experience with small microcontrollers such as ARM or RISC-V

• Experience developing firmware in C/C++ on RTOS or non-RTOS systems

• Experience with board bring-up, chip validation, and system-level debugging

• Experience building internal tools, validation frameworks, or automation for embedded development workflows

• Experience identifying issues across hardware, firmware, and software in mass-produced consumer devices

• Knowledge of micro-display systems, video standards, and related protocols such as MIPI, HDMI, and DisplayPort

• Experience using lab equipment such as oscilloscopes and logic analyzers

• Self-starter who can organize complex issues, drive them to closure, and operate effectively in ambiguous environments

• Passion for Snapchat and creativity

"Default Together" Policy at Snap: At Snap Inc. we believe that being together in person helps us build our culture faster, reinforce our values, and serve our community, customers and partners better through dynamic collaboration. To reflect this, we practice a “default together” approach and expect our team members to work in an office 4+ days per week. 

At Snap, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to create innovative products that improve the way people live and communicate. Snap is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. EOE, including disability/vets.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law (by example, the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, where applicable).

Our Benefits: Snap Inc. is its own community, so we’ve got your back! We do our best to make sure you and your loved ones have everything you need to be happy and healthy, on your own terms. Our benefits are built around your needs and include paid parental leave, comprehensive medical coverage, emotional and mental health support programs, and compensation packages that let you share in Snap’s long-term success!

Compensation

In the United States, work locations are assigned a pay zone which determines the salary range for the position. The successful candidate’s starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, work location, and market conditions. The starting pay may be negotiable within the salary range for the position. These pay zones may be modified in the future.

Zone A (CA, WA, NYC):

The base salary range for this position is $157,000-$235,000 annually.

Zone B:

The base salary range for this position is $149,000-$223,000 annually.

Zone C:

The base salary range for this position is $133,000-$200,000 annually.This position is eligible for equity in the form of RSUs.

If you believe this job description is missing required pay transparency information, please submit a report through this form: Job Description Pay Range Disclosure.