Gridware
Protecting the grid today, preparing the grid for tomorrow
Senior Firmware Engineer, Wireless Communications
About the role
About Gridware
Gridware is a San Francisco-based technology company dedicated to protecting and enhancing the electrical grid. We pioneered a groundbreaking new class of grid management called active grid response (AGR), focused on monitoring the electrical, physical, and environmental aspects of the grid that affect reliability and safety. Gridware’s advanced Active Grid Response platform uses high-precision sensors to detect potential issues early, enabling proactive maintenance and fault mitigation. This comprehensive approach helps improve safety, reduce outages, and ensure the grid operates efficiently. The company is backed by climate-tech and Silicon Valley investors. For more information, please visit www.Gridware.io.
Role Description
We’re looking for a Senior Firmware Engineer with deep expertise in wireless communications to help shape the future of Gridware’s connected devices. In this role, you’ll design and optimize firmware that powers resilient, low-power networks—leveraging peer-to-peer, mesh (802.15.4, Zigbee, Thread), Matter, and emerging NTN protocols. Your work will expand device connectivity while reducing dependency on costly gateways, directly impacting performance, reliability, and uptime across a rapidly scaling fleet.
What You’ll Do
- Design and implement firmware for next-gen wireless communication protocols.
- Build and customize mesh networking solutions to extend device coverage and resilience.
- Optimize communication stacks for maximum efficiency under real-world constraints.
- Prototype, test, and iterate quickly with hardware in the loop.
- Partner with hardware and systems teams on protocol design and integration.
- Debug, validate, and tune performance across diverse environments.
What We’re Looking For
- 5+ years of professional experience in embedded/firmware development.
- Proven expertise with wireless communication protocols.
- Direct, hands-on experience with mesh networking (e.g., 802.15.4, Zigbee, Thread, or similar).
- Strong foundation in low-power system design.
- Experience prototyping and testing with hardware.
- Excellent debugging and optimization skills at the firmware/protocol layer.
Bonus Points
- Experience scaling firmware across large, distributed IoT networks.
- Familiarity with Matter, Thread, or similar IoT ecosystems.
- Knowledge of NTN or long-range, low-power communication systems.
- Background customizing and optimizing communication stacks for efficiency.
- Understanding of physical layer trade-offs (bandwidth, latency, power).
This describes the ideal candidate; many of us have picked up this expertise along the way. Even if you meet only part of this list, we encourage you to apply!
Benefits
Health, Dental & Vision (Gold and Platinum with some providers plans fully covered)
Paid parental leave
Alternating day off (every other Monday)
“Off the Grid”, a two week per year paid break for all employees.
Commuter allowance
Company-paid training
About Gridware
Gridware exists to enhance and protect the mother of all networks: the electrical grid. The grid touches everything grinds to a halt, and the consequences can be dire: wildfires burn, land is destroyed, property is damaged, progress stops, and lives are lost.
Our team engineers an advanced sensing system to continuously analyze both the electrical and mechanical behavior of grid assets. Utilizing high precision sensor arrays, the system identifies and allows preemptive mitigation of faults. Our technology has been proven with utilities to bolster safety, reliability, and reduce customer outage durations. The demand for power will only increase. We protect the grid of today while we build the grid of tomorrow.
Gridware is privately held and backed by the best climate-tech and Silicon Valley investors. We are headquartered in the Bay Area in northern California.
