Software Engineer, Embedded Hardware

$160k – $240k • 0.2% – 0.6%

Skip this job application if you’re looking for an easy calling.

Read on if you’re a hacker-minded embedded engineer who ships weekly, owns problems end-to-end, and performs best under pressure.

Humanity needs a defense layer against increasingly intelligent machines around us. Without it, the systems and devices we rely on can—and will—turn against us.

Join Sweep to build that layer and safeguard the freedoms that let people live, work, travel, create, and operate in a rapidly shifting world.

As our Embedded Hardware Engineer, you’ll design and deploy the hardware systems that already protect some of the world’s highest-stakes teams— from decision-makers and elite market-movers to frontline journalists, chart-topping artists, record-breaking athletes, and history-bending scientists.

Together, we’ll redefine cyber-physical security for the AI age.

Why You Should Join

• Mission & Impact – Operate with the intensity of Bletchley Park—high stakes, rapid tempo, and zero room for failure. Your firmware will defend people in real-world environments you may never discuss, but never forget.

• Innovation Ground-Zero – Push the frontier of embedded systems, RF sensing, spatial intelligence, IoT hardware, and on-device AI. You’ll invent net-new capabilities, not just iterate.

• Founding Ownership – Join the first ten engineers. Shape culture, engineering standards, architecture, and the hardware foundations that keep humans in control of autonomous machines.

What You’ll Do

• Build and optimize mission-critical embedded firmware (C/C++, RTOS, embedded Linux).

• Integrate advanced sensors and wireless modules (BLE, Wi-Fi, RF front-ends, SDR) securely into embedded platforms.

• Architect hardened embedded security systems (secure boot, key storage, encrypted comms, tamper resistance).

• Conduct rigorous lab + field testing, penetration testing, and hostile-environment simulations.

• Collaborate with tightly-knight software, hardware, AI, RF, and product teams to build tightly integrated end-to-end systems.

• Lead hardware bring-up for new portable embedded platforms — from schematic review to bench testing, debugging, and validation.

• Support regulatory and certification workflows (FCC/CE testing, OTA signing, verification).

Must-Have

• 5+ years building production-grade embedded systems (firmware + hardware).

• Expert proficiency in C/C++, RTOS, embedded Linux, and low-level systems.

• Proven **experience integrating sensors, RF modules, BLE/Wi-Fi, or SDR-based systems.

• Deep understanding of embedded cybersecurity (secure firmware, cryptography, secure boot, protected comms).

• Experience navigating FCC certification, test houses, and OTA verification pipelines.

• Startup urgency: independent, accountable, relentless execution.

• U.S. Person status required (may involve export-controlled data).

Nice-to-Have

• Experience with IoT, spatial computing, or sensor fusion.

• Cloud connectivity integration (AWS IoT, GCP IoT Core, MQTT).

• Familiarity deploying lightweight ML/AI models on embedded hardware (TinyML / Edge AI).

• Experience with low-noise analog front-ends, RF shielding, or board bring-up.

Compensation

Base salary for this position is up to $240,000 annually, depending on your qualifications, experience, and impact. Total compensation also includes equity, premium insurance, and individual benefits.

Why Sweep?

Sweep selects for mission, impact, ownership. Face-to-face collaboration is how we operate, thrive, and deliver. You’ll join us on-site at our NYC HQ or Hybrid in DC, London/Cambridge, UK.

Selection Process

Initial 20-min intro → technical deep-dive → team exercise → references → offer.
Additional questions? Just ask.

This is civilizational infrastructure. If you want to build toys this might not be for you. But if you want to help stop the next existential threat, step forward.

Make history. Build humanity’s defense against machines.

Apply via Wellfound