Senior Firmware Engineer, Connectivity

Job description

JOIN THE SLEEP FITNESS MOVEMENT At Eight Sleep, we’re on a mission to fuel human potential through optimal sleep. As the world’s first sleep fitness company, we’re redefining what it means to be well-rested and building the most advanced hardware, software, and AI technology to make it possible. Our products power peak mental, physical, and emotional performance by transforming every night of sleep into a personalized, data-driven recovery experience. We are trusted by high performers, professional athletes, and health-conscious consumers in over 30 countries worldwide. Recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in 2019, 2022, and 2023, 2026 and twice named to TIME's “Best Inventions of the Year.” We operate like a high-performance team: fast, focused, and motivated by impact. We don’t just ship; we iterate, refine, and obsess over the details that help our members sleep better and wake up stronger. Every role at Eight Sleep is a chance to create cutting-edge technology, collaborate with world-class talent, and help shape a future where sleep isn’t passive - it’s a powerful tool for living better. If you’re tired of the ordinary and driven to build at the edge of what’s possible, this is your moment. Join us and lead the movement that’s transforming how the world sleeps and what we’re all capable of when we wake up. HIGH STANDARDS. NO APOLOGIES. We operate with intensity because our mission demands it. At Eight Sleep, we bring the same mindset as the world’s top performers: focused, relentless, and always pushing to be in the top 1% of our craft. Think Kobe Bryant’s mamba mentality, applied to bold ideas, next-gen tech, and flawless execution. This isn’t a 9-to-5. Our team is deeply committed, often putting in 60+ hours a week –not because we’re told to, but because we’re invested. We’re here to build fast, push limits, and deliver without compromise. If you thrive under pressure and want to do the most meaningful work of your career, you’ll feel right at home. If you’re looking for something easier –this isn’t it. THE ROLE Join our team as a Sr. Firmware Engineer (BLE), Connectivity, to own the wireless connectivity stack that brings a new generation of hardware to life. You'll be part of a small team designing and implementing the BLE layer that connects our members' devices to the Eight Sleep ecosystem with high autonomy and direct, measurable impact on the member experience. We are a fast-moving, fast-growing company, and we embrace individuals with a growth mindset and a strong desire to help us achieve our mission: improving people's lives through optimal sleep. HOW YOU'LL CONTRIBUTE • Own the BLE Stack: Architect, implement, and maintain the Bluetooth connectivity layer across our Pod ecosystem. Define GATT services, characteristics, and connection strategies that deliver reliable, secure, and power-efficient communication. • Optimize for Always-On Devices: Drive radio-on time, advertising intervals, connection parameters, and PHY selection while maintaining low-latency sync of biometric data. • Ensure Bulletproof Interoperability: Deliver a connectivity experience that "just works" across the long tail of iOS and Android devices, OS versions, and real-world RF environments. Use sniffers, protocol analyzers, and on-device telemetry to root-cause cross-stack issues with mobile and Pod gateway teams. • Ship and Sustain OTA at Scale: Design and harden the secure OTA DFU pipeline so we can confidently push firmware to a global fleet of devices with low friction and zero bricks. • Bring Up New Silicon: Partner with hardware teams on board bring-up, antenna tuning, regulatory certification (FCC/CE/Bluetooth SIG qualification), and silicon-vendor stack integration for our Nordic-based platform. • Global Collaboration: Work closely with our manufacturing partners in China to develop RF and BLE production tests, ensuring we ship high-quality, fully-validated devices on time. • Effective Remote Communication: Thrive in a hybrid in-person and remote work environment, ensuring clear and impactful communication across firmware, mobile, hardware, and ML teams. WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED • Proven BLE Expertise: 5+ years of embedded software engineering, with at least 3 years shipping production BLE firmware. • Deep Protocol Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of the Bluetooth stack end-to-end — GAP, GATT, SMP, L2CAP, link layer behavior, advertising and scanning, connection events, pairing/bonding, and BLE security (LE Secure Connections, key management). • Silicon Vendor Stacks: Hands-on experience with at least one vendor BLE stack and SDK (Nordic SoftDevice / nRF Connect SDK / Zephyr, Apple/Broadcom, TI, or similar). Comfortable reading and debugging vendor stack source. • Embedded Fundamentals: Fluency in C/C++ on resource-constrained microcontrollers; proficiency with Python or NodeJS for host-side tooling. Skilled at peripheral drivers and bus protocols (UART, I2C, SPI), DMA, and low-power design. • Power Discipline: Demonstrated ability to hit ultra-low-power targets: measuring and optimizing radio duty cycle, sleep current, and connection parameters against real battery-life budgets. • Shipping at Scale: Have launched and maintained large fleets of wireless devices, including monitoring connectivity telemetry, sync reliability, and OTA firmware updates in the field. • Hardware Acumen: Ability to read data sheets, schematics, and antenna matching networks for hardware bring-up and RF debugging. Fluent with logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and BLE protocol sniffers (Ellisys, Frontline, nRF Sniffer, or equivalent). • Adaptive Problem Solver: A fast-paced, iterative approach to debugging issues that span firmware, RF, mobile OS, and physics. • Travel Readiness: Willingness and ability to travel regularly to China for supplier and CM support. WHAT SETS YOU APART • Track record shipping secure OTA DFU (signed images, dual-bank update, rollback) on a constrained device. • Experience with multi-link / multi-role BLE topologies • Bluetooth SIG qualification and regulatory certification experience (FCC/IC/CE/MIC). • Bare-metal and cooperative-scheduler design in environments without a traditional RTOS. • Expertise in automated BLE testing, RF chamber test setup, and connectivity observability/telemetry. • Deep understanding of embedded security practices: secure boot, key provisioning, encrypted firmware, and threat modeling for wireless attack surfaces. WHY JOIN EIGHT SLEEP? Innovation in a culture of excellence Join us in a workplace where innovation isn’t just encouraged - it’s a standard. Our flagship product, the Pod, is a testament to our culture of excellence, beloved by hundreds of thousands of customers worldwide. At Eight Sleep, you will be part of a team that continuously pushes the boundaries of technology in sleep fitness. Immediate responsibility and accelerated career growth From your first day, you’ll take on substantial responsibilities that have a direct impact on our core business and product success. We are a small team that empowers you to own your projects and see the tangible effects of your efforts, enhancing both your professional growth and our company’s trajectory. Your path will be challenging but rewarding, perfect for those who thrive in fast-paced environments aiming for high standards. Collaboration with exceptional talent Work alongside other bright minds like you: at Eight Sleep exceptional intelligence and a passion for breakthroughs are the norms. Our team members are not only experts in their fields but also avid innovators who thrive in our dynamic, fast-paced environment. Equitable compensation and continuous equity investment We extend equity participation to every full-time team member, recognizing and rewarding your direct contributions to our success. This includes periodic equity refreshments based on performance, ensuring that as Eight Sleep grows and succeeds, so do you – perfectly aligning your achievements with the broader triumphs of the company. YOUR OWN POD - AND OTHER GREAT BENEFITS - Every Eight Sleep employee receives the very product that defines our mission: a Pod of their own. If you join us you’ll get your own Pod https://www.eightsleep.com/, along with*: - Full access to health, vision, and dental insurance for you and your dependents - Supplemental life insurance - Flexible PTO - Commuter benefits to ease your daily commute - Paid parental leave *List of benefits may vary depending on your location At Eight Sleep we continually celebrate the diverse community different individuals cultivate. As an equal opportunity employer, we stay true to our values by ensuring everyone feels they can flourish and grow. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.