Embedded Software Manager

Embedded Software / Firmware

Role Overview

• Role:  Embedded Software / Firmware
• Location:   Bengaluru only
• This is for Wippi's low-cost proprietary hardware device .
• The hardware itself is intentionally not highly sophisticated because the product needs to remain affordable.
• The firmware/software layer is important because the team continues to develop and improve the software inside the device after the hardware is built.
• Sid described this as a critical/niche hiring  and more time-sensitive than the Product Manager hiring.

Experience

• Overall target:   4–7 years  of experience was stated initially.
• Later, when discussing the must-haves , Sid said at least 3–4 years of experience .
• I would therefore record the sourcing range as 4–7 years preferred , with 3–4+ years relevant experience potentially acceptable if the technical requirements are strong.

Key Technical Requirement

ESP32 is the major technical filter.

• Must have ESP32 microcontroller development experience .
• At least 1 year of ESP32 development experience  as a must-have.
• Earlier, he mentioned that around 2 years of ESP32 experience  would be desirable.
• He also expects a good firmware developer to have worked with multiple microcontroller platforms , because firmware stacks/libraries are often platform-specific.

Background / Type of Company

Preferred backgrounds:

1. Hardware startups
2. Hardware development agencies

The agency background is particularly interesting because candidates working at hardware development agencies may have worked on multiple different products , giving them broader hands-on exposure.

Large Company Experience

This needs to be phrased carefully.

His concern is specifically candidates who have only worked in large companies .

His view is that large-company hardware development tends to involve much heavier processes, which may not translate well to a hardware startup environment.

So:

• Large-company experience + startup/agency experience = can work
• Large-company experience + relevant smaller-company experience = can work
• Only large-company experience = not preferred / likely not suitable

Startup / Working Style

The person should be comfortable with a hardware startup environment  and should have a practical, hands-on engineering mindset.

 Wippi as a particularly innovative environment for firmware because the software continues evolving inside the device rather than the development stopping once the hardware is built.

 

Interview Process

• 2 interview rounds  for Firmware.

 

MUST HAVE

• 3–4+ years relevant embedded/firmware experience
• 1+ year ESP32 development
• Hands-on microcontroller development

PREFERRED

• 4–7 years total experience
• ~2 years ESP32 experience
• Experience with multiple microcontroller platforms
• Hardware startup experience
• Hardware development agency experience
• Worked across multiple hardware products
• Strong hands-on/developer mindset