---
title: 'Device Software Engineer, Gateway/Embedded Linux at SPAN'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/device-software-engineer-gateway-embedded-linux-span-san-francisco-9w21fhbewan3'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-11'
---

# Device Software Engineer, Gateway/Embedded Linux at SPAN

- **Company:** SPAN
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Compensation:** $180k–$210k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2025-12-17
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/span/05030431-e289-4428-a55f-337fe69b559c/application

**Skills:** C, C++, Rust, Python, Linux, UART, I2C, USB, Embedded Linux, Embedded Systems, STM32-bit Microcontrollers, Functional Safety, UL 60730, ISO 26262, IEC 61508, UL 1998, Diagnostic Command Line Tools, WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee

> The Staff Device Software Engineer owns the full lifecycle of embedded Linux hardware components, from bootloaders to high-level applications. This role involves integrating with third-party devices, managing regulatory frameworks, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver MVP solutions that impact th...

## Job description

## Our Mission

SPAN is enabling electrification for all ⚡

We are a mission-driven company designing, building, and deploying products that electrify the built environment, reduce carbon emissions, and slow the effects of climate change.

- Decarbonization is the process to reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide, from entering our atmosphere.
- Electrification is the process of replacing fossil fuel appliances that run on gas or oil with all-electric upgrades for a cleaner way to power our lives.

At SPAN, we believe in:

- Enabling homes and vehicles powered by clean energy
- Making electrification upgrades possible
- Building more resilient homes with reliable backup
- Designing a flexible and distributed electrical grid

## The Role

SPAN’s Embedded Applications team is responsible for the full lifecycle of new strategic products, features, and integrations. We are focused on quickly building minimum viable solutions that will help unlock market segments and increase sales. We look for friendly, motivated engineers who enjoy working with their peers to drive impact and move the business forward. Engineers on this team work directly with the broader cross-functional strategic team including product, mobile software, cloud software, and hardware. You will have the opportunity to be the engineering owner for new strategic initiatives that impact any of our hardware components from microcontrollers up through application stack in embedded Linux. This can include everything from bootloaders on systems without an OS up through applications in C and C++ inside an RTOS, to system services and applications written in Rust and Python in embedded Linux. Hardware products are central to SPAN’s business and writing firmware for even our smallest microcontrollers means working on something that directly impacts the user experience. Representative Projects

- Integrations with smart networked third party home energy devices: work across teams to define MVP, manage external partners, define architecture, and lead the implementation
- The regulatory frameworks that govern our electrical systems and devices are updated from time to time. In some cases, changes here may create market demand for electrical products. To unlock new markets, we may work with our product and certification teams to design new features or capabilities and lead the implementation.
- We are always looking for ways to bring additional value to our customers and the strategic team is generally responsible for delivering these products and features. For example, a new SPAN Drive charge mode may help customers save on their electricity bills and get more out of their existing solar panels.

## About You

Required Qualifications We are seeking a Firmware/Embedded Linux engineer with:

- 5 or more years of experience writing software for a hardware device (primarily in a Linux environment) in Rust, Python, and/or C/C++
- Strong fundamentals in modern software design with awareness of concerns like multiprocess, multithreading, and memory management
- Experience working with standard electrical communication interfaces like UART, I2C, USB, etc.
- Exceptional interpersonal communication and collaboration skills. Great at building trust and driving decisions to a resolution
- Track record of taking ownership of projects and willingness to help others with theirs, from design and code review through to mentorship of new employees

Bonus Qualifications We do not expect any engineer to have all skills, but we do want you to be excited to learn and grow. Every Device Software Engineer is free to roam up and down our device software stack, so any combination of the following skills is welcome but not required.

- Experience with functional safety and processes and standards like UL 60730, ISO 26262, IEC 61508, and UL 1998
- Experience writing higher level system or application software such as diagnostic command line tools or the application side of a communication interface
- Wireless technologies like LTE, WiFi, Thread, and Zigbee
- Hands-on experience with electronics lab equipment
- Experience with clean energy hardware in a multidisciplinary environment

Life at SPAN Headquartered in San Francisco’s vibrant SoMa neighborhood, we are an eclectic group of creative thinkers who value open communication, teamwork, and a ‘make it happen’ approach to addressing complex challenges. SPAN embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We’re hiring talented individuals who are driven by success and are passionate about shaping the future of renewable energy. If that sounds like you, we’d love for you to consider joining the rapidly growing team at SPAN. The Perks: ⚡ Competitive compensation + equity grants at a well-funded, venture-backed company ⚡ Comprehensive benefits: 100% employee premiums for base plans on medical, dental, vision with options for additional coverage.  Parental leave up to twenty four (24)  weeks depending on eligibility ⚡ Comfortable, sunny office space located near BART and Caltrain public transit ⚡ Strong focus on team building and company culture: Employee Resource Groups, monthly social events, SPANcakes recognition breakfast, lunch, and learns ⚡ Flexible hours and flexible time off

Interested in joining our team? Apply today and we’ll be in touch with the next steps!

## About SPAN

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: SPAN designs and manufactures a smart electrical panel that replaces traditional circuit breakers, providing real-time, circuit-level energy management and control to optimize home energy use.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, USA
- **Founded**: 2018
- **Founders**: Not publicly available

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Smart Home Energy Management, Clean Technology, Electrical Infrastructure
- **Target customers**: B2C (homeowners), B2B (builders, installers, and partners in the solar/battery/HVAC ecosystem)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: "Decarbonize our future" by designing, building, and deploying products that electrify homes and slow the effects of climate change [span.io/about](https://www.span.io/about).

## Products & Services
- **SPAN Panel**: A smart electrical panel that replaces a home’s standard circuit breaker box. It provides real-time, circuit-level energy data, control, and automation via an intuitive mobile app. It manages all electricity in the home, enabling smarter energy use, cost savings, and longer backup power during outages.
- **SPAN Home App**: The software interface for the SPAN Panel. It offers an all-in-one dashboard for real-time energy monitoring, circuit-level control, and energy-saving insights.
- **SPAN PowerUp**: An integrated technology within the SPAN Panel that automatically manages appliance loads to prevent overloads, allowing homeowners to add major appliances (like EV chargers, heat pumps) without costly utility service upgrades.
- **SPAN XFRA**: A distributed data center solution announced in April 2026, designed to close the speed-to-power gap for AI compute demand [span.io](https://www.span.io/).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding raised of **$426.72M** (Series C) [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/spanio)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Partners include Tesla, Carrier, Eaton, FranklinWH, and Mitsubishi Electric [span.io](https://www.span.io/).
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Ranked **#5 out of top 500 startups** [span.io/mission-careers](https://www.span.io/mission-careers).
  - Launched a campaign with Carrier, Tesla, and others to lower electricity costs by unlocking underused grid capacity (March 2026).
  - Announced a collaboration with Eaton (March 2026).
  - Expanding into distributed data center solutions with XFRA (April 2026).

## Competitive Advantages
- **First-mover in smart panels**: SPAN reinvented the 100-year-old electrical panel, creating a new category of home energy management.
- **Hardware + Software Moat**: The combination of a physical panel (UL 1741 PCS certified) with sophisticated software for circuit-level control is difficult to replicate.
- **Ecosystem Integrations**: Deep partnerships with major players like Tesla, Carrier, and Eaton create a sticky, integrated product experience.
- **Safety & Reliability**: Unrivaled leadership in electrical safety, meeting rigorous industry standards (NEMA 3R rated for indoor/outdoor placement).

## Strategic Focus
- **Electrification of homes**: Core mission is to enable all-electric homes with solar, battery storage, EV charging, and heat pumps.
- **Grid modernization**: Pushing for policy changes and technologies (like the campaign with Carrier and Tesla) to unlock underused grid capacity.
- **New market expansion**: Moving beyond residential into distributed data center infrastructure with XFRA.
- **Deepening integrations**: Continued collaboration with major OEMs to ensure seamless installation and interoperability.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven**: Employees are united by the goal to decarbonize the world and slow climate change [span.io/about](https://www.span.io/about).
- **Company values**: "Know your stuff" (curiosity, expertise), "Make it happen" (execution mindset), and "In it together" (team success) [span.io/mission-careers](https://www.span.io/mission-careers).
- **Growth & recognition**: Ranked #5 out of top 500 startups, indicating strong momentum and market validation.
- **Culture**: "Safe, productive, and flexible work environment that enables innovation and creativity" [span.io/mission-careers](https://www.span.io/mission-careers).
- **Compensation & benefits**: Competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, flexible paid time off, and team-building/career growth opportunities.
- **Locations**: Offices in San Francisco (HQ), South San Francisco (R&D Lab), and Bengaluru, India.
- **Employee Resource Groups**: Active ERGs for community connection.

## Sources
1. [span.io](https://www.span.io/)
2. [span.io/about](https://www.span.io/about)
3. [span.io/mission-careers](https://www.span.io/mission-careers)
4. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/spanio)
5. [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/spanio)

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