--- title: 'Firmware Engineer II at Epia Neuro' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/firmware-engineer-ii-epia-neuro-alameda-pck7dqwt2nte' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-11-02' --- # Firmware Engineer II at Epia Neuro - **Company:** Epia Neuro - **Location:** Alameda, CA - **Compensation:** $115k–$140k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-10-31 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-02 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/epianeuro/76794c70-f323-4e85-8f7c-7a4953b1220f ## Job description ## About Us Epia Neuro is a neural technology company developing intent-driven systems designed to restore function and independence for people living with neurological conditions. Its platform integrates implantable neural interfaces, adaptive algorithms, and assistive devices to translate neural intent into real-world action. The company's initial focus is stroke-related motor impairment, with expansion into cognitive decline and other neurological disorders, focusing on long-term solutions for the growing aging population. ## The Role We're looking for a Firmware Engineer II who is passionate about developing and testing embedded software for medical devices. You'll contribute to the design, implementation, and testing of firmware for our implantable neural interfaces and external devices, working across the embedded software development lifecycle—from hardware bring-up and device drivers to application development, integration, and verification. This is a hands-on engineering role combining strong technical skills with exceptional attention to detail. You'll work closely with hardware, software, and research teams to build robust embedded systems that meet the demanding requirements of regulated medical devices. ## What You'll Do Embedded Firmware Development - Design, develop, test, and maintain embedded firmware in C/C++ for implantable and external medical devices. - Develop device drivers, communication interfaces, and application-level firmware for microcontroller-based systems. - Implement firmware features involving hardware peripherals, real-time operation, custom ASICs, and communication protocols. - Develop Python scripts and applications to interface with embedded devices for testing, debugging, and characterization. - Participate in firmware design discussions and code reviews, contributing to software quality, reliability, and maintainability. Hardware Integration & Testing - Support hardware bring-up, firmware integration, and troubleshooting of embedded systems. - Debug hardware and firmware issues using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG/SWD debuggers, and other laboratory equipment. - Develop and execute unit tests, integration tests, and automated tests to verify firmware functionality and reliability. - Collaborate with hardware, software, and research teams to integrate firmware with the broader medical-device system. Regulated Development & Documentation - Develop firmware within our regulated quality management system and software lifecycle, contributing to requirements, design, verification, and documentation consistent with ISO 13485 and IEC 62304. - Document firmware designs, interfaces, test procedures, and verification results to support development and regulatory activities. - Investigate defects, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions to improve firmware quality and reliability. ## Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. - 2+ years of professional experience developing embedded firmware or embedded software. - Strong proficiency in C/C++ for microcontroller-based embedded systems. - Experience with microcontrollers (e.g., ARM Cortex-M), hardware peripherals, interrupts, and embedded communication protocols such as UART, SPI, and I2C. - Experience with Python for scripting, automation, or embedded device testing. - Experience debugging embedded systems using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and hardware debuggers. - Ability to read schematics and understand basic digital and analog electronics. - Familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and embedded software design principles. - Experience using Git and participating in collaborative software development. - Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with attention to detail and the ability to independently develop, debug, and test firmware features and collaborate across engineering disciplines. ## Nice to Have - Experience with Nordic Semiconductor nRF microcontrollers, the nRF Connect SDK, and Zephyr RTOS. - Experience with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), USB, or other embedded communication interfaces. - Experience developing low-power, battery-operated embedded systems. - Experience with automated firmware testing, unit testing frameworks, or CI/CD pipelines. - Experience with static code analysis tools and embedded debugging tools such as Segger J-Link or GDB. - Experience developing software for medical devices or other regulated or safety-critical systems. - Familiarity with IEC 62304, ISO 13485, ISO 14971, or medical-device design controls. - Familiarity with secure firmware development and medical-device cybersecurity requirements. Physical Requirements - Ability to work on site, including hands-on testing with prototype devices, laboratory equipment, and participation in hardware bring-up and integration sessions. ## How We Work - We are intentional. We prioritize and are thoughtful about how we use others' time. - We care for others. We prioritize safety both for patients and one another. - We own outcomes, not just tasks. Our work demands the highest standards because it impacts real patients and real lives. - Humility is a strength. We are honest about what we know and what we don't know. Getting it right matters more than being right. Location This role is based in Alameda, CA, on site 5 days a week. ## Benefits Full-time employees are eligible for the following benefits: - Competitive base salary with equity - 100% of healthcare coverage for you and your dependents - Generous vacation policy - Paid parental leave - Work from our waterfront office in Alameda, CA, with access to collaborative spaces and labs ## About Epia Neuro ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Epia Neuro is developing a minimally invasive, implantable brain-computer interface system that translates neural intent into real-world action, starting with stroke recovery and expanding to cognitive decline and other neurological disorders. - **Entity Type**: Private (stealth-stage startup – officially launched April 2026; no funding round disclosed) - **Headquarters**: Alameda, California, United States - **Founded**: 2026 (official launch); development began approximately 2021 - **Founders**: Michel Maharbiz, Ph.D. (CEO) and Gil Mandelbaum, Ph.D. (CTO & Science Officer) ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Medical Equipment Manufacturing / Neurotechnology (Brain-Computer Interfaces) - **Target customers**: B2B – hospitals, neurosurgery departments, rehabilitation clinics; B2C – stroke survivors and individuals with movement or cognitive impairments - **Mission statement**: “To address the gap between intent and action” – building neurotechnology that gives back the freedom to move and think ## Products & Services - **Implantable Brain Interface**: A proprietary neural interface that captures signals without piercing the dura. Designed for sub-hour implantation by any neurosurgeon. Supports both sensing (reading neural intent) and stimulation (closed-loop therapy). Rechargeable non-invasively via headset and built with a cradle system for future upgrades without additional invasive surgery. - **Decoder System / Closed-Loop Intelligence**: Adaptive algorithms that interpret neural signals in real time and adjust stimulation parameters continuously, building a personalized “longitudinal map” of each patient’s neural activity. - **Wearable Grip Assist**: A lightweight, daily-use motor prosthetic that helps stroke survivors grasp, hold, and release objects. Developed with input from survivors, advocates, and clinicians. - **Platform Expansion**: The stroke therapy acts as a proof-of-concept for treating epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, cognitive decline, and other neurological conditions through combined sensing and deep brain stimulation. ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not publicly available (company is pre‑revenue and privately held) - **Key Metric**: Total funding – not publicly disclosed (company is “totally independent” according to Inside BCI, with no disclosed investors) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Institutional advisors include Mass General Hospital, Lenox Hill Hospital (first‑in‑human trial site), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Harvard Medical School. No formal investor list has been released. - **Growth Signals**: Official launch April 2026; plans for first‑in‑human system demonstrations at Lenox Hill Hospital (New York) later in 2026; headcount of 24 employees (as of mid‑2026) with active hiring across engineering, electrical systems, and clinical roles; increasing LinkedIn follower base (1,459) and strong social engagement on launch posts. ## Competitive Advantages - **Minimally Invasive**: Implant sits entirely within the skull, no breach of dura – reduces surgical risk compared to penetrating cortical BCIs. - **Quick Procedure & Scalability**: Designed for sub‑hour implantation by any neurosurgeon, facilitating broad clinical adoption. - **Upgradable & Long‑Life**: Cradle system allows device upgrades without additional surgery. Rechargeable headset eliminates the need for battery‑replacement surgeries. - **Closed‑Loop Read/Write**: Both senses neural signals and delivers stimulation, enabling adaptive, real‑time therapy (beyond read‑only BCIs). - **Platform Approach**: Stroke motor recovery is the entry point; the same hardware/software stack can address epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and cognitive decline, creating a large addressable market (estimated >$5B US opportunity for stroke alone). ## Strategic Focus - **Near‑term**: Complete first‑in‑human demos, prepare for regulatory submissions (FDA), and scale the engineering team. - **Medium‑term**: Leverage stroke clinical data to build evidence for cognitive decline and other indications; broaden the implant’s deep brain stimulation capabilities. - **Long‑term**: Become a standard‑of‑care neural interface platform for a wide range of neurological disorders, with an emphasis on “widely accessible” neurotechnology. ## Why Work Here - **Mission‑Driven**: Employees directly contribute to restoring independence for stroke survivors and people with neurological conditions (“If you want your work to restore independence for millions of people, we want to hear from you.”) - **Cutting‑Edge Technology**: Work on the frontier of medical BCI, combining implantable hardware, adaptive AI, and real‑time neural decoding. - **Early‑Stage Culture**: As a recently launched startup (~24 employees), you’ll have outsized impact on product design, clinical strategy, and company trajectory. - **Multidisciplinary Team**: Composed of engineers, neuroscientists, and operations leaders from iota Biosciences, UC Berkeley, Harvard, and industry. - **Work Style**: Likely in‑office in Alameda, CA (with a small presence in Canada); no formal remote/hybrid policy announced yet. - **Active Hiring**: Open roles include Staff/Principal Electrical Systems Engineer, Analog Mixed‑Signal Design Engineer, and other technical positions (see careers page). ## Sources 1. [epianeuro.com](https://www.epianeuro.com/) 2. [businesswire.com](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260402282679/en/Epia-Neuro-Launches-to-Develop-Intent-Driven-Neural-Technology-to-Restore-Function-After-Stroke-and-Address-Cognitive-Decline) 3. [linkedin.com/company/epia-neuro](https://www.linkedin.com/company/epia-neuro) 4. [insidebci.com](https://insidebci.com/news/2026-04-22-maharbiz-launches-epia-neuro-stroke-focused-bci-built-for-lifelong-assistive-use/) ## Other roles at Epia Neuro - [Senior Data Scientist](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-data-scientist-epia-neuro-alameda-1tehd3tdbt48) — Alameda, CA - [Principal Design Engineer, Analog Mixed-Signal (AMS)](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-design-engineer-analog-mixed-signal-ams-epia-neuro-alameda-dt3jvye9bk9n) — Alameda, CA - [Technical Project Manager, Software & Firmware](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-project-manager-software-firmware-epia-neuro-alameda-hftqbv9pvmhn) — Alameda, CA - [Staff Mechanical Engineer, Pilot Manufacturing](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-mechanical-engineer-pilot-manufacturing-epia-neuro-alameda-y5wx0zpn1r5v) — Alameda, CA - [Staff Robotics Hardware Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-robotics-hardware-engineer-epia-neuro-alameda-sx7xvegzweq7) — Alameda, CA - [Senior Quality Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-quality-engineer-epia-neuro-alameda-z9sgaq9ss6zq) — Alameda, CA - [Staff/Principal Machine Learning Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-principal-machine-learning-engineer-epia-neuro-alameda-60nmw4e1knq6) — Alameda, CA - [Staff Mobile Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-mobile-software-engineer-epia-neuro-alameda-gxhps6xw5m9g) — Alameda, CA - [Future Opportunities – Talent Network](https://feeny.ai/job/future-opportunities-talent-network-epia-neuro-alameda-4gc7jj8vbj29) — Alameda, CA - [Staff Electrical Systems Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-electrical-systems-engineer-epia-neuro-alameda-8km7716xs9pw) — Alameda, CA