---
title: 'Group Lead, Firmware & Software at HRL Laboratories'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/group-lead-firmware-software-hrl-laboratories-calabasas-4qrzfqbk36kv'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-30'
---

# Group Lead, Firmware & Software at HRL Laboratories

- **Company:** HRL Laboratories
- **Location:** Calabasas, CA
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-28
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-30
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/dodmg/cb397158-c633-4e8a-9e3a-f0bab71f5a47

## Job description

HRL Laboratories, an IBM company, pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers – ready for real-world application. For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other — often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways. As a private company owned by IBM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art. HRL Laboratories develops radiofrequency, millimeter-wave and electro-optical sensors using state-of-the-art materials and device fabrication processes to deliver agile, mission-ready systems. Our high-performance solutions are highly integrated, architecturally low cost, and optimized for size, weight and power efficiency while leveraging commercial, custom and novel mixed-signal innovations. We are seeking a hands-on technical leader to serve as Manager of the Firmware & Software group within the Product Development team, reporting to the Senior Manager, Product Development. The group develops embedded firmware, control software and test software that make our sensor systems work. The role consists of roughly 25% management and 75% technical contributions. Key Responsibilities:

- Lead a team of firmware and software engineers: assign work, recruit, mentor, and provide formal and informal performance feedback
- Serve as technical lead and subject matter expert for embedded control, FPGA/SoC firmware and system software across RF and sensor programs
- Contribute hands-on design, coding, debugging and review of firmware and software deliverables
- Define, document and enforce development best practices, including version control, merge requests, code review, CI/CD and unit testing
- Support system integration and test, providing rapid design updates, and develop test automation for hardware-in-the-loop testing
- Estimate effort and schedule for firmware and software tasks, report status to program managers, and contribute to proposals and customer briefings Required Qualifications:
- B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science
- 7+ years of experience in embedded firmware or software development, including 2+ years as a technical lead or supervisor
- Proficiency in C/C++ and Python; experience with HDL (Verilog/VHDL, HLS)
- Experience with FPGAs, DSPs and microcontrollers; Xilinx/AMD SoC experience strongly preferred
- Experience with Git/GitLab and modern development practices (code review, CI/CD, unit testing)
- Experience with RF and high-speed digital test equipment
- Ability to interact professionally with program managers, co-workers and customers Preferred Qualifications:
- Embedded Linux and real-time operating system experience
- Working knowledge of RF components, communication, radar or EW systems
- Experience delivering software under DoD documentation and configuration-management standards Physical Requirements:
- Proficiency with computers, engineering workstations and complex electronic equipment; strong oral and written communication
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, both independently and in teams Special Requirements:
- US Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government security clearance
- Active Clearance is a plus Compensation and Benefits: Pay Range: $154,500 - $197,900 Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location (California). The range displayed on each job posting reflects the target range for new hire salaries for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process. Benefits: HRL offers a generous and very competitive total compensation and benefits package. Our Regular/Full Time benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401K match, gym facilities, PTO, Sick time, upward mobility, and an exciting and challenging work environment. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: https://www.hrl.com/careers/benefits Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.) Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At HRL, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission For our privacy policy please visit: www.hrl.com/privacy

## About HRL Laboratories

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: HRL Laboratories (formerly Hughes Research Laboratories) is a private R&D lab jointly owned by Boeing and General Motors that pioneers transformative technologies in physical and information science for aerospace, automotive, and defense applications.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Limited Liability Company, LLC) — owned by The Boeing Company and General Motors
- **Headquarters**: Malibu, California, USA (with additional campuses in Calabasas and Westlake Village, CA)
- **Founded**: 1948 (as Hughes Research Laboratories); restructured as an LLC in 1997
- **Founders**: Founded as the research arm of Hughes Aircraft Company (Howard Hughes); current entity formed by Boeing and GM

## Core Business
- **Primary Industries**: Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Advanced Materials, Microelectronics, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Science, and Sensor Systems
- **Target Customers**: Boeing, General Motors (LLC Members), U.S. Government (DoD), and commercial customers requiring deep-tech R&D
- **Mission / Purpose**: To conduct basic and applied research that transitions into real-world applications, removing limitations and creating competitive advantage for its customers — prioritizing purpose over profit

## Products & Services
For each major offering:
- **Applied R&D Services**: Full-spectrum research from basic science through prototype development and transition to production for member companies and government clients.
- **Microfabrication & Semiconductor Fabrication**: Operates a 10,000-square-foot Class 10 cleanroom (ISO Class 4) for end-to-end production of integrated circuits, compound semiconductor devices, quantum devices, memristors, and photonic devices. DoD Trusted Foundry status.
- **Advanced Materials & Manufacturing**: Development of engineered structural and active materials, coatings, nanotechnologies, and metal additive manufacturing (3D printing of metals).
- **Artificial Intelligence & Cognitive Systems**: Neuromorphic computing, brain-machine interfaces, graph machine learning, agentic AI, and automated knowledge extraction.
- **Sensors & Electronics**: Small/conformal antennas, RF technologies, optoelectronics for microwave signal distribution, and quantum information science.
- **Vision Systems**: Infrared systems, focal plane arrays, and advanced imaging technologies.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (private LLC)
- **Key Metric**: Total Revenue not publicly disclosed; funded by Boeing and GM as member-owned R&D entity; government and commercial contracts
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: The Boeing Company (joint owner), General Motors (joint owner), U.S. Department of Defense (DoD Trusted Foundry)
- **Growth Signals**: Active hiring across multiple advanced technology centers; 250,000 sq. ft. of lab space; 70+ years of continuous operation with a rich patent portfolio; expanding in AI, quantum, and additive manufacturing domains

## Competitive Advantages
- **Unique Ownership Structure**: A private R&D lab jointly owned by two Fortune 500 companies (Boeing and GM) that prioritizes long-term research over quarterly profit — extremely rare in corporate R&D.
- **Deep Tech Portfolio & History**: 70+ years of breakthrough innovations (e.g., first working laser, key components for LCD displays, quantum cascade lasers) with a culture of cross-disciplinary discovery.
- **DoD Trusted Foundry**: One of the few facilities in the U.S. certified to fabricate secure microelectronics for defense applications, providing a major government contract moat.
- **World-Class Facilities**: 10,000 sq. ft. Class 10 cleanroom, 250,000 sq. ft. total lab space, and a multidisciplinary staff of world-class scientists and engineers across materials science, physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, and computer science.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current Priorities**: Expanding capabilities in agentic AI and graph machine learning, metal additive manufacturing (computational materials science), quantum information science, and advanced MEMS/process integration. Growing the workforce in intelligent systems, sensors & electronics, and vision systems.
- **Direction for Growth**: Transitioning more foundational research into real-world products for Boeing, GM, and government customers; strengthening the "AI + hardware" intersection; recruiting top-tier PhD-level talent across physics, materials, and computer science.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & Mission**: A "small company atmosphere" with the resources of a major R&D lab. Employees conduct both basic and applied research in a collaborative technical environment committed to "producing the leading R&D in the world." [hrl.com](https://hrl.com/careers)
- **Work Location**: On-site roles primarily in Malibu, CA (overlooking the Pacific Ocean) and Calabasas, CA. Some hybrid options exist (e.g., Agentic AI role listed as Hybrid in Calabasas). [hrl.com](https://hrl.com/careers) and [jobs.lever.co](https://jobs.lever.co/dodmg)
- **Benefits & Perks**:
    - **Compensation**: Competitive salary; generous 401(k) with 100% match on first 4% + age-based employer contributions. [hrl.com](https://hrl.com/careers/benefits)
    - **Time Off**: 14 paid holidays per year (including year-end break); flexible PTO (up to 15 days after 1 year, up to 25 days after 10 years); 80 hours sick time granted on hire. [hrl.com](https://hrl.com/careers/benefits)
    - **Parental Leave**: 12 weeks fully paid parental leave. [hrl.com](https://hrl.com/careers/benefits)
    - **Education**: 100% tuition reimbursement for approved programs. [hrl.com](https://hrl.com/careers/benefits)
    - **Health**: Multiple medical plans (PPO, HMO, HDHP HSA), employer-paid vision and dental, HSA contributions, family planning support.
    - **Workplace**: On-site fitness centers (Lost Hills & Westlake), Malibu dining terrace with ocean views, ridesharing incentives, employee discounts, colloquia series with noted speakers. [hrl.com](https://hrl.com/careers/benefits)
- **Engineering/Research Culture**: Multidisciplinary teams working on cutting-edge problems in AI, quantum, materials, microelectronics, and sensors. Employees are expected to publish and patent, contributing to both basic science and applied engineering. Provides "unique career growth opportunities as a member of the research community serving our LLC Members, government and commercial customers." [hrl.com](https://hrl.com/careers)

## Sources
1. [HRL Laboratories Careers](https://hrl.com/careers)
2. [HRL Laboratories About](https://www.hrl.com/about)
3. [Current Openings at HRL](https://hrl.com/careers/current-openings)
4. [HRL Benefits](https://hrl.com/careers/benefits)
5. [HRL Job Listings (Lever)](https://jobs.lever.co/dodmg)

## Other roles at HRL Laboratories

- [Senior Manager, Product Development](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manager-product-development-hrl-laboratories-calabasas-g23yff2grvmt) — Calabasas, CA
- [Senior Hardware Engineer, Radar Systems](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-hardware-engineer-radar-systems-hrl-laboratories-calabasas-kyg1k4d1ccvk) — Calabasas, CA
- [Senior Electrical Engineer, RF PCB Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-electrical-engineer-rf-pcb-specialist-hrl-laboratories-calabasas-7wzx60wd4s7k) — Calabasas, CA
- [Senior Mechanical Engineer, Infrared Systems](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-infrared-systems-hrl-laboratories-camarillo-8amwsdk84v9a) — Camarillo, CA
- [Front-End Processing Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/front-end-processing-manager-hrl-laboratories-camarillo-vh9kf8vmv578) — Camarillo, CA
- [Mechanical Engineer: RF Subsystems](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-rf-subsystems-hrl-laboratories-calabasas-rqa7zkpcvmbd) — Calabasas, CA
- [Senior Radar Systems Architect](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-radar-systems-architect-hrl-laboratories-calabasas-khhm4mz6b819) — Calabasas, CA
- [Thermal R&D Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/thermal-r-d-engineer-hrl-laboratories-malibu-8tg4yy85jj8b) — Malibu, CA
- [Research Program Manager, Sensors](https://feeny.ai/job/research-program-manager-sensors-hrl-laboratories-malibu-47p3gqpxnt2k) — Malibu, CA
- [Electrical Test Engineer, Advanced Sensors](https://feeny.ai/job/electrical-test-engineer-advanced-sensors-hrl-laboratories-malibu-mwmg445yw7jr) — Malibu, CA