---
title: 'Principal Embedded Software Engineer at Third Pole, Inc.'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-embedded-software-engineer-third-pole-inc-waltham-e3a5hjdes6ag'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-10'
---

# Principal Embedded Software Engineer at Third Pole, Inc.

- **Company:** Third Pole, Inc.
- **Location:** Waltham, MA
- **Posted:** 2025-09-24
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/thirdpoleinc/jobs/4612288005

## Job description

Third Pole is on a mission to expand the lifesaving benefits of Nitric Oxide inhalation therapy, making it accessible to millions of respiratory challenged newborns and adults around the world. This is a rare opportunity to be part of a rapidly growing team, making a huge social impact, touching the lives of those we love and care about most.

We are a fast-paced startup developing a game-changing technology that generates Nitric Oxide on demand, at the patient location, from the air we breathe. Our Third Pole community is grounded in the values of collaboration, embracing diverse ideas, commitment, and transparency without the politics found in most companies. Our motto is we are only successful if we all cross the finish line together! Sound like you?

The Principal Software Engineer provides expertise in the design, development, characterization, and testing of complex software/firmware used to drive and manage complex electromechanical medical devices. In this role you will interface with a strong multidisciplinary team across the full product development life cycle including requirements, risk, implementation and testing activities. This position is full-time onsite in Waltham, MA.

Responsibilities:

- Collaboratively work with Systems Engineering to translate system level requirements into product architectures making tradeoff decisions regarding hardware and software partitioning
- Uses modeling, hardware-in-the-loop simulation and actual devices to develop, debug and test complex systems to meet required performance
- Develop software subsystem architectures aligned to product level requirements and architectures including software requirements definitions and sub-system designs
- Design and develop software/firmware utilizing C and C++ on embedded real time operating systems (RTOS) following company and industry requirements and best practices
- Performs advanced risk analyses using FMEA and fault tree methods. Works with other engineering disciplines to develop, implement, and verify solutions
- Perform software verification including code reviews, writing unit test cases, and running static analysis
- Document system design inputs and outputs using the Third Pole’s design control and document management system
- Evaluates product performance on an on-going basis and initiates and evaluates required changes to the designs to improve and optimize performance
- Solve complex software issues by analyzing critical factors and recommending corrective or alternative actions
- Ensures adherence to company quality system, product specifications, industry standards, and quality and regulatory procedures and requirements
- Maintains accurate documentation of concepts, designs, drawings, and processes through lab notebooks or other methods

Requirements:

- Bachelor’s Degree in Software or Electrical Engineering. Master’s degree preferred.
- 10+ years Software Engineering experience in the design and development of complex, real time software driven electromechanical Class II medical devices in C and C++; Class III experience preferred
- Detailed knowledge of key regulatory requirements included ISO 13485, ISO 14971, ISO 62304 as well as FDA QSR 21 CFR Part 820
- Recent microcontroller experience
- Experience with electronic design control and document management systems preferred
- Ability to work independently with high competency and little guidance.
- Must be a creative problem solver that can think outside of the box to develop novel solutions to complex problems
- Must be able to work in a fast paced, high energy, collaborative team that possesses a strong sense of urgency
- Strong design control and documentation skills
- Strong analytical and leadership skills

## About Third Pole, Inc.

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Third Pole, Inc. develops next-generation, portable inhaled nitric oxide (NO) therapy devices that generate the gas on-demand from air, aiming to make life-saving heart and lung treatment accessible anywhere in the world.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B – latest round Series B‑IV)
- **Headquarters**: Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
- **Founded**: 2014
- **Founders**: Not publicly available (key technology based on innovations by Professor Warren Zapol of Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Medical equipment manufacturing, inhaled nitric oxide therapy for cardiopulmonary conditions.
- **Target customers**: B2B – hospitals, acute‑care settings, and potentially outpatient clinics; also serves newborn and adult respiratory‑challenged patients.
- **Mission or purpose statement**: “Making life‑saving benefits of Inhaled Nitric Oxide accessible… On Demand… Anywhere in the World.”

## Products & Services
- **Portable Nitric Oxide Generation Device** (in development): A lightweight, investigational medical device that produces pure nitric oxide from air on‑demand, eliminating the need for large compressed gas cylinders. Designed for bedside and portable use in both acute‑care and non‑acute settings. Type: Hardware + embedded software (medical device).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not disclosed.
- **Key Metric**: Total funding – conflicting reports: **$121.4M** (per LinkedIn) or **$157.79M** (per CB Insights). The most recent round was a Series B‑IV (December 2023, amount not specified).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Saturn Partners, Avenue Venture Partners, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLabs (Johnson & Johnson), Acorn Campus Taiwan, Avenue Capital Group (led a $15M debt financing round).
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - 28 employees (+6.7% YoY as of 2025).
  - Active clinical trials (dosed first patient in a trial; concluded another trial in February 2024).
  - 37+ patents filed, covering NO generation, humidity control, delivery systems, and infection prevention.
  - Active hiring for multiple Principal Engineer roles (Embedded Software, Electrical, Mechanical, Systems, etc.).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Proprietary on‑demand NO generation technology**: Converts ambient air into pure inhaled NO, removing the need for heavy, costly compressed gas cylinders and logistics.
- **Portability and ease of use**: Enables NO therapy in settings beyond the ICU (e.g., ambulances, rural clinics, home care).
- **Strong IP moat**: Extensive patent portfolio covering core generation methods, humidity control, and delivery architectures.
- **Scientific pedigree**: Rooted in the original discovery of NO’s biological role (Nobel Prize) and decades of research at Harvard/MGH.

## Strategic Focus
- Complete clinical trials and obtain regulatory approvals (FDA, international) for the portable device.
- Scale manufacturing and commercialize the device for global markets, particularly in underserved regions.
- Expand the indications for inhaled NO therapy beyond newborns to adults with respiratory failure or pulmonary hypertension.
- Continue to build out the engineering team and advance the technology platform.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission‑driven**: Direct impact on saving lives, especially for respiratory‑challenged newborns and adults.
- **Engineering culture**: Emphasis on embedded systems, algorithms, and mechanical design – developing “game‑changing technology” that touches patients worldwide.
- **Growth stage**: With a cleared Series B and active trials, the company is at an inflection point; hires can shape the product and processes.
- **Team background**: Alumni from Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, Philips, Boston Scientific, and other top med‑tech companies.
- **Work environment**: Not explicitly stated as remote/hybrid; office in Waltham, MA. Perks not detailed, but the LinkedIn employer rating is **3.7/5** (31 reviews), with compensation rated 4.0/5.
- **Active job postings**: Principal Embedded Software Engineer (and other Principal roles as of 2025) – signaling a focus on building core product engineering.

## Sources
1. [Third Pole Therapeutics – Company Website](https://www.pole3.com/)
2. [Third Pole Therapeutics – Careers Page](https://www.pole3.com/company/careers/)
3. [Third Pole Therapeutics – Company History](https://www.pole3.com/company/)
4. [Third Pole Therapeutics – LinkedIn Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/company/third-pole-inc.)
5. [Third Pole – CB Insights Profile](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/third-pole)

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