---
title: 'Senior Firmware Engineer at Sofar Ocean'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-firmware-engineer-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-n8jw4vhpx2rj'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-06'
---

# Senior Firmware Engineer at Sofar Ocean

- **Company:** Sofar Ocean
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-08-10
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-06
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/sofarocean/961f5e3b-0c32-4186-884c-738b9b2f8b9a

## Job description

## THE ROLE

You will be a key contributor to the embedded firmware design and implementation of all our hardware products: Spotter, Smart Mooring, next generation platforms and Sofar’s new open hardware connectivity stack — Bristlemouth https://www.bristlemouth.org. You thrive in small and collaborative multidisciplinary teams, and are eager to pitch in to debug and solve gnarly issues. You take pride in your craft. You strive to improve the health of our oceans and planet by shipping a cohesive, elegant and impactful product.

This role will be working onsite from our Pier 28 office at least 3 days per week and reporting to our Senior Engineering Manager.

Some projects you’ll be a part of:

- Building new Bristlemouth integrations for Spotter and Smart Mooring and evolving the open source Bristlemouth core APIs
- Collaborating cross-functionally to build new features on existing platforms
- Developing next generation platforms
- Advanced research and experiments with new and emerging technologies
- Integrated system testing, open ocean deployments, and the occasional throwing of things out of airplanes to see what breaks

## RESPONSIBILITIES

- Design and implement efficient and maintainable FreeRTOS firmware with automated unit and integration tests in a mix of C and C++
- Break down complex efforts into parallelizable work streams for your team
- Implement host-side test, analysis and automation tools in Python
- Participate in code reviews, brainstorms and whiteboard sessions with your team
- Write crystal clear specifications and documentation for both external users and internal colleagues
- Work alongside electrical and mechanical engineers in designing, integrating, testing and debugging systems
- Advocating for the highest leverage features and fixes in product prioritization conversations
- Execute frequent releases for internal proprietary firmware as well as open source Bristlemouth firmware, following test plans, building installers, writing release notes, and announcing the releases in friendly and inviting communications for wide audiences

## MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS

- Excellent communication and collaboration skills
- Strong systems thinking ability
- Solid foundation of software architecture principles
- At least 5+ years of professional embedded firmware/software experience
- Prior experience as a tech lead for a firmware team
- Fluent in embedded C and C++
- Comfortable in Python
- Experience with FreeRTOS
- Breadth of technology experience including multiple embedded platforms
- An understanding of common hardware peripherals and interfaces

## BONUS POINTS

- Experience with multiple forms of radio telemetry
- Experience with IPv6 networking
- Experience with ARM Cortex-M0, M4, and M33 cores
- Past work in IoT, robotics, drones and/or automotive products
- A passion for or connection to the ocean

## About Sofar Ocean

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Sofar Ocean is an ocean intelligence platform that connects the world’s oceans to power a more sustainable future by deploying a global sensor network to provide real-time marine weather data and voyage optimization for shipping, research, and defense.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B-III)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2016
- **Founders**: Tim Janssen, PhD (Co-Founder & CEO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Marine Technology, Ocean Intelligence, Data Analytics, Maritime Shipping, Climate Tech
- **Target customers**: B2B — shipping companies, commercial operators, charterers, vessel performance managers, governments (NOAA, U.S. Navy), researchers, and defense organizations
- **Mission or purpose statement**: "To connect the world's oceans to power a more sustainable future."

## Products & Services
- **[Wayfinder](https://www.sofarocean.com/)**: Voyage optimization software that recommends the best route, speed, and schedule for each voyage. Built for shipping companies, it combines live maritime weather data, vessel performance models, and commercial constraints to cut fuel use and emissions while keeping schedules on track.
- **[Spotter Platform](https://www.sofarocean.com/)**: A global network of solar-powered sensing platforms that measure waves, weather, and subsurface data in real time. Used by governments, researchers, and defense for live ground truth data from the ocean. Capabilities include surface sensing (waves, wind, weather), subsurface sensing (sound, currents, temperature, water quality, water level), and mobile autonomous operations.
- **Marine Weather**: Real-time storm warnings, seakeeping alerts, and hyperlocal forecasts powered by the company’s own sensor network. Trusted by NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and the world's largest shipping fleets.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding raised of **$73.25M** (Series B-III, last raised ~1 year ago) [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/sofar-ocean-technologies)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Peter Rive (Chairman, founding team), NOAA, U.S. Navy, and the world's largest shipping fleets [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/about)
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Operates the largest privately-owned ocean sensor network in the world, collecting **1.5 million real-time observations daily** [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean)
  - Marine weather forecasts are **up to 50% more accurate** than traditional models [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean)
  - Over **2,500 Spotters deployed globally** and **25 million+ hours of ocean observations** collected [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/)
  - Trusted by NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and the world's largest shipping fleets [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/)
  - **125 total employees** [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Largest privately-owned ocean sensor network in the world** — a proprietary data moat that competitors cannot easily replicate.
- **50% more accurate marine weather forecasts** than traditional models, powered by real-time data from their own Spotter buoys [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean).
- **Proven traction with top-tier customers**: Trusted by NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and the world's largest shipping fleets [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/).
- **Hardware + Software + Data flywheel**: The Spotter hardware network feeds proprietary data into Wayfinder software, creating a self-reinforcing competitive advantage.
- **Mission-driven brand**: "If we have to choose between more profit or better oceans, we choose the ocean" — strong alignment with sustainability and climate goals.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scaling the sensor network**: Continuing to deploy Spotters globally to increase data density and forecast accuracy.
- **Expanding commercial shipping adoption**: Driving fuel savings (4–8% average reduction) and emissions reduction for the maritime industry.
- **Defense & government contracts**: Deepening relationships with NOAA, U.S. Navy, and other government agencies for ocean intelligence.
- **Product development**: Enhancing Wayfinder routing software and Spotter platform capabilities (mobile autonomous, subsurface sensing).
- **Global expansion**: Hiring for roles in APAC/Singapore, indicating international growth.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven culture**: "If we have to choose between more profit or better oceans, we choose the ocean" — strong environmental purpose [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers).
- **Hybrid work model**: Most roles are hybrid (combination of remote and on-site), with a beautiful waterfront office in San Francisco that is dog-friendly [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean).
- **Generous benefits**: Flexible PTO (plus 10 office closure days and the last week of December off), 12 weeks parental leave (with an additional 4 weeks for birthing parents), healthcare (medical, dental, vision), 401(K), company equity [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean).
- **Remote support**: One-time home office stipend for remote team members, relocation bonus for those moving to the Bay Area, Green Card & Visa sponsorship for eligible team members [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers).
- **Culture**: Team-driven celebrations, autonomy and ownership, annual onsite week with all remote team members, strong internal community of ocean-lovers, dog-friendly office [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers).
- **Values**: "Oceans First" — if they have to choose between more profit or better oceans, they choose the ocean. "Build for the mission, be pragmatic, and move fast. Ocean health can’t wait." [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers)

## Sources
1. [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/)
2. [sofarocean.com/company/careers](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers)
3. [sofarocean.com/company/about](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/about)
4. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean)
5. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/sofar-ocean-technologies)

## Other roles at Sofar Ocean

- [Senior Software Engineer — Maritime Optimization](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-maritime-optimization-sofar-ocean-united-states-pxsqwf5qsnqv) — United States
- [Senior Software Engineer — Fleet Workflow Integrations](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-fleet-workflow-integrations-sofar-ocean-san-diego-72xvd121nh2h) — San Diego, CA
- [Senior Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-zzwa5h3fhd97) — San Francisco, CA
- [Senior Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-d3rsdc2n3t52) — San Francisco, CA
- [Sourcing Partner, Talent Acquisition](https://feeny.ai/job/sourcing-partner-talent-acquisition-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-h6pea0hp4sbg) — San Francisco, CA
- [Science Engagement Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/science-engagement-lead-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-wnegda8ere7h) — San Francisco, CA
- [Defense Customer Success Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/defense-customer-success-lead-sofar-ocean-united-states-r6bayj4ybegk) — United States
- [Staff Scientist - Underwater Acoustics](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-scientist-underwater-acoustics-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-jn3mw90vqnxh) — San Francisco, CA
- [Principal Scientist - Underwater Acoustics](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-scientist-underwater-acoustics-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-rdy81m33sgxx) — San Francisco, CA
- [Senior Firmware Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-firmware-engineer-allen-control-systems-austin-q42k91epnfwm) — Austin, TX