---
title: 'Staff Software Engineer: Embedded Power Systems & Functional Safety at SPAN'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/staff-software-engineer-embedded-power-systems-functional-safety-span-san-rsjyyn0a6fjq'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-11'
---

# Staff Software Engineer: Embedded Power Systems & Functional Safety at SPAN

- **Company:** SPAN
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Compensation:** $180k–$210k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-06-04
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/span/8d8bd0cb-575d-4075-a9fe-3e3e6eaf5444/application

**Skills:** C++, C, Microcontrollers, RTOS, PID controllers, State machines, UL 1998, UL 60730, UL 3141, IEC 61508, ISO 26262, FTA, SW-FMEA, Object-oriented design, Manual memory management, AI tools, STM32, ARM Cortex-M, High-voltage systems, Energy storage systems

> Design and implement safety-critical control algorithms and functional safety architecture for embedded power systems. Own the full functional safety lifecycle, including hazard analysis and certification, while mentoring engineers and driving cross-functional collaboration.

## 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 Device Software team is responsible for all of the software that is physically embodied in our hardware products. The SPAN Panel is a safety-critical electrical device at the heart of the home energy system; our software directly governs how power flows, how faults are detected and responded to, and how the system remains safe under all conditions. We seek collaborative, top-tier engineers who excel at solving complex problems alongside their peers. Our culture is rooted in strong support and a deep trust in our team's capabilities. Engineers work directly with the broader software, product, and hardware teams to ensure the right things get built at the right time.

## Responsibilities

As a Staff Engineer on the Device Software team you will own the design and implementation of the control algorithms and functional safety architecture that govern how the SPAN Panel manages electrical power. This means designing real-time control systems and algorithms, owning the full functional safety lifecycle for software components (including hazard analysis, FTA, SW-FMEA, and certification artifacts), and setting the engineering standard for how we build safe, reliable power control software. You will drive safety-critical features from conception through implementation and certification, working independently and influencing the broader team and organization. Representative Projects

- Designing and implementing control algorithms for power management (including load shedding logic, relay actuation sequencing, and fault response state machines) running on MCUs in an RTOS environment, working with system architects to define requirements and validate behavior across operating conditions.
- Owning the functional safety software lifecycle for new features: authoring hazard analyses and software FMEAs, designing safety mechanisms and diagnostics into firmware, and producing the documentation and evidence packages required for UL 1998, UL 60730, and UL 3141 certification.
- Developing fault injection frameworks and Hardware In the Loop test methodologies that validate safety mechanisms across bench and system-level test environments, and evangelizing functional safety best practices across the Device Software team and partner teams.

## About You

Required Qualifications We are seeking a Staff Embedded engineer with:

- Deep knowledge of electrical power systems, including power conversion, load control, energy metering, the behavior of switching systems, and the ability to translate that domain knowledge into correct, safe embedded software
- Experience designing and implementing real-time control algorithms on microcontrollers, including PID controllers, state machine-based control systems, and timing-critical software in RTOS environments
- Hands-on functional safety process experience with UL 1998, UL 60730, and/or UL 3141 (or an equivalent standard such as IEC 61508 or ISO 26262), including safety analysis techniques such as FTA and SW-FMEA
- 7 or more years of experience writing embedded software for hardware devices in C++ or object-oriented C on microcontrollers
- Strong fundamentals in modern software design: object-oriented design, manual memory management, and real-time constraints
- Exceptional interpersonal communication and collaboration skills: great at building trust, driving decisions to resolution, and influencing cross-functional teams
- Track record of taking ownership over projects end-to-end and mentoring others through design and code review
- Able to evaluate requirements and translate them into engineering tasks through implementation and testing

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 can be developed on the job.

- Proficiency using AI tools for software architecture, design, implementation, and testing
- Experience with the STM32 microcontroller family or other ARM Cortex-M processors
- Experience with high-voltage or energy storage systems or solar inverters
- Experience with standard electrical communication interfaces such as UART, I2C, USB, Ethernet, Modbus, or CAN
- Hands-on debugging experience with JTAG debuggers and benchtop test equipment
- Experience working in a multidisciplinary environment alongside electrical and mechanical engineering teams
- Experience with the V-model of software development with strict requirements on documentation and requirements traceability

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, one holiday per month, 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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