Scope of Position
This position has no direct supervisory responsibility.
This position reports to the Engineering Manager, Hardware & Infrastructure, Watts Digital.
This role is based hybrid onsite in our Escondido, CA facility.
The Job
Design, develop, test, release, and maintain production firmware for embedded systems, microcontrollers, and system-on-chip (SoC) platforms supporting connected products and IoT solutions.
Develop and debug low-level drivers and hardware interfaces, including UART, SPI, I2C, RS-485, GPIO, ADC, PWM, timers, DMA, and related peripheral technologies.
Implement, optimize, and validate wireless communication features and connectivity solutions for commercial and residential IoT products.
Perform board bring-up activities, hardware validation, and circuit-level troubleshooting utilizing oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, and other laboratory instrumentation.
Conduct RF testing and characterization activities, including transmit power validation, antenna evaluation, spectral measurements, range testing, and link-quality analysis.
Design electronic schematics, printed circuit boards, and supporting test hardware in collaboration with hardware engineering teams.
Support product development activities through the complete lifecycle, including requirements definition, architecture development, implementation, verification, release, and field support.
Partner with Product Management to evaluate product concepts, technical feasibility, cost considerations, roadmap priorities, and customer requirements.
Support regulatory and certification activities, including FCC, UL, NSF, and other applicable compliance programs.
Collaborate with Manufacturing and Supply Chain teams to support production testing, provisioning, manufacturing ramp-up, and design-for-manufacturability initiatives.
Participate in customer visits, field evaluations, troubleshooting activities, and product performance assessments to gather requirements and improve customer outcomes.
Participate in architecture reviews, design reviews, and code reviews to promote engineering excellence, quality, and consistency.
Create and maintain technical documentation including firmware specifications, hardware interface documentation, validation plans, and testing procedures.
Collaborate with Quality Assurance to ensure products are designed for testability and adequately covered by validation processes.
Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on product quality, reliability, performance, manufacturability, and customer satisfaction.
Assume responsibility for other projects and duties as assigned by management.
Demonstrate commitment to Watts' values of Integrity, Accountability, Continuous Improvement and Innovation, and Transparency.
Responsibility directly tied to Watts Value (Integrity, Accountability, Continuous Improvement, Transparency.)
Travel Requirements: 15% travel to support training, meetings, etc. as needed.
Working Conditions
While performing the job duties, the employee will primarily work in an office environment located within a manufacturing facility. The employee may occasionally be required to access production areas and wear appropriate personal protective equipment. Regular interaction with commercial teams, engineering, manufacturing, and customers is expected.
Physical Requirements: Specific physical abilities required for this position include, but are not limited to:
Ability to remain seated at a desk or workstation for extended periods.
Ability to perform repetitive tasks like typing on a keyboard or using a mouse for extended periods.
Ability to physically move around the office, organize or transport files, packages, or other office-related materials.
Ability to read documents, use a computer, and perform data entry tasks.
Ability to communicate clearly with management and coworkers, particularly in meetings or phone calls.
Ability to operate standard office equipment such as computers, printers, phones, and copiers.
Ability to occasionally lift and carry light objects (up to 15-20 pounds), such as office supplies, documents, or small equipment.
General Applicable Company Competencies
Commitment to Watts’ values of integrity, accountability, continuous improvement and innovation, and transparency.
Punctuality and dependability.
Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing work priorities and stressful conditions.
Adherence to all personnel policies, procedures, and standards of process as implemented by Watts.
Maintain productive and collaborative relationships with other Watts employees.
What You’ll Need
Minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience across embedded firmware development and hardware/electrical engineering disciplines.
Demonstrated experience developing production firmware in C for embedded systems, microcontrollers, or embedded SoCs with shipped commercial products.
Experience developing software for both bare-metal and RTOS-based environments.
Hands-on experience developing and debugging embedded hardware interfaces including UART, SPI, I2C, RS-485, GPIO, ADC, timers, and DMA.
Ability to read schematics, interpret datasheets, and troubleshoot electronic systems at the circuit level.
Experience developing PCB schematics, layouts, board validation, and hardware bring-up activities using CAD/ECAD tools such as Altium, KiCad, or equivalent platforms.
Proficiency using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, power supplies, and related laboratory equipment.
Experience with RF and wireless testing methodologies and associated test equipment.
Experience using hardware debugging tools such as JTAG, SWD, and related in-circuit development environments.
Proficiency with Git-based source control systems and modern software development workflows.
Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across engineering, product, quality, operations, and manufacturing functions.
Understanding of and adherence to applicable laws, regulations, standards, policies, and safety requirements.
Must successfully establish employment eligibility and satisfactorily complete background checks, as a condition of employment.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline. Equivalent experience may be considered.
Experience with sub-GHz wireless solutions, including 915 MHz RF systems and link-budget analysis.
Familiarity with FCC Part 15, UL, NSF, and related certification and compliance processes.
Experience with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), cellular communications, or related wireless technologies.
Familiarity with MQTT, cloud IoT platforms, device provisioning, and OTA firmware update technologies.
Experience developing engineering automation tools utilizing Python or similar languages.
Experience supporting low-power and battery-operated device development.
Experience supporting manufacturing ramp-up activities, production test systems, and contract manufacturing partnerships.
Experience in IoT, building automation, plumbing, industrial controls, HVAC, or related industries.
Pay Range: The expected salary range for this position is $150,000 - $164,000 yearly. Actual compensation will be dependent upon individual skills, experience, qualifications, and applicable law.
Watts in it for you
Please note that the following benefits apply only to permanent roles and do not apply to internship roles.
Competitive compensation based on your skills, qualifications and experience
Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits
Family building benefits, including paid maternity/paternity leave
10 paid holidays and Paid Time Off
Continued professional development opportunities and educational reimbursement
Additional perks such as fitness reimbursements and employee discount programs
Learn more about our benefit offerings here: https://tapintowattsbenefits.com/
How we work
At Watts, our culture is team-oriented and supportive. Employees here genuinely care about the quality of their work, and about each other. Our people are the heart of who we are and contribute to our longevity and continued success.
And this is a place where you can have a big career. No matter your role, there are opportunities for learning and development, and your daily contributions make a meaningful impact on the lives of people who use our products and on the future of water.
Watts is committed to equal employment opportunity. We follow a policy of administering all employment decisions and personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic disposition or carrier status, marital status, military or veteran status, minorities, or any other category protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Consistent with the obligations of state and federal law, Watts will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Any employee who needs a reasonable accommodation should contact Human Resources.
