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Principal Firmware Engineer

Milwaukee Tool · Brookfield, WI · Full time

Posted Aug 21, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a hard firmware bug you found on hardware. What tools did you use?

What they are checking: Real debugging skill with scopes, logic analyzers and debuggers.

How do you set coding standards and review practices for a firmware team?

What they are checking: Raising team quality through standards and reviews.

Tell me about mentoring a junior firmware engineer.

What they are checking: Developing others, which principal engineers are expected to do.

What would you do

A hardware change late in development breaks a timing assumption in your code. What do you do?

What they are checking: Calm handling of cross-team changes and clear communication of impact.

About the work

Walk me through the firmware architecture of an embedded product you led.

What they are checking: Principal-level ownership of architecture, not just individual features.

How do you decide between a bare-metal loop and an RTOS for a power tool controller?

What they are checking: Judgment about timing, complexity and resource tradeoffs in embedded systems.

How do you make firmware safe when it controls a motor that could injure someone?

What they are checking: Safety thinking about fault detection, watchdogs and fail-safe states.

How do you test firmware when hardware is not ready yet?

What they are checking: Use of simulation, unit tests and hardware-in-the-loop to avoid waiting.

How do you handle firmware updates in products already in the field?

What they are checking: Bootloader design and safe update practices.

How do you keep firmware efficient on a low-cost microcontroller with tight memory?

What they are checking: Practical optimization skills for cost-driven hardware.

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The full job description

As published by Milwaukee Tool.

Job Description: Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.; Sponsorship is not available for this position at this time. INNOVATE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES! At Milwaukee Tool we firmly believe that our People and our Culture are the secrets to our success – so we give you unlimited access to everything you need to create disruptive new technologies and solutions on our electrical engineering teams. Our Engineering Team is responsible for giving life to the batteries, motors, and electronics that power solutions changing the lives of our users. Every developmental phase of these critical components happens in-house under the watch of this team. We continue to invest in electrical engineering resources to design and develop leadership in electronic capabilities; something unique within the industry. And we’re pushing the limits in firmware engineering, power electronics, embedded systems, machine learning, and the use of artificial intelligence. Behind our doors you’ll be empowered every day to own it, drive it, and do what it takes to design and develop the biggest breakthroughs in the industry. Meanwhile, you’ll have the support and resources of the fastest-growing brand in the construction industry to make it happen. Year after year, our team continues to make significant breakthroughs in the industry. We’re just getting started. To learn more about our story click HERE . The Principal Firmware Engineer will provide technical direction to a team in the design of new firmware architectures, applications, and libraries to ensure on-time delivery and requirements are met. You will interface with cross-functional teams to understand system design requirements and translate them into firmware requirements. You’ll also be DISRUPTIVE through these duties and responsibilities: • Lead a small to medium size team of engineers in the designing, prototyping, testing, and troubleshooting of embedded electronics for a variety of projects. • Develop and refine engineering requirements based on marketing and user needs. • Lead design and implementation of embedded software systems using modern software engineering processes such as agile development. • Peer-review software/firmware architecture, designs and source code. • Establish and execute test procedures for software applications and subsystems. • Analyze and enhance efficiency, stability, and scalability of system resources. • Lead project technology investigations, system requirements definitions, architecture definitions, and reusability strategies. • Establish and maintain a strong awareness and database of competitive offerings, product strategies, and business climate to shape a best-in-class roadmap. • Quickly, effectively, and candidly frame-up and escalate business risks/opportunities to senior leadership. • Effectively communicate and motivate up, down and across the organization to diverse groups of technical and non-technical team members. • Drive urgency and agility in project schedules and accountability for establishing and achieving key project cost and metrics that meet the organization’s needs. • Serve as a role model Milwaukee Tool’s culture while mentoring, guiding, and coaching junior Engineers. • Develop plans to evaluate and assess the emerging technology market space to fit/compliment Milwaukee Tool product initiatives and development. What TOOLS you’ll bring with you: • Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field. • 7+ years of experience with embedded C/C++. • 3+ years of leadership, teaching or mentoring experience. • Knowledge and practical experience in all software development lifecycle phases. • Experience developing bare-metal firmware designs. • Familiarity with configuration management tools, defect tracking tools, and peer reviews. • Ability to read schematics and component data sheets, basic understanding of digital circuits and interaction between firmware and electronics. • Demonstrated ability using laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, e-loads, and data acquisition systems. • Demonstrated ability to lead technical discussions and tradeoffs to make recommendations on designs. • Excellent problem-solving skills, exercises independent judgement, and works well under pressure in a dynamic environment. • Self-motivated, organized, efficient, and process oriented with a strong work ethic. • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, both technical and non-technical. • Ability to travel 10% of the time (domestic and international). Other TOOLS we prefer you to have: • Master of Science degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field. • Leadership or project management experience. • Experience with DevOps, automated testing, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD). • Experience collaborating cross-functionally outside of your core discipline. • Experience with supply chain considerations, such as sourcing, manufacturing, test, and distribution. • Working knowledge of with battery, drive, and motor systems. • Use modeling tools such as MATLAB, Simulink and Stateflow. • Experience with auto code generation. • Experience with a microcontroller RTOS. • Experience with three phase motor control applications. We provide these great perks and benefits: • Robust health, dental and vision insurance plans. • Generous 401 (K) savings plan. • Education assistance. • On-site wellness, fitness center, food, and coffee service. • And many more, check out our benefits site HERE . Milwaukee Tool is an equal opportunity employer.

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