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Sr Project Leader - Embedded Firmware

Milwaukee Tool · Brookfield, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 24, 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 time you escalated a project issue. Was it the right call?

What they are checking: Whether they escalate issues at the right time, which the posting lists as a specific duty of this role.

Tell me about a time you led several complex projects that depended on each other.

What they are checking: Whether they have actually managed several interdependent projects that span multiple business units and stakeholders.

What would you do

You act as the bridge between firmware development, systems engineering and new product development. How do you keep all three aligned?

What they are checking: Coordinating groups with different priorities, which the posting names as the heart of the role.

A product team wants a firmware change that would break platform reuse. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can weigh one project's request against the long-term value of keeping the firmware platform reusable.

How do you explain firmware status to managers who are not engineers?

What they are checking: Whether they can give managers short, honest summaries of firmware status without hiding problems in jargon.

A firmware bug is found after products start shipping. What is your role?

What they are checking: Whether they can calmly coordinate a fix, customer communication and lessons learned after a bug reaches shipped products.

About the work

How would you manage a shared firmware platform used by many products at once?

What they are checking: Lifecycle management of firmware assets that must serve many projects.

How do you build a schedule for firmware work when hardware is still changing?

What they are checking: Whether they can plan firmware work realistically when it depends on hardware that is still changing.

How do you identify and reduce risk in a firmware release?

What they are checking: Whether they plan for release risk through testing, version control and clear criteria for release readiness.

How do you weigh cost, timing, reliability and high-volume manufacturing needs on an electronic platform?

What they are checking: Whether they can balance cost, timing, reliability and high-volume manufacturing needs, all of which the posting lists.

How do you keep firmware quality high when many teams are making changes?

What they are checking: Whether they protect firmware quality with reviews, testing and configuration control when many teams make changes.

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The full job description

As published by Milwaukee Tool.

Job Description: Sr. Project Leader – Embedded Firmware A Systems Engineering Project Leader is responsible for managing multiple engineering projects that have interdependencies across other projects as well as multiple business units and stakeholders. Individuals in this position will provide project management and necessary technical oversight to ensure successful and timely implementation of projects. This role will specifically support the development and lifecycle management of our embedded firmware assets. In this role, you will act as the vital bridge between firmware development, systems engineering and new product development. You’ll also be DISRUPTIVE through these duties and responsibilities: • Provides leadership over multiple moderate to highly complexity projects. Provides direction, guidance and engineering oversight to team members. • Ensure effective communication with cross functional team as well as management team. This includes daily team communications as well as high level project summaries. • Drive development of electronic platforms that meet functionality, performance and platform reusability needs while fulfilling cost, timing, reliability, and high-volume manufacturing requirements. • Timely and appropriate escalation of project or team developments or issues • Identify project risks and implements risk reduction plans. • Consistently visualizes entire scope and interdependencies of a project with little guidance. • Schedules, develops agendas, facilitates and documents project meetings and program reviews. • Frame up technical tradeoff discussions with Marketing and other cross function team members. • Exercise effective scheduling development work to meet overall project milestones. Reviews work breakdown structure of engineers and other project team members against higher level deliverables and schedule. • Ensure effective communication with management team up to VP and SVP with ability to tailor the message to the audience. • Motivate cross functional team to work toward, and accomplish, project objectives. Maintain focus of project team on cost, performance, and schedule. • Does not have formal supervisory responsibilities, although will provide input for performance appraisals for Engineering and cross functional project team members. Also oversees day-to-day activities of project team members. What TOOLS you’ll bring with you: • Minimum 7 years of relevant engineering experience. • Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field. • Results driven and deadline orientated. Ability to handle fast paced, and agile culture. Ability to adapt to constant change and competing priorities. • Thrive in a collaborative work environment. Ability to develop and nurture productive business relationships, influence and educate internal team members. • Comfortable with Systems Engineering principles, especially as it pertains to the architecting of an ecosystem of individual elements • Core understanding of embedded concepts: C/C++ development, Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS), microcontrollers, and communication protocols (I2C, SPI, UART, BLE, Wi-Fi). • Capable of Facilitating sprint planning, daily stand-ups, backlog grooming, and retrospective meetings tailored for combined hardware/software lifecycles. • High proficiency in C, C++ • Understanding of Agile and hybrid project management methodologies • Ability to support the drafting of comprehensive test plans and specifications. • Ability to travel internationally (5-10% travel). Other TOOLS we prefer you to have: • M aster’s degree in Computer / Electrical Engineering • Formal project management training (PMP). • Experience with Connected/ IoT products and ecosystems • Consumer electronics project experience. • Exposure to wired and wireless connectivity principles. • Experience developing connected products partnered with software or APP development • Certified Scrum Master (CSM), or Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP). 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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