Embedded Software Engineer

Department: Hardware

Location: North Kingstown, RI

Compensation: $120K – $180K • Offers Equity

Employment Type: FullTime

About Us:

Havoc is a leader in all-domain collaborative autonomy. Its software-defined hardware approach powers military and commercial-grade autonomous systems across sea, air, and land to sense, decide, and act together in complex and contested environments. Havoc connects assets, enabling them to share information, adapt in real time, and continue operating even when communications are disrupted or denied. Havoc optimizes mission performance and minimizes human risk.

Havoc was founded in 2024 and headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. Learn more at Havoc: All-Domain Collaborative Autonomy .

About the Role:

HavocAI is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to lead hardware/software development of embedded systems for our fleets of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). This role will be pivotal in advancing the reliability and functionality of our uncrewed surface vessels, enabling groundbreaking applications in defense, marine research, and environmental monitoring. In this role, you will collaborate on projects ranging from prototyping and testing of new USV platforms to leveraging existing capabilities to form distributed sensing networks.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and maintenance of robust low-level software control systems for uncrewed surface vessels (USVs).

• Design, implement, and optimize drivers for various communication protocols such as CAN (J1939, NMEA2000, DroneCAN) and RS485 (ModBus).

• Integrate and test drivers for new subsystems, including motors, batteries, actuators, and sensors, by working with vendors or vendor-provided datasheets.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (hardware and autonomy engineers) to deliver software that abstracts hardware functions for both existing and new vehicle types.

• Set up, exercise, document, and maintain hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test environments to enable robust system testing.

• Create and maintain software documentation, test schematics, and design notes for development projects.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or similar engineering discipline

• Proven experience developing, testing, and debugging embedded software for STM32 platforms using C/C++ with RTOS (e.g., ChibiOS, FreeRTOS).

• In-depth knowledge of communication protocols, including CAN and RS485; experience using bus analysis tools to measure performance and troubleshoot

• Experience working in a professional setting in a collaborative software development environment, using tools such as git, docker, Confluence, Jira, etc.

• Strong foundational electronics skills, including soldering, prototyping, debugging, and schematic interpretation.

• Ability to independently manage and execute prototype development projects.

• Must be a US Citizen and be eligible to obtain a Secret Clearance

Preferred Skills:

• Experience contributing to or extending PX4 or ArduPilot open-source autopilot codebases.

• Background in automotive or marine systems with distributed, bus-based architectures.

• Familiarity with implementing pub/sub architectures (e.g., DDS) on resource-constrained systems.

• Familiarity with basic mechanical assembly and use of standard shop tools.

• Experience with environmental or mission-critical applications of robotics.

Location:

• Must be based in the greater Boston area, with the ability to work onsite as needed.

Benefits:

• 100% Employer paid Health, Dental and Vision Insurance for you and your families

• Life Insurance (Employer Paid)

• Ability to participate in the companies 401k program (Matching)

• Unlimited PTO policy with an enforced 2 week minimum

• Equity Package

• Work / Home Office Stipend

• Global Entry

• 16 Week Paid Parental Leave

• Monthly Health and Wellness Stipend

Our Values:

• Innovation: We are driven to break new ground. Every day presents an opportunity to challenge the status quo, think boldly, and deliver advanced solutions that transform the future of defense technology.

• Integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, ensuring transparency, accountability, and trust in all our actions and partnerships.

• Mission-Driven: We are focused on achieving impactful outcomes that align with our core mission—protecting lives through innovation.

• Forward-Leaning: We continuously seek out new opportunities and remain at the forefront of technological advancements. We embrace change and anticipate the challenges of tomorrow with confidence and creativity.

• Ownership of All Tasks: At HavocAI, no problem is too complex or too trivial. We believe that greatness comes from tackling the hardest challenges, but also in handling the smallest, sometimes thankless, tasks with the same level of commitment and care.

• Servant Leadership: We lead by serving others, whether it’s supporting our employees, partners, or the broader community. Empowering those around us is key to achieving long-term success and making a lasting impact.

HavocAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.