Senior Embedded Systems Engineer: Sensing & Tracking

About the role

Operator XR, a division of xReality Group (XRG), is hiring a Senior Embedded Systems Engineer to lead the electronics and firmware lifecycle for our next-generation VR training systems. You will join our hardware team to design and produce rugged, small-form-factor VR training peripherals used by global defense and law enforcement organizations.

In this role, you will architect embedded systems, deploy real-time firmware, evaluate hardware modules, and write sensor fusion algorithms for our suite of devices.

Key Responsibilities

• Firmware & RTOS Architecture: Design and maintain low-latency, real-time firmware (C/C++) using RTOS platforms (e.g. Zephyr) for Nordic and STM microcontrollers across our handheld device suite.

• Sensor Fusion & Tracking: Implement and optimize algorithms (Kalman filters, pose estimation) for 6DoF IMUs, capacitive/presence detection, trigger switches, and battery management systems.

• Hardware Bring-Up & Debugging: Lead physical board bring-up and debug mixed-signal/firmware interactions using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and RF test equipment.

• Wireless & Certification: Select wireless modules, optimize power consumption, and drive BLE devices through regulatory certification (RCM, FCC, CE).

• End-to-End Lifecycle: Take hardware prototypes from bench verification through to contract manufacturing support and automated test fixture integration.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Full Product Lifecycle: Proven track record taking at least one embedded product from initial breadboard/schematic stage through bring-up and into volume production not just writing firmware against someone else's board.

• Embedded Software & Wireless: Strong C/C++ development for microcontrollers, experience with RTOS (Zephyr, FreeRTOS), and hands-on implementation of low-power BLE protocol stacks.

• Sensor Expertise: Practical experience integrating IMUs, accelerometers, and gyroscopes for 6DoF tracking. Ability to critique sensor datasheets thoroughly (e.g., analyzing Allan variance plots to select appropriate components for drift and noise).

• Hardware Debugging: Expert ability to read schematics and troubleshoot PCB faults alongside mechanical and electronics design engineers, using a scope and logic analyzer as standard tools.

• Radio Certification: Has personally taken a wireless module through at least one regulatory certification cycle (RCM, FCC, or CE), not just integrated a pre-certified module.

Bonus / Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Expanded Sensor Fusion: Exposure to 9DoF sensor fusion (adding magnetometer data to accelerometer/gyroscope), this is on our future roadmap, not a current requirement.

• Magnetic Positional Tracking: Familiarity with magnetic tracking systems for positional sensing; no current hands-on requirement.

• VR/AR Tracking Systems: Experience with VR/AR tracking systems or visual-inertial motion capture.

• Power Optimization: Background in low-power battery management or dynamic power optimization.

• Near-Field Magnetics: Exposure to inductive charging or near-field telemetry design, relevant to future EMT and magnetic tracking work.