Staff Firmware Engineer, Platform Security

ALSO
Palo Alto
Workplace: OnsiteFull timeUSD 200,000 - 240,000 annuallyFunction: Hardware, Embedded & Systems EngineeringExperience: 8+ yearsEducation: bachelorsSkills: ["Communication","Mentorship","Threat modeling","Cross-functional collaboration"]

Own the end-to-end security architecture for vehicle firmware, protecting every ECU across ALSO’s product portfolio. Define secure boot and root-of-trust, key storage and lifecycle, CAN/CAN-FD network integrity, and trusted OTA update flows. Architect reusable security libraries and APIs, lead threat modeling and hardening, and drive security validation by integrating test and verification checks into CI, mentoring engineers and aligning cross-functional teams.

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FursaFursa
ALSO
ALSO
18 hours ago

Staff Firmware Engineer, Platform Security

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Source: Company careers pageValidated by: Fursa AI
Last checked: 18 hours agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Own the end-to-end security architecture for vehicle firmware, protecting every ECU across ALSO’s product portfolio. Define secure boot and root-of-trust, key storage and lifecycle, CAN/CAN-FD network integrity, and trusted OTA update flows. Architect reusable security libraries and APIs, lead threat modeling and hardening, and drive security validation by integrating test and verification checks into CI, mentoring engineers and aligning cross-functional teams.
Location: Palo Alto
Workplace: Onsite
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Hardware, Embedded & Systems Engineering
Seniority: Mid level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Define secure boot architecture across MCU families (ROM → bootloader → app), including image signing, verification, anti-rollback, and production debug/JTAG lockdown.
  • •Own key storage and management strategy across on-device and fleet usage, including key hierarchy design and integration with signing and PKI services.
  • •Lead CAN/CAN-FD network security design (authentication, integrity, and encryption where required) and establish protected diagnostics and secure UDS access policies.
  • •Own end-to-end OTA security trust for signed/encrypted payloads, on-device verification, rollback safety, and secure handoff between cloud signing infrastructure and vehicle update flows.
  • •Architect reusable platform security frameworks (libraries/APIs), lead threat modeling and hardening, and drive validation by integrating security tests into CI while mentoring engineers.

Pay and Benefits

Salary: USD 200,000 - 240,000 annually
Perks:Health InsuranceDentalVision401k

Key Requirements

  • •8+ years in embedded software/firmware development with deep ownership of secure boot, crypto, or vehicle/IoT security architecture and proven technical direction across multiple ECUs or products.
  • •BS in an engineering discipline (Computer Science or Electrical Engineering preferred).
  • •Hands-on expertise with cryptographic primitives and embedded crypto on constrained MCUs, including key provisioning, OTP/fuse programming, and HSM/secure element usage.
  • •Experience designing and shipping secure boot chains, signed firmware images, and OTA trust models in production.
  • •Expert-level C/C++ on bare-metal or RTOS (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr, ThreadX) with comfort in linkers, memory maps, and debugging tools (JTAG/SWD).
Experience:8+ yearsEmbedded softwareFirmwareVehicle securityIoT securityEVsPlatform security
Education:Bachelor's in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering
Skills:CommunicationMentorshipThreat modelingCross-functional collaboration
Tech Stack:Secure bootRoot of trustCryptographic primitivesAESECCRSAHMACCertificatesKey provisioningOTPFuse programmingHSMSecure elementCANCAN-FDAuthenticated messagingSecure diagnosticsUDSOTA securityFirmware signing

Company Brief

ALSO
ALSO is an electric micromobility company spun out of Rivian that designs small, vertically integrated EVs (e-bikes and multi‑form-factor small vehicles) for consumers and commercial partners, focusing on efficiency, affordability, and integrated connectivity.
Industry: Electric Vehicles
Company Size: Medium (51 to 250 employees)
Growth: Scaleup
Valuation: Unicorn (USD 1B+)
Headquarters: Palo Alto, United States
Founded: 2025
WebsiteLinkedIn