ABOUT AXIBO
Axibo is a Canadian humanoid robotics company moving from prototype development into production and real-world deployment. We design and build robot hardware, embedded electronics, firmware, teleoperation systems, data infrastructure, and autonomy systems together at our Cambridge, Ontario facility.
Our team has previously shipped more than 500 precision robotic systems into demanding production environments. We are now applying that experience to physical AI: building useful humanoid and wheeled robotic platforms in Canada and deploying them into industrial environments.
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are hiring an Embedded Systems Engineer to own electronics and firmware from schematic through working robot.
This is a deeply hands-on role. You will design and review PCBs, write low-level firmware, bring up new boards, solder and rework prototypes, instrument failures, and debug problems that cross electrical, firmware, communications, controls, and mechanical boundaries. You should be comfortable moving between an oscilloscope, a compiler, a soldering iron, and a physical robot in the same day.
The work includes motor-controller and actuator electronics, robot control and interface boards, sensor integration, power conversion, communications, diagnostics, and production test. Success means reliable hardware that can be built, diagnosed, and supported repeatedly, not a board that works once on a clean bench.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Own embedded systems from requirements and architecture through schematic capture, PCB review, firmware, bring-up, validation, and production support.
- Design and review mixed-signal, digital, power, motor-control, sensor-interface, and communications circuitry for humanoid and mobile robots.
- Select components, create and maintain BOMs, and work with PCB assembly and manufacturing partners on DFM, DFT, substitutions, and revisions.
- Develop robust MCU firmware in C and C++ for control, sensing, communications, diagnostics, calibration, boot, and fault handling.
- Implement and debug interfaces including CAN/CAN-FD, RS-485, SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet or EtherCAT, encoders, IMUs, and other robot sensors.
- Bring up boards using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, bench supplies, electronic loads, JTAG or SWD, and other lab equipment.
- Hand-solder and rework prototypes, connectors, harnesses, fine-pitch components, and board modifications when needed.
- Diagnose intermittent failures caused by timing, grounding, EMI, vibration, connectors, power transients, thermal limits, firmware state, or integration errors.
- Build test fixtures, automated hardware-in-the-loop checks, manufacturing tests, logging, and service diagnostics.
- Work directly with mechanical, controls, autonomy, manufacturing, and field teams to close problems on complete robots.
- Document interfaces, bring-up procedures, failure analysis, revisions, and test evidence clearly enough that another engineer can reproduce the work.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
- Demonstrated experience designing and bringing up embedded PCBs, including schematic ownership and practical board-level debugging.
- Strong embedded C or C++ and experience developing firmware close to hardware.
- Solid understanding of digital electronics, analog fundamentals, power conversion, grounding, signal integrity, protection, and practical design tradeoffs.
- Experience with microcontrollers, interrupts, timers, ADCs, PWM, DMA, communications peripherals, bootloaders, and hardware debugging tools.
- Ability to solder and rework prototypes and diagnose faults directly on physical hardware.
- Experience debugging systems where the root cause may sit across hardware, firmware, wiring, timing, or mechanics.
- Strong experimental discipline and clear documentation of tests, failures, and design decisions.
- Ability to work in person at our Cambridge, Ontario facility.
Equivalent practical, professional, competition-team, and open-source experience is valued. A specific degree is not required.
HELPFUL EXPERIENCE
- Motor controllers, gate drivers, field-oriented control, current sensing, encoders, or high-current actuator electronics.
- Robotics buses and real-time communications, especially CAN-FD, RS-485, EtherCAT, or deterministic Ethernet.
- Multi-layer PCB layout, controlled impedance, EMC or ESD protection, thermal design, and design for manufacturability and test.
- STM32 or similar ARM microcontrollers, RTOS development, embedded Linux, device drivers, or FPGA integration.
- Battery systems, DC-DC conversion, safety interlocks, functional-safety thinking, or fault-tolerant hardware.
- Robotics, industrial automation, automotive, aerospace, medical devices, cameras, or other reliability-sensitive electromechanical products.
- Altium Designer, KiCad, or comparable PCB design tools.
- Production test, failure analysis, supplier management, or supporting deployed hardware.
You do not need to meet every preferred qualification to apply.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- CAD $100,000-$160,000 per year, based on experience and demonstrated ability.
- Stock-option participation and profit sharing.
- Extended health and dental coverage.
- Paid time off.
- On-site parking.
- Direct access to complete humanoid robots, custom electronics, in-house prototyping and manufacturing tools, and the engineers building the full system.
APPLICATION
Please submit a resume and links to relevant work. In a short note, tell us:
1. Describe one PCB you personally designed and brought up. What did you own, and what failed on the first revision?
2. Describe the most difficult embedded firmware or board-level bug you diagnosed and how you isolated it.
3. What hands-on soldering, rework, instrumentation, or robot-integration work have you done?
4. Share a project, portfolio, repository, board image, technical write-up, or demonstration if available.
Keep the note concise. Specific component choices, measurements, protocols, failure modes, and design revisions are encouraged.
Axibo Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to characteristics protected by applicable law. Accommodations are available throughout the hiring process upon request.
Vacancy disclosure: This posting is for one current vacancy.
AI-use disclosure: Axibo may use artificial-intelligence-assisted tools to help organize, screen, or assess applications. Final hiring decisions are made by Axibo team members.
Pay: $100,000.00-$160,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Profit sharing
- Stock options
Flexible language requirement:
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Cambridge, ON N1R 5C4: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- Describe one PCB you personally designed and brought up. What did you own, and what issue did you diagnose on the first revision?
- Describe the most relevant embedded C or C++ firmware you personally wrote. What hardware, protocols, and constraints were involved?
- Describe your hands-on experience with soldering, rework, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and board-level troubleshooting.
- Share a link to a relevant project, portfolio, repository, board image, technical write-up, paper, or demonstration.
Work Location: In person
