Lead onsite NPI and board bring-up at JDM partner facilities across Asia. Develop C/C++ diagnostic firmware, integrate and maintain automated factory test fixtures, and debug system-level manufacturing defects using scopes, logic analyzers, and custom tooling. Act as the technical liaison between US R&D and local manufacturing teams to transition prototypes through EVT/DVT/PVT to mass production.
Figure is an AI robotics company developing autonomous general-purpose humanoid robots. The goal of the company is to ship humanoid robots with human level intelligence. Its robots are engineered to perform a variety of tasks in the home and commercial markets.
Operating under a Joint Development Manufacturing (JDM) model, Figure collaborates deeply with our manufacturing partners to co-develop next-generation hardware. As a Firmware Integration Engineer based in Asia, you are the forward-deployed technical anchor bridging our core US R&D engineering teams and these JDM partners. You will own the software that validates and brings our robotic hardware to life on the assembly line.
Working on the ground at our partner facilities across China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, you will lead board bring-up for early prototypes, write diagnostic firmware to validate complex electro-mechanical assemblies, and ensure that our hardware transitions smoothly from the lab to mass production.
Working on the ground at our partner facilities across China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, you will lead board bring-up for early prototypes, write diagnostic firmware to validate complex electro-mechanical assemblies, and ensure that our hardware transitions smoothly from the lab to mass production.
We are looking for a highly autonomous, hands-on engineer who thrives in the fast-paced, collaborative, and high-stakes environment of hardware builds (EVT/DVT/PVT) and can seamlessly debug complex issues directly on the factory floor.
Key Responsibilities
- Onsite NPI & Board Bring-Up: Lead early hardware bring-up directly at JDM partner sites, acting as the first line of defense for validating new custom PCBAs and robotic sub-assemblies.
- Diagnostic Firmware: Write robust C/C++ diagnostic and test firmware to verify the functionality of microcontrollers, communication buses, power systems, and sensors during the manufacturing process.
- Factory Test Integration: Partner with Hardware and Test Engineering to design, deploy, troubleshoot, and maintain automated Functional Test (FCT) fixtures for the assembly line.
- System Debugging: Root-cause complex, system-level manufacturing defects on the factory floor in real-time using logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and custom debug tooling.
- Cross-Functional Liaison: Serve as the critical, real-time technical link between Figure's US-based hardware/firmware teams and the engineering staff at our JDM partners.
Minimum Qualifications
- Location & Travel: Must be based in China (or willing to relocate) with the ability to travel frequently to other manufacturing hubs in Asia, including Taiwan and Vietnam.
- Education: BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or the equivalent in experience.
- C/C++ Proficiency: Strong ability to write clean, optimized C/C++ for embedded, resource-constrained systems.
- Hardware Literacy: Excellent ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, PCB layouts, and component datasheets to debug hardware issues on the fly.
- Manufacturing Experience: Hands-on experience working directly on the factory floor with Joint Development Manufacturers (JDMs), Contract Manufacturers (CMs), or Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) during New Product Introduction (NPI).
- Communication Protocols: Hands-on experience debugging embedded communication buses like CAN, I2C, SPI, and UART.
Preferred Qualifications
- Language: Professional working proficiency in Mandarin Chinese is highly desirable to communicate effectively with local JDM engineering teams.
- NPI Track Record: Proven experience taking complex consumer electronics, robotics, or automotive hardware from initial prototype through EVT/DVT/PVT to mass production.
- Test Automation: Proficiency in Python for developing manufacturing test scripts, data parsers, and automated test-fixture infrastructure.
- Robotics Architecture: Familiarity with the distributed systems, sensors (IMUs, absolute encoders, force-torque), and power requirements typical of advanced robotics.
The base salary range for this full-time position is between ¥600,000 – ¥1,000,000 RMB annually.
The pay offered for this position may vary based on several individual factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package may also include additional components/benefits depending on the specific role. This information will be shared if an employment offer is extended.
Similar Jobs
Artificial Intelligence • HR Tech • Software • Generative AI
Remote annotator reviews Japanese text and images, draws bounding boxes, answers structured questions, and writes short summaries per guidelines to train AI systems. On-the-job training provided; assessment required.
Artificial Intelligence • Fintech • Software • Automation
Drive simplification and automation of tax operations for a B2B SaaS product. Gather requirements, launch automation features, partner with engineering, design, and operations, and integrate third-party tools to deliver end-to-end solutions.
Artificial Intelligence • Fintech • Software • Automation
Lead and mentor a Southeast Asia engineering team; ensure code quality and testing; drive project progress; define integrations strategy; design, build, and maintain third-party integrations; align engineering efforts with product and leadership.
Top Skills:
Aws ServerlessFastapiLambdaPostgresPythonReact
What you need to know about the Chicago Tech Scene
With vibrant neighborhoods, great food and more affordable housing than either coast, Chicago might be the most liveable major tech hub. It is the birthplace of modern commodities and futures trading, a national hub for logistics and commerce, and home to the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association. This diverse blend of industry influences has helped Chicago emerge as a major player in verticals like fintech, biotechnology, legal tech, e-commerce and logistics technology. It’s also a major hiring center for tech companies on both coasts.
Key Facts About Chicago Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 245,800; 5.2% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: McDonald’s, John Deere, Boeing, Morningstar
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, software, logistics technology
- Funding Landscape: $2.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Arch Venture Partners, MATH Venture Partners, Jump Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
