Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Embedded Software Engineer

at Glydways

🏢 About Glydways

Glydways is building a net-negative GHG autonomous transit network that uses standardized vehicles on dedicated roadways to deliver high-capacity, on-demand mobility without heavy infrastructure costs or taxpayer subsidies. Working here means joining a mission-driven team that blends robotics, embedded systems, and sustainable urban design to reshape public transit. The company's focus on affordability, accessibility, and environmental impact makes it a compelling place for engineers who want their code to move people and reduce emissions.

About This Role

As a Senior Embedded Software Engineer on the Embedded Software team, you will write and load firmware that turns raw hardware—sensor kits, custom boards, and main compute—into a reliable, safety-critical machine. Because the software touches nearly every subsystem, you'll collaborate across engineering disciplines and get hands-on with the newest hardware. Your work directly enables the autonomous vehicle's core functionality, making this a high-impact role at the heart of Glydways' technology.

💡 A Day in the Life

You might start by debugging a sensor driver on a new board, then collaborate with hardware engineers to resolve an integration issue. Later, you'll write and test firmware for a subsystem, review code with teammates, and help ensure the vehicle's software meets safety and performance targets. Expect frequent hands-on time with the latest hardware and cross-team discussions to keep the vehicle reliable and efficient.

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🎯 Who Glydways Is Looking For

  • Experienced in bare-metal and RTOS-based firmware development for safety-critical systems, with strong C/C++ skills
  • Comfortable working with custom hardware, sensors, and board bring-up, and able to debug at the intersection of hardware and software
  • Familiar with automotive or robotics standards (e.g., ISO 26262, MISRA) and committed to writing reliable, testable code
  • Collaborative engineer who enjoys working across teams and adapting to fast-changing hardware and requirements

📝 Tips for Applying to Glydways

1

Highlight specific projects where you wrote firmware for custom boards or sensor integration—Glydways values hands-on hardware experience.

2

Emphasize any experience with safety-critical or autonomous systems, using metrics like uptime, latency, or safety certifications.

3

Research Glydways' vehicle architecture and mention how your embedded skills would apply to their sensor kits or main compute.

4

Show enthusiasm for the mission by referencing their net-negative GHG goals and how embedded software contributes to sustainability.

5

Use your cover letter to connect your past work to the team's cross-functional collaboration model, giving examples of working with hardware engineers.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your hands-on experience bringing up custom hardware and writing low-level firmware that makes raw sensors and boards functional.', "Specific examples of safety-critical software development, including any standards you've followed (e.g., MISRA, ISO 26262) and how you ensured reliability.", 'Your ability to collaborate across disciplines, especially with hardware and systems engineers, to integrate firmware into a larger vehicle platform.', "A clear statement of why Glydways' mission to revolutionize transit with autonomous, eco-friendly mobility resonates with you personally."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Study Glydways' system architecture: how their autonomous vehicles, dedicated roadways, and on-demand network operate together.
  • → Understand their sustainability claims—what 'net-negative GHG' means and how embedded software contributes to energy efficiency.
  • → Look into recent news or funding rounds to understand their stage and upcoming technical challenges.
  • → Review the backgrounds of the Embedded Software team or leadership to see what technologies they prioritize.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How you approach board bring-up and debug hardware-software interaction issues, with concrete examples.
2 Your experience with real-time operating systems and scheduling in safety-critical embedded systems.
3 A time you improved firmware reliability or performance in a production vehicle or robot.
4 How you handle cross-team collaboration when hardware changes rapidly and requirements evolve.
5 Your familiarity with automotive communication protocols (CAN, Ethernet) and sensor integration.
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on high-level software without demonstrating low-level firmware or hardware interaction experience.
  • Ignoring the safety-critical nature of the role and failing to mention relevant standards or reliability practices.
  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't connect your skills to Glydways' specific mission or vehicle platform.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Glydways!

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