Embedded Software Engineer (Proto)

Proto is accelerating the world's transition to an open economy with products that increase access and independence for everyone. We're building Bitkey, a simple and safe self-custody bitcoin wallet that will put customers in control, as well as hardware and software that will help decentralize bitcoin mining and enable new and innovative use cases for bitcoin mining. We're developing these products in the open - you can read more about them at bitkey.build and mining.build. Within Proto, our Bitcoin Products team delivers the product and go-to-market strategy, software, firmware, and custom silicon needed to make Bitkey and our ambitious mining initiatives a reality. Come build the future of money with us!

The Role

Proto’s mission is to accelerate the transition to a more open, equitable global economy. We believe open protocols like Bitcoin are integral to achieving that vision. The team’s first two initiatives—mining tools and a self-custody wallet, Bitkey—aim to decentralize access for builders, increase network resiliency, and make everyday use of bitcoin safe and easy. One principle across everything we do in Proto is open development – show and tell. We develop products in the open, you can read more about them at bitkey.build and mining.build.

The Proto Mining software team is a newly formed team responsible for prototyping, designing, and delivering software applications to support Block’s state-of-the-art custom Bitcoin mining chip. We work closely with the ASIC and Electrical Engineering teams to redefine what Bitcoin mining looks like.

As the team is small, the candidate will be responsible for all aspects of software development, which includes building, testing, and deploying on both bare metal embedded and Linux environments.

We are a small, fast-moving, dynamic team with an abundance of growth and opportunities to make an impact!

*Note: This role requires travel to Block hardware lab in Oakland, CA or Toronto, CA 1-2 days a week

You Will

• Collaborate with the team to contribute to feature development; troubleshoot, test, and provide guidance to engineers in resolving issues.
• Participate in reviewing and finalizing technical decisions
• Be responsible for the technical architecture of features that go into our products
• Scope and evaluate new technologies/architectures/practices to solve new problems on our roadmap
• Partner with stakeholders to ensure technical execution meets expectations.

You Have

• 5+ years of Software Engineering experience.
• Degree in CS, CE, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience in application development on embedded Linux.
• Proficiency in embedded programming languages like C or Rust, 
• Experience with embedded systems, knowledge of real time operating systems, familiarity with software development tools, understanding of hardware-software interfaces.
• Experience with common communications protocols (e.g. SPI, UART, I2C, USB)
• Experience using Python in automated testing, build systems.

We’re working to build a more inclusive economy where our customers have equal access to opportunity, and we strive to live by these same values in building our workplace. Block is an equal opportunity employer evaluating all employees and job applicants without regard to identity or any legally protected class. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment on our team, and always assess candidates on an individualized basis.

We believe in being fair, and are committed to an inclusive interview experience, including providing reasonable accommodations to disabled applicants throughout the recruitment process. We encourage applicants to share any needed accommodations with their recruiter, who will treat these requests as confidentially as possible. Want to learn more about what we’re doing to build a workplace that is fair and square? Check out our I+D page.

Block will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with state and local laws and “fair chance” ordinances.