Embedded Software Engineer (Proto)

Company Description
Block is one company built from many blocks, all united by the same purpose of economic empowerment. The blocks that form our foundational teams - People, Finance, Counsel, Hardware, Information Security, Platform Infrastructure Engineering, and more - provide support and guidance at the corporate level. They work across business groups and around the globe, spanning time zones and disciplines to develop inclusive People policies, forecast finances, give legal counsel, safeguard systems, nurture new initiatives, and more. Every challenge creates possibilities, and we need different perspectives to see them all. Bring yours to Block.
Job Description
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.

Qualifications
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.

Additional Information
Block takes a market-based approach to pay, and pay may vary depending on your location. U.S. locations are categorized into one of four zones based on a cost of labor index for that geographic area. The successful candidate's starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, work location, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future.
Zone A: USD $163,600 - USD $245,400
Zone B: USD $155,400 - USD $233,200
Zone C: USD $147,300 - USD $220,900
Zone D: USD $139,000 - USD $208,600
To find a location's zone designation, please refer to this resource .
We have listed some of our common hiring locations. Depending on the cost of labor in the relevant geographic area, state work locations that are approximately 50 Kilometers outside of the metro area listed may be aligned to a different zone. These zones may be modified in the future. Please speak with a recruiter for additional information.
United States and Canada EEOC Statement
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 a proud equal opportunity employer. We work hard to evaluate all employees and job applicants consistently, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class.
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 .
Additionally, we consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment on our team, and always assess candidates on an individualized basis.
Perks
We want you to be well and thrive. Our global benefits package includes:

• Healthcare coverage
• Retirement Plans
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Wellness perks
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off
• Learning and Development resources

Block, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) is a global technology company with a focus on financial services. Made up of Square, Cash App, Spiral, TIDAL, and TBD, we build tools to help more people access the economy. Square helps sellers run and grow their businesses with its integrated ecosystem of commerce solutions, business software, and banking services. With Cash App, anyone can easily send, spend, or invest their money in stocks or Bitcoin. Spiral (formerly Square Crypto) builds and funds free, open-source Bitcoin projects. Artists use TIDAL to help them succeed as entrepreneurs and connect more deeply with fans. TBD is building an open developer platform to make it easier to access Bitcoin and other blockchain technologies without having to go through an institution.