Embedded Software Engineer

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.
The Role
Proto is accelerating the world's transition to an open economy with products that increase access and independence for everyone. We're building Proto, hardware and software to help decentralize bitcoin mining and promote innovative use cases for bitcoin mining. We're developing these products in the open - you can read more about them at 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 mining initiatives a reality. Come build the future of money with us!
The Proto software team is a newly formed team responsible for prototyping, designing, and delivering software applications to support Block's custom Bitcoin mining chip. We work with the ASIC and Electrical Engineering teams to redefine what Bitcoin mining is.
As the team is small, you 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, dynamic team with an abundance of growth and opportunities to make an impact!
You Will

• Work with the team to help develop features; debug and guide engineers through problems
• 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
• Champion and define team best practices
• Mentor other senior engineers or managers on strategy, collaboration, influence, execution, and other aspects of leadership
• Partner with stakeholders to ensure technical execution meets expectations.

You Have

• 8+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience using Python in automated testing, build systems, or device firmware communication
• Proficiency in embedded programming languages like C, C++ or Rust,
• Experience with embedded systems, knowledge of operating systems, familiarity with software development tools, understanding of hardware-software interfaces
• Experience with application development on Linux or Unix

Preferred:

• Knowledge of Bitcoin mining
• Experience working in Rust
• Experience in multi-threaded programming
• Experience working in Web development (HTML, Java Script, CSS, Node.js, CGI)
• Experience using Python (or similar scripting languages) in automated testing, build systems, or device firmware communication
• Understanding of common communications protocols (e.g. Ethernet, SPI, UART, I2C, USB), debugging practices (e.g. JTAG and associated GDB integrations), and basic electrical design principles
• Degree in CS, CE, EE, or equivalent practical experience

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 will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with state and local laws and "fair chance" ordinances.
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 .
While there is no specific deadline to apply for this role, U.S. roles are typically open for an average of 55 days before being filled by a successful candidate. Please refer to the date listed at the top of this job page for when this role was first posted.
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.
To find a location's zone designation, please refer to this resource . If a location of interest is not listed, please speak with a recruiter for additional information.
Zone A:
$217,800 - $326,800 USD
Zone B:
$207,000 - $310,400 USD
Zone C:
$196,100 - $294,100 USD
Zone D:
$185,200 - $277,800 USD
Every benefit we offer is designed with one goal: empowering you to do the best work of your career while building the life you want. Remote work, medical insurance, flexible time off, retirement savings plans, and modern family planning are just some of our offering. Check out our other benefits at Block.
Block, Inc. (NYSE: XYZ) builds technology to increase access to the global economy. Each of our brands unlocks different aspects of the economy for more people. Square makes commerce and financial services accessible to sellers. Cash App is the easy way to spend, send, and store money. Afterpay is transforming the way customers manage their spending over time. TIDAL is a music platform that empowers artists to thrive as entrepreneurs. Bitkey is a simple self-custody wallet built for bitcoin. Proto is a suite of bitcoin mining products and services. Together, we're helping build a financial system that is open to everyone.