Device Engineer II

About this role

Alarm.com is a rapidly expanding technology company developing innovative cloud and device solutions across a wide range of cutting-edge technologies that provide a unified, connected service to millions of residential and commercial properties in the US and abroad. We are looking for a talented and passionate embedded software engineer for the Device Engineering team to help us define the future of the Internet-of-Things for residential and commercial properties by creating and integrating devices including security panels, networking gateways, and video cameras. You will be working with a team of talented engineers across a diverse set of technological backgrounds to design devices, build and manufacture hardware, architect and implement software, and collaborate in an agile and fast-paced environment.

You will build firmware for our video cameras at our Tysons, Virginia headquarters. Prior camera, multimedia, or networking experience is not required: we are looking for a strong embedded Linux and C++ generalist who is eager to learn, and the team's experienced engineers will mentor you. Your code will run on real hardware every day and ship to millions of homes and businesses.

What You'll Learn and Work On

Areas the team owns; prior exposure is a plus, not a prerequisite.

• C++ application software on embedded Linux and resource-constrained SoC hardware.

• Video and audio: capture, encoding, streaming, two-way audio, and event-driven clips and snapshots.

• On-device analytics and event detection.

• Builds, cross-compilation, and hardware bring-up and validation with senior engineers.

• Connectivity: wired and wireless networking, secure cloud communication, and over-the-air updates.

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Self-starter who scopes their own work, follows through, and communicates progress and blockers early.

• Strong C++ proficiency for embedded systems, with sound software architecture and design principles.

• Solid Linux systems programming (processes, threads, IPC, sockets), including safe concurrent design, and hands-on debugging on a target device with tools such as gdb, strace, or memory analyzers.

• 2+ years of professional embedded software development on Linux platforms.

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

• Experience with cross-compilation and build frameworks such as Yocto, buildroot, OpenWRT, or Android.

• Knowledge of the SDLC, Git, and collaborative code review; able to present coherent designs, code changes, tests, and results.

• Python or Bash scripting to automate development and test processes.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Video, audio, or image pipelines: camera sensors, ISPs, hardware encoders, media frameworks, codecs, or streaming protocols.

• Networking fundamentals and on-device network debugging; Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, cellular, or other IoT protocols.

• Board support packages, Linux kernel and drivers, bootloaders, RTOS firmware, SoC vendor SDKs, or hardware bring-up with UART, SPI, and I2C peripherals.

• Security fundamentals: TLS, secure boot, key storage.

• AI/ML inference on embedded devices.

• Automated on-device testing or CI for embedded targets.

Responsibilities:

• Implement, test, and debug camera firmware on real hardware, owning tasks and modules from design review through code review, unit and on-target testing, documentation, and release.

• Develop platform frameworks and embedded Linux applications in C/C++ with other engineers.

• Break features into well-defined, documented tasks; justify technical decisions and propose alternatives in design discussions.

• Contribute to system-level debugging, performance profiling, and validation; quickly narrow problems to hardware or software.

• Work with electrical and mechanical engineers on device design and manufacturing, with software engineers on features that interact with the cloud, and with product managers and quality engineers to ensure products meet Alarm.com's standards.

• Take on work across areas, features, and platforms, including outside your comfort zone; write internal tools to automate frequent processes.

• Communicate effectively and collaborate with others to ensure the timely delivery of projects.

• Use AI-assisted development tools effectively within the team's engineering workflow.

Who Thrives Here

You own a problem from first symptom to shipped fix and look for the next one unasked. You are curious about where hardware meets software and comfortable with a datasheet, a kernel log, and a packet capture in the same afternoon, even when some are new to you. You learn from experienced engineers, ask for feedback, and share what you learn. You take pride in reliable code that runs on devices people depend on for their safety.

Please note that sponsorship of new applicants for employment authorization, or any other immigration-related support, is not available for this position at this time.

WHY WORK FOR ALARM.COM?

• Collaborate with outstanding people: We hire only the best. Our standards are high and our employees enjoy working alongside other high achievers.

• Make an immediate impact: New employees can expect to be given real responsibility for bringing new technologies to the marketplace. You are empowered to perform as soon as you join the Alarm.com team!

• Gain well rounded experience: Alarm.com offers a diverse and dynamic environment where you will get the chance to work directly with executives and develop expertise across multiple areas of the business.

• Community and Camaraderie: One of our core values is to 'Keep It Fun,' which to us means fostering a strong sense of community. Our culture is built on collaboration and connection, where we celebrate our successes and believe that a positive, engaging environment is key to doing our best work.

• Alarm.com values working together and collaborating in person. Our…