SDK/Platform Engineer

What You'll Be Doing

The SDK Platform Developer is responsible for leading the design, development, testing, and troubleshooting of software and SDK solutions, including integration with firmware. This role works independently on complex technical objectives, provides technical leadership and problem-solving expertise, and collaborates with software, development, leadership, and cross-functional teams to deliver reliable solutions aligned with product and business goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, testing, and maintenance of software and SDK platforms, including integration and interfacing with firmware.
• Provide technical leadership for software and SDK initiatives that support product development and organizational strategy.
• Work independently on complex technical objectives with guidance from the Director of Software.
• Develop robust software and SDK architectures and solutions aligned with company and product goals.
• Collaborate with software, development, firmware, and cross-functional teams to define technical requirements, priorities, deliverables, and timelines.
• Troubleshoot complex software, SDK, and firmware integration issues and drive issues through root-cause analysis and resolution.
• Develop, implement, and improve software and SDK testing protocols, validation procedures, and troubleshooting methodologies.
• Partner with the Director of Software to identify appropriate test strategies and provide technical guidance on test protocols.
• Evaluate technical approaches, tools, technologies, and vendors; support vendor evaluation and selection as needed.
• Translate technical findings and development results into clear recommendations for technical and business stakeholders. Identify technical risks and proactively develop mitigation strategies to protect product quality, performance, cost, and schedule.
• Maintain a high level of technical quality, documentation, accuracy, and attention to detail throughout the development lifecycle.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to other software and development team members as appropriate.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to ensure technical execution remains aligned with department objectives and broader business goals.
• Help establish and maintain development practices that promote scalability, reliability, maintainability, and high-quality SDK deliverables.
• Other duties as assigned

What You'll Need for This Position

Education

• Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or related technical field.

Must-Have Skills & Experience

• 3-5 years of professional experience in software development, firmware development, SDK development, embedded systems, or a closely related technology domain.
• Demonstrated experience developing and supporting software development kits (SDKs), software platforms, APIs, libraries, or developer-facing tools.
• Strong understanding of software architecture, development methodologies, testing, debugging, and troubleshooting.
• Experience working at the software/firmware interface, including diagnosing and resolving integration issues.
• Strong programming and software development skills in one or more relevant languages such as C, C++, Python, Java, or similar, depending on the product environment.
• Experience developing and executing software testing and validation protocols. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to independently investigate complex technical issues and determine practical solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of complex technical objectives and drive them through execution.
• Ability to provide technical leadership and influence development decisions without necessarily having direct people-management responsibility.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with software, firmware, development, engineering, leadership, and external vendors.
• Excellent attention to detail and a strong commitment to software quality, reliability, and performance.
• Ability to assess technical risks and understand the potential impact of engineering decisions on product schedules, costs, system performance, and business objectives.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical concepts and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience evaluating technologies, development approaches, tools, or external vendors is highly desirable.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment where technical decisions can have a significant impact on product development timelines and business outcomes.

What's in It for You

Work closely with cutting-edge technology. You'll be hands-on with novel neural haptic technology that's defining the future of spatial computing and immersive experiences.

Work in a close-knit, startup environment. We strive to create an intellectually stimulating and collegial working environment. Our energy for inventing, creating, and learning spans work and play: we have regular happy hours, plan field trips, play games, play music, and generally have a good time.

• An early employee experience.
• We are an early-stage deep tech startup company that requires all members to contribute across the entire business.
• On any given day, there will be new challenges and new demands to propel the business forward.
• We expect all employees to be able to dive into any new challenges that present themselves, even if they are beyond the job description above.
• If your are driven by the desire to see success and to create new tech not seen by the world previously, you will fit right in to the team's culture.

Compensation & Benefits

Afference is committed to providing the sense of touch for the evolution of the human connection to technology and the future of the digital experience. We are leading this effort through deep science and technology, which provides unique experiences compared to classical haptic technologies. Our lean team of experts demands a high level of excellence but can compensate with the commensurate upside potential of an early-growth startup in a high-growth sector of extended reality.

Compensation offers depend on skills, qualifications, and experience, and range between:

$147,000 to $165,000 per year at 100% FTE

Benefits include

• Medical, dental vision, life, STD, FSA, additional company perks
• Equity incentive
• Self-managed PTO

Location: On-site; Cleveland, OH office