Product Design Lead Jobs in Madison, WI
Product Design Lead jobs in Madison, Wisconsin are in active demand, concentrated in the Capitol Square corridor, the University Research Park, and the East Washington Avenue tech district across healthtech, edtech, and enterprise software. Employers hiring right now include Kapur and Associates, Ayres Associates, and Bock Water Heaters. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Product Design Lead JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 30+ Product Design Lead jobs
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)Environmental Conditions
OfficeJob Description
LOCATION: This is a fully onsite position based at our Madison, WI site. Unfortunately, relocation assistance is NOT provided.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.
- Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, which includes a drug screen.
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you'll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world's toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.
Description
We are seeking a motivated Firmware Engineer to join our engineering team. This role focuses on the development, testing, and maintenance of embedded software for cutting-edge analytical instrumentation in the spectroscopy field. The ideal candidate has a solid foundation in embedded systems, enjoys working close to hardware, and is eager to grow technical depth while solving real-world problems.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform all phases of embedded software development, including design, implementation, testing, integration, and maintenance for scientific instruments
- Develop reliable firmware in C for ARM microprocessors and TI DSPs used in FTIR, Raman, and microscopy instruments
- Design and implement programmable logic using VHDL for FPGAs and CPLDs
- Develop manufacturing and support utilities using C#/.NET
- Ensure timely delivery of high-quality products by working closely with project teams, SQA, and cross-functional engineering groups
- Participate in design and architecture reviews
- Develop and maintain technical documentation, including specifications, test plans, and user documentation
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. MS preferred.
- 2–4 years of hands-on experience in embedded software or firmware development.
- Strong programming skills in C; experience with C++ is a plus.
- Experience developing embedded software across the full lifecycle, including design, implementation, testing, integration, and maintenance.
- Proficiency working with microcontrollers and embedded systems, including ARM-based processors and/or DSPs.
- Strong understanding of low-level embedded concepts (e.g., interrupts, DMA, memory management) and ability to interpret hardware schematics.
- Experience developing firmware for scientific or instrumentation-based systems is preferred.
- Familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and/or bare-metal embedded systems.
- Experience with programmable logic design (e.g., VHDL for FPGAs or CPLDs); experience debugging FPGA-based implementations is a plus.
- Knowledge of common communication interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet, and USB.
- Experience with debugging tools such as JTAG debuggers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers.
- Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and modern development workflows (e.g., CI/CD).
- Exposure to embedded Linux or higher-level system integration is a plus.
- Experience developing utilities or applications using C#/.NET is a plus.
- Understanding of low-level system components such as bootloaders, device drivers, and power management is desirable.
- Ability to contribute to embedded software architecture and communication protocol design.
- Experience with data acquisition, signal processing, or motor control systems is a plus.
- Exposure to AI/ML tools used to support embedded systems development (e.g., code generation, debugging, test automation, or data analysis).
- Awareness of how AI/ML techniques may be applied to instrument data processing, signal analysis, or system optimization.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including hardware, systems, and quality engineering.
- Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to debug complex system-level issues.
- Experience working in regulated development environments (e.g., medical devices, automotive, aerospace) is a plus.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to contribute to technical documentation and design reviews.
- Ability to manage individual tasks with moderate guidance while contributing to team deliverables.
- Willingness to learn new technologies and take on evolving technical challenges.
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)Environmental Conditions
OfficeJob Description
LOCATION: This is a fully onsite position based at our Madison, WI site. Unfortunately, relocation assistance is NOT provided.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.
- Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, which includes a drug screen.
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you'll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world's toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.
Description
We are seeking a motivated Firmware Engineer to join our engineering team. This role focuses on the development, testing, and maintenance of embedded software for cutting-edge analytical instrumentation in the spectroscopy field. The ideal candidate has a solid foundation in embedded systems, enjoys working close to hardware, and is eager to grow technical depth while solving real-world problems.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform all phases of embedded software development, including design, implementation, testing, integration, and maintenance for scientific instruments
- Develop reliable firmware in C for ARM microprocessors and TI DSPs used in FTIR, Raman, and microscopy instruments
- Design and implement programmable logic using VHDL for FPGAs and CPLDs
- Develop manufacturing and support utilities using C#/.NET
- Ensure timely delivery of high-quality products by working closely with project teams, SQA, and cross-functional engineering groups
- Participate in design and architecture reviews
- Develop and maintain technical documentation, including specifications, test plans, and user documentation
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. MS preferred.
- 2–4 years of hands-on experience in embedded software or firmware development.
- Strong programming skills in C; experience with C++ is a plus.
- Experience developing embedded software across the full lifecycle, including design, implementation, testing, integration, and maintenance.
- Proficiency working with microcontrollers and embedded systems, including ARM-based processors and/or DSPs.
- Strong understanding of low-level embedded concepts (e.g., interrupts, DMA, memory management) and ability to interpret hardware schematics.
- Experience developing firmware for scientific or instrumentation-based systems is preferred.
- Familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and/or bare-metal embedded systems.
- Experience with programmable logic design (e.g., VHDL for FPGAs or CPLDs); experience debugging FPGA-based implementations is a plus.
- Knowledge of common communication interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet, and USB.
- Experience with debugging tools such as JTAG debuggers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers.
- Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and modern development workflows (e.g., CI/CD).
- Exposure to embedded Linux or higher-level system integration is a plus.
- Experience developing utilities or applications using C#/.NET is a plus.
- Understanding of low-level system components such as bootloaders, device drivers, and power management is desirable.
- Ability to contribute to embedded software architecture and communication protocol design.
- Experience with data acquisition, signal processing, or motor control systems is a plus.
- Exposure to AI/ML tools used to support embedded systems development (e.g., code generation, debugging, test automation, or data analysis).
- Awareness of how AI/ML techniques may be applied to instrument data processing, signal analysis, or system optimization.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including hardware, systems, and quality engineering.
- Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to debug complex system-level issues.
- Experience working in regulated development environments (e.g., medical devices, automotive, aerospace) is a plus.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to contribute to technical documentation and design reviews.
- Ability to manage individual tasks with moderate guidance while contributing to team deliverables.
- Willingness to learn new technologies and take on evolving technical challenges.
See All 30 Product Design Lead Jobs in Madison
Find roles in Madison that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Product Design Lead JobsProduct Design Lead Job Market in Madison
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Energy
- Education
- Manufacturing
- Accounting & Auditing
Product Design Lead Jobs in Madison: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a product design lead job in Madison?
The strongest path in Madison is targeting healthtech companies, university-affiliated software ventures, and the growing cluster of enterprise SaaS firms along East Washington Avenue and in University Research Park. Candidates who can show cross-functional leadership, a systems-thinking portfolio, and experience shipping B2B or mission-driven products stand out. Engaging Madison's local design community events and UW-Madison alumni networks also surfaces roles before they hit job boards.
Which companies hire product design leads in Madison?
Madison product design lead roles are posted by Kapur and Associates, Ayres Associates, and Bock Water Heaters and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Madison's hiring mix skews toward healthtech scaleups, university spinouts, and established insurance and financial services firms that have built in-house product design functions.
Are there remote product design lead jobs in Madison?
Yes, though product design lead roles often require some on-site collaboration for workshops, stakeholder alignment, and design reviews. About 29% of product design lead openings tied to Madison are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting the broader tech sector's flexibility. Strategic and research-heavy parts of the role, such as user research synthesis and roadmap planning, are most commonly performed remotely among Madison employers.
How can I get a product design lead job in Madison with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Madison is moving up from a mid-level product designer role at one of the city's healthtech or edtech companies, where design teams are small enough that senior contributors quickly take on lead responsibilities. UW-Madison's connected startup ecosystem and incubators like Gener8tor also offer early opportunities to own design work end-to-end. Building a portfolio that shows leadership on at least one shipped feature, and contributing to local design critique groups, accelerates that transition.
Which industries hire the most product design leads in Madison?
The sectors hiring the most product design leads in Madison are Consulting & Professional Services, Energy, and Education, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Madison's concentration of health insurance companies, university-linked research ventures, and a maturing SaaS corridor makes those sectors the dominant sources of sustained product design lead demand in the city.
See All 30 Product Design Lead Jobs in Madison
Find roles in Madison that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Product Design Lead Jobs