Embedded firmware and IoT — reliable, testable, handover-ready.
Firmware development for prototypes and products: connectivity, reliability, testing, and handover-ready documentation.
What this service is
Embedded firmware is the layer that makes hardware behave reliably in the real world. We focus on three things:
Hover any row to see what that means in practice.
Firmware that is testable and maintainable
MAINTAINABLEWe write firmware with the next engineer in mind — structured, commented, and built with testability hooks so your team can debug, extend, and hand off without calling us.
Pragmatic connectivity where it adds value
IoT_READYIoT and wireless only when it solves a real problem — BLE, Wi-Fi, UART, SPI, I²C. We don't add connectivity for its own sake. We scope what your product actually needs.
Documentation and handover your team can support
HANDOVER_FIRSTEvery engagement ends with docs your in-house team can pick up — pin maps, state diagrams, build instructions, and a handover brief. No black-box firmware.
We're not selling
"Magic autonomy" that works in demos but not in the field
Firmware that only we can maintain
Complexity added to justify the invoice
We're delivering real product behaviour with clarity — not promises.
Who it's for
Hover any row to see why it fits — or doesn't.
You're building a connected device prototype
BLE, Wi-Fi, UART, SPI, I²C — we scope connectivity to what your product actually needs, not what sounds impressive in a pitch deck.
You need a firmware revision or reliability improvement
Existing firmware that's unstable, hard to debug, or failing in the field. We review, refactor, and document — leaving something your team can own.
You want maintainable firmware and clean handover
We write firmware structured for the next engineer — clear state machines, documented interfaces, and a handover brief your team can actually use.
You're building a regulated medical device or manned aviation / aerospace system
These domains require specialist safety frameworks and certification processes we don't cover. We'll tell you upfront.
You need highly specialised autonomy research beyond pragmatic drones / mechatronics
Cutting-edge autonomy R&D sits outside our scope. We work on real-world product firmware, not research-stage systems.
Not sure? Book a free 20-min call — we'll be honest.
Problems we solve
Recognise any of these? Click to see exactly how we approach it.
"Our firmware is unstable or hard to debug."
"We need connectivity but don't want to overcomplicate V1."
"We need a robust approach to updates, logging, and reliability."
"We need documentation so we're not dependent on one person."
Not sure if your problem fits? Book a free call
What you receive
Two groups — core outputs on every engagement, plus IoT-specific additions where connectivity is in scope. Hover any item to see detail.
Every engagement
Core deliverables
Firmware source code repository
Clean, structured source handed over in your preferred version control — GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. Branching strategy and commit history included.
Build and flash instructions
Step-by-step instructions to build, flash, and verify the firmware — written for the next engineer, not just the one who wrote it.
Configuration notes
All tunable parameters, compile-time flags, and runtime config options documented — so your team can adapt without reverse-engineering.
Interface documentation
Sensor interfaces, communication protocols (UART, SPI, I²C, BLE), pin maps, and timing diagrams — everything needed to extend or integrate.
Logging and diagnostics approach
How the firmware reports state, errors, and events — log levels, output format, and how to read them in the field or on the bench.
Test notes and known limitations
What was tested, how, and under what conditions — plus an honest list of known edge cases, limitations, and recommended follow-on work.
Handover documentation and runbook
A structured handover pack — architecture overview, key decisions, open items, and a runbook for your team to operate and extend the firmware.
Conditional
If IoT connectivity included
Data model and message formats
Payload schemas, topic structures, and message format specs — MQTT, HTTP, or custom protocol — so your backend team can integrate without guessing.
Backend / API integration notes
How the device talks to your backend — endpoints, auth approach, retry logic, and failure handling — or a handover brief for your backend team to complete the integration.
All files are yours — no lock-in, no proprietary formats.
How we engage
Three paths — choose based on where you are. Select one to see how it works.
For founders
Prototype firmware for V1
For SMEs
Firmware stabilisation / revision
If scope is unclear
Audit sprint
Select an option to see how it works
Minimum engagement
Contact us for current availability and minimum project scope.
Tools & stack
Tooling depends on platform. These are our typical practices — specifics confirmed during discovery.
Version Control
GitAll firmware delivered in a structured Git repository — branching strategy, commit history, and tagging conventions confirmed during scoping.
Issue Tracking
Your choiceWe work in your existing tracker or recommend a lightweight setup — tasks, bugs, and review items documented so nothing is lost in email threads.
Test Harnesses
Where feasibleUnit and integration test scaffolding added where the platform supports it — hardware-in-the-loop where available, software stubs where not.
Build Documentation
AlwaysClear build and flash instructions, dependency lists, and toolchain version pins — so any engineer can reproduce the environment without guessing.
Toolchain confirmed during discovery — always matched to your platform and environment.
Discuss your stack →Relevant work
Two firmware engagements — V1 prototype and stabilisation. Click to expand.
V1
shipped first pass
BLE Sensor Firmware for Wearable V1
Problem
Founder needed V1 firmware for a BLE wearable — no existing codebase, tight timeline, CM already booked.
What we did
Scoped interfaces, wrote BLE stack integration, peripheral drivers, and delivered repo + flash instructions in 3 weeks.
Outcome
CM received a flashable build and handover pack on first delivery. No revision rounds on the firmware itself.
3×
fewer field resets
Firmware Stabilisation for Industrial IoT Gateway
Problem
SME had a gateway device resetting unpredictably in the field. No logging, no diagnostics, single engineer who had left the company.
What we did
Audited existing codebase, identified three root causes, added structured logging, watchdog recovery, and documented the full system.
Outcome
Field reset rate dropped significantly. Team can now diagnose issues remotely without calling us.
See all work
Full case study library across all service areas
How we keep quality high
Four gates applied to every firmware engagement. Hover to see what each means in practice.
Requirements & Acceptance Criteria
Behaviour, edge cases, and constraints agreed in writing before a line of firmware is written — so 'done' means the same thing to both sides.
Design Review & Risk Tracking
Reliability, update paths, and security risks logged and reviewed at each stage — not discovered at handover.
Validation Evidence
Test results, hardware-in-the-loop outputs, and known-limitation notes included — so you know what was verified and under what conditions.
Handover Documentation
Architecture notes, interface docs, runbook, and open items — structured for the next engineer, not as an afterthought.
4
Quality gates
0
Surprises at handover
100%
Docs on delivery
See the full process
How we scope, build, review, and hand over — end to end
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before starting an AI features project.
Do you also build IoT backends?
Can you work with our existing codebase?
Do you work on drones or UAV systems?
What deliverables do we receive at the end of the project?
Can you support hardware–firmware integration testing?
Still have questions?
Book a free discovery call→Let's build something
that actually ships.
Two ways in — a scoped estimate or a quick discovery call. Pick whichever fits where you are right now.
Get a Project Estimate
Tell us what you're building — we'll scope it and respond within 1 business day.
Book a Discovery Call
20 minutes, no obligation. We'll tell you honestly if we're the right fit.