What is an Embedded Engineer at 10x Genomics?

At 10x Genomics, the Embedded Engineer role is at the intersection of cutting-edge biology and high-performance engineering. You will be responsible for developing the firmware and low-level software that powers our world-class laboratory instruments, such as the Chromium and Visium platforms. These systems require precise control over complex fluidics, high-resolution imaging, and sophisticated thermal regulation to enable researchers to see biology at a resolution and scale never before possible.

Your work directly impacts the reliability and precision of the data generated by scientists worldwide. Because our instruments are complex cyber-physical systems, your role involves more than just writing code; it requires a deep understanding of how software interacts with custom hardware. You will work in a multi-disciplinary environment where your contributions enable the "magic" of single-cell analysis and spatial genomics, turning abstract biological requirements into robust, production-ready embedded systems.

This position is critical because the software you write is the foundation of our hardware's performance. Whether you are optimizing a motor control loop or architecting a new communication protocol between system components, you are ensuring that 10x Genomics continues to lead the industry in innovation. It is a role for engineers who thrive on technical rigor and the opportunity to solve problems that have a tangible impact on human health and scientific discovery.

Common Interview Questions

Our questions are designed to test your practical knowledge and your ability to apply engineering principles to real-world problems. Expect a mix of whiteboard coding, technical theory, and behavioral deep dives.

Embedded Technical Questions

• Explain the difference between volatile, static, and const in C.
• How does an Interrupt Service Routine (ISR) interact with the main loop safely?
• Describe the process of booting a microcontroller from power-on to the main() function.
• What are the pros and cons of using a Real-Time Operating System versus a bare-metal super-loop?
• How would you implement a watchdog timer to recover from a system hang?

Coding and Logic

• Implement a function to detect if a linked list has a cycle.
• Write a thread-safe producer-consumer queue.
• How do you find the missing number in an array of 1 to N?
• Write a function to check the endianness of a system at runtime.

Behavioral and Presentation

• Describe a technical challenge where you had to change your approach mid-way.
• Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult stakeholder or teammate.
• Walk me through the most complex bug you've ever solved.
• Why are you interested in the intersection of biology and engineering?

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Success in the 10x Genomics interview process requires a balance of deep technical expertise and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly. You should approach your preparation by focusing on the fundamentals of embedded systems while also being ready to discuss your past engineering decisions in high resolution.

We evaluate candidates across several core pillars:

Embedded Domain Expertise – We look for a mastery of C and C++, a solid understanding of RTOS or bare-metal environments, and the ability to interface with hardware peripherals like I2C, SPI, and UART. You should be prepared to discuss memory management, interrupt handling, and concurrency in resource-constrained environments.

Problem-Solving and Coding – Beyond embedded specifics, you must demonstrate strong algorithmic thinking. We assess how you structure code for readability, maintainability, and performance. You will be asked to solve coding challenges that reflect real-world engineering constraints rather than just theoretical puzzles.

Technical Communication – A unique aspect of our process is the deep dive into your previous work. We evaluate your ability to present a professional accomplishment, defend your technical choices, and explain the "why" behind your architecture. This shows us how you will collaborate and influence technical direction within our team.

Cultural Alignment and Drive – We value engineers who are technically curious, humble, and detail-oriented. We look for candidates who are passionate about our mission and demonstrate the resilience needed to work through the ambiguities of developing first-of-their-kind products.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process for an Embedded Engineer at 10x Genomics is designed to be thorough and transparent, focusing on both your technical "floor" and your "ceiling." We aim to understand your foundational skills early on so that we can spend more time during the onsite rounds exploring your specialized expertise and how you solve complex, integrated problems.

You can expect a high level of engagement from our engineering leadership, including Hiring Managers and often Vice Presidents of Software. The process moves quickly, but it is rigorous. We place a significant emphasis on data and facts; our interviewers will often "double-click" on specific details of your past projects to understand your level of ownership and technical depth.

The timeline above outlines the typical progression from the initial recruiter screen to the final offer. The early stages focus on verifying your background and basic technical competency, while the virtual onsite is a comprehensive evaluation of your engineering maturity. Candidates should use this timeline to pace their preparation, ensuring they have their technical presentation polished well before the final stage.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

Embedded Systems & Firmware

This is the core of the role. You must demonstrate that you can write code that is not only functional but also optimized for the specific constraints of our hardware platforms.

Be ready to go over:

• Memory Management – Stack vs. heap usage in embedded systems, memory-mapped I/O, and strategies to prevent fragmentation.
• Concurrency and Synchronization – Using mutexes, semaphores, and queues in an RTOS environment to manage shared resources safely.
• Hardware Interfacing – Deep knowledge of protocols like SPI, I2C, and CAN, including how to debug them using logic analyzers or oscilloscopes.
• Advanced concepts – Bootloaders, Over-the-Air (OTA) update strategies, low-power optimization, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing.

Example scenarios:

• "Explain how you would implement a circular buffer for a high-speed UART driver."
• "Describe a time you had to debug a race condition in a multi-threaded embedded application."
• "How do you handle a scenario where a peripheral device is not responding to I2C commands?"

Coding and Algorithms

While we are an embedded team, we value high-quality software engineering practices. We look for clean, efficient code that follows modern standards.

Be ready to go over:

• Data Structures – Efficient use of arrays, linked lists, and bit manipulation.
• Algorithm Optimization – Identifying bottlenecks in code and reducing time or space complexity.
• State Machines – Designing and implementing robust finite state machines (FSMs) for complex system behavior.

Example scenarios:

• "Write a function to reverse bits in a 32-bit integer without using a loop."
• "Implement a simple task scheduler for a bare-metal system."

Technical Presentation and Architecture

During the onsite, you will present a project you've worked on. This is your chance to show your "engineering DNA."

Be ready to go over:

• Design Trade-offs – Why did you choose one microcontroller or protocol over another?
• System Integration – How your firmware interacted with the broader system (sensors, UI, cloud).
• Conflict Resolution – How you handled technical disagreements or unexpected hardware bugs.

Key Responsibilities

As an Embedded Engineer at 10x Genomics, your primary responsibility is the design, development, and maintenance of firmware for our next-generation biological analysis instruments. You will spend a significant portion of your time writing high-quality C/C++ code, but your work extends far beyond the IDE. You will be a key player in hardware bring-up, working closely with electrical engineers to validate new boards and troubleshoot hardware-software integration issues.

Collaboration is central to this role. You will work with Product Managers to define technical requirements and with Systems Engineers to ensure that the firmware meets the rigorous performance standards required for biological assays. You are expected to contribute to the entire software lifecycle, from architectural design and coding to automated testing and field support.

In addition to feature development, you will drive initiatives to improve our development infrastructure. This might include building better simulation tools, improving our CI/CD pipelines for firmware, or implementing more robust diagnostic logging. At 10x Genomics, we value engineers who take a proactive approach to system reliability and are always looking for ways to make our instruments more robust and easier to maintain.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

We are looking for engineers who have a solid foundation in computer science and a passion for low-level programming. The ideal candidate has experience working on complex systems where software and hardware are tightly coupled.

• Technical Skills – Proficiency in C and C++ is mandatory. You should have extensive experience with Microcontrollers (e.g., ARM Cortex-M), RTOS (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr), and standard embedded debugging tools.
• Experience Level – Typically, we look for 3+ years of experience in embedded systems, though we value the depth of your projects over years of service. Experience in regulated industries (medical devices, aerospace, automotive) is a plus.
• Soft Skills – Excellent communication skills are essential, particularly the ability to explain technical concepts to non-firmware engineers. You should be comfortable navigating ambiguity and working in a fast-paced environment.

Must-have skills:

• Strong C/C++ programming for embedded systems.
• Experience with low-level drivers and hardware abstraction layers (HAL).
• Proficiency with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters).

Nice-to-have skills:

• Experience with Python for scripting and automation.
• Knowledge of FPGA interfacing or Verilog/VHDL.
• Background in biotech or life sciences instrumentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How difficult are the coding challenges for embedded roles? A: The challenges are moderate to difficult. We focus on your ability to write clean C code and your understanding of bitwise operations and memory management rather than complex LeetCode-style dynamic programming.

Q: What is the culture of the Software Embedded team like? A: The team is technically driven and collaborative. There is a strong emphasis on "facts over beliefs," and engineers are encouraged to use data to support their design decisions. It is a professional environment where technical excellence is highly respected.

Q: How much preparation is needed for the technical presentation? A: You should spend significant time on this. It is often the centerpiece of the onsite interview. Ensure you can speak to every diagram and code snippet you show, as interviewers will ask probing questions.

Q: What is the typical timeline for the interview process? A: The process usually takes 3 to 5 weeks from the initial recruiter screen to a final decision, depending on scheduling availability.

Other General Tips

• Master the Fundamentals: Be ready to explain basic C concepts in depth. Don't just know what a keyword does; know how the compiler treats it and how it affects the generated assembly.
• Be Data-Driven: During your presentation and technical Q&A, use specific metrics (e.g., "reduced latency by 20ms" or "decreased memory footprint by 15KB") to demonstrate the impact of your work.
• Handle Disagreements Gracefully: If an interviewer challenges your answer, listen carefully. If you believe you are correct, provide data to support your position, but remain professional and open to their perspective.

Summary & Next Steps

The Embedded Engineer role at 10x Genomics offers a rare opportunity to work on technology that is literally changing the world of medicine. From helping scientists understand the complexities of cancer to accelerating vaccine development, your firmware is the engine behind these discoveries. The interview process is your first step into this high-impact environment, and it is designed to find engineers who are as passionate about technical precision as we are.

To succeed, focus your preparation on the core pillars of embedded systems, refine your technical presentation, and be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving process in real-time. We are looking for peers who will challenge us and help us build better systems.

The salary data reflects the competitive nature of the Pleasanton, CA and Durham, NC markets. When reviewing these figures, consider the total compensation package, which often includes equity and benefits that reflect your contribution to the company's long-term success. Use this information to benchmark your expectations based on your experience level and the specific requirements of the role.

For more insights into the 10x Genomics culture and additional interview resources, explore the detailed company profiles on Dataford. We look forward to seeing how your expertise can help us drive the next century of biology.