Languages
C, C++, Python, Java, Objective-C, Shell/Bash
Principal Embedded Engineer & Engineering Manager
Joshua Lunn
I build production-grade firmware, embedded Linux platforms, and the teams that ship them — from prototype through high-volume manufacturing.
About
From board bring-up to team build-up
Embedded software engineer and technical leader with 19+ years of experience delivering production firmware and embedded Linux platforms across defense, IoT, and consumer electronics. I have a proven track record building and scaling cross-functional engineering teams while staying hands-on with board bring-up, sensor integration, and edge AI.
I drive products from prototype through volume manufacturing with ODM partners, balancing technical depth with the people and process skills needed to deliver on time.
Technical Skills
Tools of the trade
Embedded Platforms
Embedded Linux, Buildroot, Yocto, U-Boot, Linux Kernel, Device Tree, BSP Development, FreeRTOS, Nucleus RTOS, STM32, i.MX6, ESP32, ARM, RISC-V
Protocols & Interfaces
I2C, SPI, UART, USB, JTAG, BLE, LoRa, LoRaWAN, WiFi, Cellular, Sub-GHz, Mesh Networking, MQTT
AI/ML & Vision
Edge AI, Object Detection, YOLOv8, OpenCV, PyTorch, LangChain, ChromaDB, XGBoost, ISP Tuning, GStreamer, Video Encoding
Cloud & IoT
AWS IoT Core, MQTT, eSIM/LPA, OTA Updates, Device Provisioning
Tools & Practices
Git, CI/CD, Code Review, Agile/Scrum, Schematic Review, Board Bring-Up, JTAG/SWD Debugging, ODM Coordination
Leadership
Engineering Team Management (10+), Cross-Functional Leadership, SBIR/DoD Contract Execution, Hiring & Mentoring, Process Design
Experience
Where I have delivered
Tactacam
Engineering Manager, Embedded Software
Camera company building battery-operated cellular and WiFi cameras for hunting, surveillance, and wildlife monitoring.
- Managing a team of embedded software engineers delivering firmware across multiple simultaneous new product introductions (NPIs).
- Pioneered a fully agentic development process with hardware-in-the-loop, building a custom agent harness with dedicated AI agents for embedded software development, automated testing, and code review.
Previously Principal Embedded Engineer, Feb 2024 – Mar 2026
- Architected a portable embedded Linux platform enabling rapid SoC migration across product lines, reducing bring-up time for new hardware (Buildroot, U-Boot, kernel, device tree, C).
- Introduced edge AI object-detection models that reduced false cellular triggers and lowered per-device network costs while improving customer experience (TensorFlow Lite, NPU optimization).
- Led ISP tuning and video-encoder pipeline investigations to improve image/video quality and reduce bandwidth (3A, hardware-accelerated compression).
- Implemented the IoT connectivity stack: AWS IoT Core (MQTT), eSIM LPA provisioning, and automatic carrier selection for multi-carrier deployments.
- Created a custom fast boot process achieving sub-300ms cold boot to full-resolution image capture.
- Developed a custom low-light auto-exposure algorithm leveraging frame sync and IR PWM control for proper night-time exposure.
- Provided firmware oversight for ODM partners, including code review, defect triage, and acceptance testing for volume manufacturing.
CSLabs
Lead Software Engineer
Modeling and simulation company specializing in ML, sensors, and physics-based analysis.
- Built an automated video-analysis pipeline using OpenCV and YOLOv8, correlating multi-stream events and feeding contour data into an XGBoost regression model for spatial measurement prediction.
- Developed an LLM-powered multimodality classification and similarity search application (PyTorch, LangChain, ChromaDB).
- Managed multiple SBIR contracts totaling $2M+ as project manager and lead software engineer.
- Recruited to establish product-development best practices, grow the software team, and introduce OPSEC processes.
Kopis Mobile
Director of Engineering
Defense-focused start-up providing software and rugged electronics to support national security.
- Grew and led a cross-functional team of 10 software, electrical, computer, and mechanical engineers executing on $3M+ annual contract revenue.
- Unified the team around a Scrum-based process aligned to simultaneous multi-project delivery (JIRA, sprint planning, backlog grooming, retrospectives).
- Built a culture of high trust and psychological safety through regular 1-on-1s and retrospectives.
- Established a UI/UX function to build simple, intuitive interfaces for complex defense solutions.
Previously Engineering Manager – Software (Jan 2017 – Oct 2017) and Software Engineer / Co-Founder (Jan 2013 – Dec 2016)
- Scaled team from 2 to 5 engineers executing on $2M+ in contracts plus internal R&D.
- Implemented a unified branching model, unit testing, code reviews, and CI/CD to increase velocity (Git, Jenkins).
- Created a co-op program that became a reliable pipeline for recruiting top engineering talent.
- Developed a man-wearable embedded Linux device that captured and streamed first-person video over a WiFi mesh network (i.MX6, Buildroot, U-Boot, GStreamer, C++, Python).
- Created a rugged wireless dongle for real-time CBRNE sensor readings (STM32F, FreeRTOS, LoRa/LoRaWAN, UART, USB, I2C, SPI).
- Designed a custom sub-GHz mesh protocol for synchronized helmet-mounted multi-spectrum light emitters (CC1101, STM32F, FreeRTOS).
- Shipped multiple Android and iOS applications for military users, including a sniper ballistic calculator and BLE control apps.
Mav6
Software Developer
Department of Defense contractor developing software and hardware solutions.
- Delivered a Java geospatial application for RF propagation modeling on the NASA WorldWind platform.
- Transitioned to firmware development for a prototype metal detector, demonstrating rapid cross-domain adaptability.
Heartland Micropayments
Intermediate Firmware Engineer
- Developed firmware for AT89C51 and STM32F processors; performed on-site upgrades, installs, and troubleshooting.
- Redesigned a legacy system to improve supportability and customer satisfaction.
SmartSynch Inc
Senior Firmware Engineer
Cellular-enabled smart electric meters for utility smart grid deployments.
- Developed firmware (C, Nucleus RTOS) for 250K+ fielded devices designed for 20+ year operational life.
- Reduced BoM cost by ~$50 per GSM unit by porting firmware to support a lower-cost cellular modem.
- Cut auto-provisioning timeline from months to weeks by unifying the firmware code base across all products.
Selected Impact
Results, not just responsibilities
Fast boot to capture
Built a custom cold-boot path for a battery-operated camera so it reaches full-resolution image capture in under 300 milliseconds.
Fewer false triggers
Deployed edge AI object-detection models that cut false cellular events and reduced per-device network costs.
Field-proven devices
Shipped firmware for over a quarter-million long-life cellular smart meters and rugged defense hardware.
BoM savings per unit
Ported firmware to a lower-cost modem without sacrificing reliability, saving roughly $50 per GSM unit at scale.
Team scaled
Grew engineering teams from single contributors to 10+ cross-functional engineers while maintaining delivery and culture.
Volume manufacturing
Overseas partner oversight, code review, acceptance testing, and process design for high-volume production.
Education & Credentials
Background that rounds out the work
Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering
Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
Senior design: developed a prototype of one of the first cellular-enabled security cameras.
Certifications & Publications
- Remote Pilot Certificate – FAA-Certified Drone Pilot
- Tan, J., Cao, Z., Carlson, L., Barbieri, L., & Lunn, J. (2015). Modeling and Analysis of RF Propagation in Complex Environments.
Community
Mentorship
Mentor for Jackson State University UNITE Summer Camp and FIRST Tech Challenge. I teach robotics fundamentals — motion, sensors, SLAM, ROS — plus IoT and ML concepts to high school students. I also coach a FIRST Tech Challenge team, mentoring students on software best practices, autonomous code generation, and hardware interface and control, culminating in a World Championship appearance.
Contact
Let’s build something that ships
Whether you need hands-on firmware leadership, an embedded platform architecture, or a team built to deliver, I would love to hear what you are working on.