PQ Angels builds the software that sits on the silicon. From bare-metal firmware on a microcontroller to multi-core Linux on a custom SoC, we deliver embedded systems that meet hard real-time requirements and ship into production.
Capabilities
Five capability areas. One delivery team
Whether you are starting from a spec or stepping in for a stalled tape-out, PQ Angels has the engineering depth to take ownership.
Our capabilities span the entire VLSI flow.
01
Board Support Package (BSP) Development
Hardware abstraction and board bring-up done right. A clean BSP saves months of debugging downstream. Our team builds BSPs that are lean, well-documented, and stable across hardware revisions.
- Custom BSP development for Linux, Android, QNX, and RTOS platforms
- Bootloader development and integration (U-Boot, Coreboot, custom)
- Kernel porting and configuration
- Yocto, Buildroot, and OpenEmbedded build system expertise
- Root filesystem creation and optimization
- Board bring-up from initial power-on to OS boot
02
Device Driver Development
Low-level hardware interface design that does not leak. Our driver team writes code for the full stack of peripherals you find on a modern board.
- Linux kernel drivers including character, block, and network drivers
- USB, PCIe, Ethernet, SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, LIN drivers
- Audio, video, display, and camera driver development
- Wireless drivers for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, BLE, Zigbee, LoRa
- Driver porting across kernel versions and architectures
03
RTOS Development & Integration
Real-time operating system configuration and optimization for predictable, low-latency behavior. We engage on the RTOS your team has standardized on, or help you choose the right one.
- FreeRTOS, Zephyr, ThreadX, VxWorks, QNX, RTEMS
- RTOS porting and kernel customization
- Scheduler tuning and priority assignment
- Memory protection unit (MPU) configuration
- Power management and low-power state design
04
Firmware Development
Custom firmware for microcontrollers and processors, written to be safe, testable, and maintainable across product generations.
- Bare-metal firmware for ARM Cortex-M, Cortex-R, RISC-V, AVR, PIC, MSP430
- RTOS-based firmware applications
- Bootloaders and over-the-air (OTA) update frameworks
- Secure boot and trusted execution environment integration
- Protocol stack implementation
- Firmware optimization for size, speed, and power
05
System Integration & Testing
End-to-end validation and performance optimization. Once the BSP, drivers, RTOS, and firmware come together, we make sure they actually work together under real-world load.
- Hardware-software integration testing
- Performance benchmarking and profiling
- Stress testing, soak testing, and reliability validation
- EMI/EMC pre-compliance support
- Production test framework development
- Certification support for regulated industries
How we engage
A flow built for tape-out predictability
Step 01
Hardware review and requirements analysis
We start with your schematic, BOM, and product requirements. We flag risks before we commit to a delivery date.
Step 02
Architecture and BSP planning
We define the software architecture: OS choice, partitioning, security model, update strategy. You sign off before code is written.
Step 03
Iterative delivery
We deliver in sprints with working firmware at the end of each one. You see progress on hardware, not slides.
Step 04
Validation and certification support
Test plan execution, certification-ready documentation, and field-readiness validation.
Step 05
Long-term support
Bug fixes, hardware revisions, and feature additions across the product lifecycle.
Platforms and technology
- Architectures: ARM Cortex-M, Cortex-R, Cortex-A, RISC-V, x86, MIPS
- RTOS: FreeRTOS, Zephyr, ThreadX, VxWorks, QNX, RTEMS
- OS: Embedded Linux (Yocto, Buildroot), Android, AOSP, QNX
- MCU/MPU vendors: NXP, STMicro, TI, Microchip, Espressif, Renesas, Qualcomm, Nordic
- Tools: Yocto, Buildroot, GCC, Clang, IAR, Keil, JTAG, Lauterbach, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers
Industries we serve
- Automotive electronics and ADAS
- Industrial IoT and smart manufacturing
- Consumer electronics and Smart Home with Mixed Reality (AR/VR)
- Medical devices and wearables
- Spatial Computing + Edge AI IoT
- Aerospace and Defense electronics
- Smart City Networking Backbone
FAQs
Common questions
Everything you need to know before we start working together.
Do you work on hardware design, or only on the software side?
We focus on the embedded software stack: BSP, drivers, RTOS, firmware, and integration. We work closely with hardware teams, ours or yours, but we do not lead PCB design.
Which RTOS do you recommend for a new product?
That depends on the product. FreeRTOS is a great default for small to mid-size projects. Zephyr is gaining traction for connected devices. QNX and VxWorks for safety-critical work. We help clients make this choice based on real constraints, not preferences.
Can you take over a project that started elsewhere?
Yes. We do this often. We start with a code review and a risk audit, then propose a remediation and delivery plan.
Do you support certification for medical, automotive, or industrial standards?
We have engineers familiar with IEC 62304, ISO 26262, IEC 61508, and related standards. We can produce certification-ready artifacts as part of the delivery.
Expertise in aerospace systems compliant with RTCA (USA) and EUROCAE (Europe) standards, with working knowledge of FAA and EASA certification frameworks.
Our Engineering team is well-versed in NIST and ETSI cybersecurity standards and architectures across IoT systems, data center server environments, and distributed computing systems
Can you build OTA update systems?
Yes. OTA frameworks are part of most modern embedded products. We design them with security, rollback safety, and bandwidth efficiency in mind.
Do you offer a Contingent Workforce (CW) engagement model?
Yes, PQAngles Technologies offers a Contingent Workforce (CW) model for VLSI and Embedded Systems projects. We provide skilled engineers who can seamlessly integrate with your teams to support project execution with flexible and scalable engagement options.
Have a board to bring up or a firmware codebase that needs help?
Send us the hardware spec and the timeline. We will scope an engagement that fits.