Job Overview – Senior Embedded Software Engineer (Contract)
Location: Schaumburg, IL (Onsite Interview Required)
Duration: 9+ Month Contract (Strong Potential for Full-Time Conversion)
Position Summary
We are seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to join the firmware engineering team developing the next generation of secure NFC/RFID credential readers. This role is focused on designing, implementing, and delivering production-quality embedded firmware within an existing embedded framework using Modern C++ (C++17+). The ideal candidate has extensive experience with embedded firmware, RTOS, STM32 Cortex-M microcontrollers, low-level device drivers, and real-time systems.
The engineer will own firmware subsystems, optimize performance for memory, timing, and power, and collaborate with experienced engineering teams to deliver secure, production-ready firmware.
Required Skills
- 5+ years of Embedded Firmware Development experience
- Strong programming experience with Modern C++ (C++17 or newer)
- Embedded firmware development (not application software)
- RTOS experience (Zephyr preferred)
- Cortex-M Microcontrollers (Cortex-M4F preferred)
- STM32 Microcontroller experience (STM32G474 preferred)
- Device Driver Development
- USB, UART, SPI, I2C
- GPIO, DMA, Timers
- Embedded State Machines
- Device Abstraction Layer (DAL)
- Memory, Timing & Power Optimization
- Static Analysis & Performance Profiling
- Embedded Debugging
- Fault Recovery & Error Handling
- No Heap Allocation / No Exceptions firmware architecture
- Bachelor''s Degree in Engineering or related field
Preferred Skills
- Zephyr RTOS
- Embedded Template Library (ETL)
- CCID USB Protocol
- NFC/RFID Firmware
- Security Products
- Secure Access Systems
- Authentication Devices
- USB Stack Development
- Secure Communications
- Linux Development Environment
- Windows + Linux VM Development
- Production Firmware Validation
Responsibilities
- Design and develop embedded firmware subsystems.
- Implement modern C++ modules within the existing embedded architecture.
- Develop low-level firmware for STM32 Cortex-M4F microcontrollers.
- Build and maintain device abstraction layer drivers.
- Extend USB stack functionality for CCID credential readers.
- Develop ETL-based state machines.
- Optimize firmware for memory, timing, and power consumption.
- Debug and resolve firmware issues.
- Implement robust fault handling and recovery.
- Participate in firmware validation and production release.
- Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams.
- Maintain firmware documentation and design artifacts.
Technical Environment
- Modern C++ (C++17+)
- Zephyr RTOS
- STM32G474
- Cortex-M4F
- USB
- UART
- SPI
- I2C
- GPIO
- DMA
- Timers
- ETL
- CCID
- NFC
- RFID
- Linux VM
- Windows Development Host
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a senior embedded firmware engineer who has designed production firmware for ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers, possesses strong Modern C++ expertise, understands RTOS concepts, develops low-level drivers, and enjoys working on secure embedded devices involving NFC/RFID technologies. Candidates should be comfortable taking ownership of firmware modules while collaborating within an established embedded framework.
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