Senior Embedded Software Engineer

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.