Embedded Systems Engineer (Medical Devices)

About this role

<h2 class="iCIMS_InfoMsg iCIMS_InfoField_Job"><span style="font-size: large;">Overview</span></h2> <p>Are you a versatile engineer who thrives at the intersection of hardware and software? Do you have a deep understanding of Xilinx FPGAs and the AXI protocol, but also enjoy diving into schematic design, PCB layout guidance, or kernel drivers when the need arises? We are seeking a dynamic, mid-career Embedded Systems Engineer to join our team developing next-generation medical devices.</p> <p>In this role, you will be the linchpin between the digital logic fabric and the high-level application software. You will architect and implement complex FPGA designs that interface seamlessly with user-space applications running on embedded processors via AXI interconnects. Beyond the FPGA, you will own the board-level electronics: you’ll generate detailed schematics for complex devices built around the Xilinx FPGA, ensuring robust power delivery, high-speed signal routing, and peripheral integration. We are looking for a “full-stack” embedded thinker, someone who is equally excited to design a new analog front-end, refactor a Linux device driver, or optimize a data processing pipeline. You won’t just be writing and using IP blocks; you will own the embedded ecosystem, from the circuit board to the application layer, delivering technology that directly impacts patient lives under a quality management system.</p> <p><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Board-Level Schematic Generation</span>: Design and own the detailed electrical schematics for complex, FPGA-centric medical devices. This includes component selection, power architecture definition, clock distribution, high-speed memory interfaces (DDR), and analog signal conditioning circuits.</li> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">FPGA Architecture &amp; Implementation</span>: Design, code, and verify complex digital designs on Xilinx platforms (Vivado/Vitis), with a primary focus on implementing custom IP blocks that communicate with user-space Linux applications via AXI4 (Lite, Stream, and Memory-Mapped) interfaces.</li> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Device Driver &amp; Kernel Development</span>: Develop and maintain Linux kernel drivers and user-space libraries that bridge the gap between the FPGA logic and C++/Rust/Python applications.</li> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Full-Cycle Medical Device Development</span>: Participate in all phases of the product lifecycle within a regulated IEC 62304 / ISO 13485 framework, including requirements definition, architectural design, FMEA, and verification testing.</li> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cross-Functional Hardware Integration</span>: Work closely with PCB layout engineers to guide stack-up and routing; perform board bring-up, bench testing (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers), and debugging of your schematics.</li> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Broad Problem Solving</span>: Demonstrate flexibility by owning problems outside any single domain. You will debug high-speed signal integrity issues one day, and write a Python script to automate hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing the next.</li> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Optimization</span>: Profile and optimize embedded systems for low latency, high throughput, SWAP-C (size, weight, power, and cost) constraints, and patient safety.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Must-Have Qualifications</strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Experience</span>: 4–7+ years of hands-on experience in embedded systems development.</li> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Schematic &amp; Board Design</span>: Proven ability to generate complex board-level schematics for FPGA-based designs using industry-standard tools (e.g., Altium Designer, KiCad). Must understand power sequencing, high-speed routing constraints, and mixed-signal layout considerations.</li> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Xilinx Proficiency</span>: Deep working knowledge of the Xilinx toolchain (Vivado, Vitis) and the ability to generate, customize, and debug IP cores connected via the AXI interconnect protocol.</li> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Hardware Description Languages</span>: Proficiency in VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog for synthesis, simulation, and timing closure.</li> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Embedded Linux</span>: Strong experience with embedded Linux (Yocto, PetaLinux, or Buildroot), kernel configuration, and cross-compilation.</li> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Software Skills</span>: Fluency in C/C++ or Rust (preferred) for low-level firmware and driver development; proficiency in Python for scripting and data analysis.</li> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Interface Knowledge</span>: Solid understanding of communication protocols beyond AXI, such as SPI, I2C, UART, and high-speed serial links.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Nice-to-Have Qualifications</strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Medical Experience</span>: Experience working in a regulated environment (FDA, MDR) with safety-critical standards like IEC 62304.</li> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Analog/Digital Circuitry</span>: Deep experience with precision analog front-ends, ADCs, DACs, and power management ICs (PMICs) commonly found in medical instrumentation.</li> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Broad Toolbox</span>: Experience with Digital Signal Processing (DSP), SoC design on Zynq/MPSoC/RFSoC platforms, or high-speed transceivers.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Who You Are</strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">An Adaptable Engineer</span>: You have deep expertise in Xilinx logic design and schematic generation, and a broad willingness and ability to contribute wherever the project needs it most, from software drivers