Senior Controls Software Engineer (Robotics & Test Systems) - Surgical

Medtronic plc; Galway; On-site; EUR 66,000 - 98,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medtronic Incentive Plan

Benefits package

Job summary

Medtronic plc in Galway, Ireland, seeks a Senior Controls Software Engineer to design, implement and adapt low-level controls for test rigs and robotic instrument operation, translating objectives into reliable control functions.

The role involves developing motor-control functions, state machines and motion trajectories, integrating with motors, drives, sensors and data‑acquisition hardware, and supporting commissioning, troubleshooting and verification within a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering with 4+ years of relevant experience or Master’s with 2+ years.
• Experience developing controls software for robotics, automation equipment, test systems or high-reliability machinery.
• Strong programming in C, C++, Python for embedded/real-time controls.
• Experience with state machines, motion trajectories, motor control and closed-loop control.
• Knowledge of real-time systems, sensors, data-acquisition hardware and debugging.
• Experience with software lifecycle practices and version control.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement and adapt low-level controls software for test rigs and robotic instrument operation.
• Develop motor-control functions, state machines, homing and calibration sequences, and motion trajectories.
• Integrate controls software with motors, servo drives, sensors and data-acquisition hardware.
• Support rig commissioning, troubleshooting and verification; ensure maintainable, traceable solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary engineers and participate in design/code reviews and documentation.

Skills

C/C++

Python

State machines

Motor control

Embedded real-time

MATLAB/Simulink

Software debugging

Documentation

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s in Engineering

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

Careers that change lives start here. Medtronic is a global leader in healthcare technology with a Mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life. Our 95,000 employees work across more than 150 countries to put patients first - developing innovative medical technologies that improve the lives of 72+ million patients each year. Your unique talents will help shape the future of healthcare while building a career grounded in purpose, growth, and impact.

A Day in the Life Making the best possible surgery accessible to every patient. We believe the future of surgery is less invasive and more precise, predictable, and personalised. We bring together sharp surgical expertise, extensive medical knowledge, and cutting-edge technology with a single-minded focus on each patient - wherever they are, and however they need to be treated. Each surgical specialty faces unique challenges, yet the goal is universal: better care for patients. By understanding these differences, we deliver solutions that empower surgeons and keep patients at the heart of every decision. We are seeking a Senior Controls Software Engineer to design, implement and adapt low-level controls software for advanced test rigs and robotic instrument operation.

The role translates test objectives and system requirements into reliable control functions, including motor control, state machines, motion trajectories, force and position control, operating limits, interlocks and test-specific control modes. This is a hands-on engineering role within a multidisciplinary advanced development team. The successful candidate will develop and integrate controls software with motors, drives, sensors, data-acquisition systems, real-time interfaces and mechanical systems; support rig commissioning and troubleshooting; and deliver maintainable solutions that enable repeatable, traceable instrument performance testing, characterisation and engineering investigations. The role will be based at the Mervue Campus in Galway, Ireland.

Design, implement, test and maintain low-level controls software for test rigs, robotic mechanisms and instrument-operation platforms. Develop motor-control functions, machine and instrument state machines, homing and calibration sequences, motion trajectories and coordinated operating modes. Implement closed-loop force, torque, position, velocity and hybrid control strategies appropriate to the test objective and system architecture.

Define and implement software limits, error handling, fault recovery, interlocks, watchdogs and test-specific control modes that support safe and repeatable operation. Translate system requirements, test methods, motion profiles and load cases into software requirements, control algorithms, interfaces and verification approaches. Integrate controls software with servo drives, embedded controllers, real-time systems, sensors encoders, load cells, torque sensors, data-acquisition hardware and mechanical assemblies.

Develop reusable software components, device interfaces and configuration approaches that can be applied across multiple rigs and instrument platforms. Collaborate with test, systems, mechanical, electrical, mechatronics and software engineers to define interfaces, timing, I/O, communications and expected system behaviour. Support concept feasibility, rapid prototyping, rig bring-up, commissioning, tuning, verification, troubleshooting and release for engineering use.

Use modelling, simulation, data analysis and structured experiments to tune control performance and understand dynamic interactions between the instrument, robot and test equipment. Create and maintain software design descriptions, interface documentation, test evidence, configuration records and other technical documentation needed for traceability and reuse. Participate in design reviews, code reviews, risk assessments and root-cause investigations, applying version control, modular design, coding standards and automated testing.

Contribute to continuous improvement of controls architectures, reusable libraries and test-system engineering practices.

Key Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering or a related engineering discipline with 4+ years of relevant experience, OR a Master’s/advanced degree with 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Relevant experience developing controls software for robotics, automation equipment, test systems, electromechanical products or special-purpose machinery.
• Strong programming capability in C, C++, Python or comparable languages used for embedded, real-time or test-system controls.
• Practical experience implementing state machines, motion sequences, motor control, trajectory generation and closed-loop force, position or velocity control.
• Understanding of control-system fundamentals, feedback devices, sampling, filtering, stability, tuning, system dynamics and actuator or transmission behaviour.
• Experience integrating software with motors, servo drives, encoders, sensors, data-acquisition hardware, industrial or real-time communications and mechanical systems.
• Experience with software debugging, hardware-in-the-loop or system-level testing, data analysis and structured troubleshooting of electromechanical systems.
• Working knowledge of software lifecycle practices, version control, code review, testing, requirements traceability and technical documentation.
• Strong analytical, communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across software, electrical, mechanical, mechatronics, systems and test engineering disciplines.
• Experience with real-time operating systems, embedded controllers, MATLAB/Simulink, or model-based development is desirable.
• Experience in medical devices, surgical robotics, regulated product development or high-reliability test environments is advantageous.

Physical Job Requirements

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position, but they are not an exhaustive list of all the required responsibilities and skills of this position.

Benefits & Compensation

Medtronic offers a competitive Salary and flexible Benefits Package A commitment to our employees lives at the core of our values. We recognize their contributions. They share in the success they help to create. We offer a wide range of benefits, resources, and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every career and life stage.

Pay range / Rango salarial / Intervalo salarial /Fascia retributiva / Tranche de salaire / Gehaltsband / Salaribereik: Ireland: 65,600.00 EUR - 98,400.00 EUR | The final salary within this range will be determined based on objective, job-related criteria, including relevant experience, skills and qualifications, in accordance with our compensation framework.

This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP).

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is the policy of Medtronic to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Medtronic will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. For sales reps and other patient facing field employees, going into a healthcare settingis considered an essential function of the job and we expect our employees to comply with all credentialing requirements at the hospitals or clinics they support. This employer participates in the federal E‑Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees.