Freelance Embedded Software Engineer for Mobile Robotics

g2 Recruitment; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 92,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

g2 Recruitment is seeking an experienced Embedded Software Engineer to join a multidisciplinary team in Amsterdam on a 12-month freelance contract. You will develop software interfacing between embedded systems, vehicle control, and robotics software for mobile robotic platforms.

The role involves real-time software design in C/C++, hardware integration, simulation, debugging, and deployment, with opportunities to work with ROS/ROS 2 and production testing in real-world environments.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional experience developing embedded software, preferably in C or modern C++.
• Experience developing software for mobile machinery, robotics or autonomous systems.
• Experience with real-time systems and hardware interaction.
• Experience with microcontrollers, embedded computers, PLCs or industrial control platforms.
• Familiarity with ROS/ROS 2 and autonomous platforms.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain embedded software in C/C++ for mobile robotic machines.
• Develop real-time control software for vehicle functions and sensors.
• Interface low-level embedded systems with higher-level robotics software.
• Integrate with ROS/ROS 2 and autonomous navigation platforms.
• Create automated tests and contribute to verification and validation.
• Support commissioning and troubleshooting on real-world platforms.

Job description

Embedded Software Engineer for Mobile Robotics - Freelance - Amsterdam

Job Title: Embedded Software Engineer

Contract Length: 12 Month Contract with opportunity to extend

Start Date: As soon as possible

We are seeking an experienced Embedded Software Engineer to join a multidisciplinary engineering team developing software and control systems for advanced mobile robotic and autonomous machines.

You will work at the interface between embedded software, electronics, vehicle control, and higher-level robotics software. Your work will help enable mobile machines to operate reliably in demanding real-world environments, supporting functions such as vehicle control, sensor integration, communication, diagnostics, safety, and interaction with higher-level autonomy systems.

This is a hands-on engineering role. You will move between software development, hardware integration, simulation, debugging, testing, and deployment, with the opportunity to see your software running on real robotic and mobile platforms.

This is a freelance contract based in Amsterdam, working closely with an experienced engineering team and external technology partners.

What you will work on

• Design, develop, and maintain embedded software in C/C++ for mobile robotic and autonomous machines.
• Develop software for real-time control of vehicle functions, actuators, sensors, and other machine systems.
• Develop interfaces between low-level embedded systems and higher-level robotics and autonomy software.
• Work with sensors, motor controllers, drive systems, steering systems, safety devices, and other vehicle electronics.
• Implement diagnostics, monitoring, fault handling, logging, and recovery mechanisms for deployed machines.
• Support the integration of embedded systems with ROS/ROS 2 and autonomous navigation platforms.
• Develop and maintain software that is robust enough for deployment on prototype and production machines.
• Develop and maintain automated tests and contribute to software verification and validation.
• Support commissioning and troubleshooting of machines in real-world operating environments.
• Evaluate new embedded technologies, controllers, communication architectures, and development approaches and determine where they can provide practical value.

What we are looking for

You are likely to bring:

• 3+ years of professional experience developing embedded software, preferably in C or modern C++.
• Practical experience developing software for mobile machinery, robotics, autonomous systems, agricultural machinery, industrial equipment, or closely related technologies.
• Strong understanding of embedded software engineering principles, including modular architecture, interfaces, testing, debugging, and maintainable code.
• Experience working with real-time systems and software that interacts directly with physical hardware.
• Experience working with microcontrollers, embedded computers, PLCs, or industrial control platforms.
• Experience bringing embedded software beyond development and into hardware-in-the-loop, vehicle testing, commissioning, or production environments.
• Comfort working in an international and fast-moving environment where priorities can evolve quickly.

Useful additional experience

Experience or interest in any of the following would be advantageous:

• ROS / ROS 2 and integration between embedded systems and robotics software.
• Autonomous mobile robots, AMRs, AGVs, or autonomous vehicles.
• Agricultural machinery, precision agriculture, or autonomous farming technology.
• Electric vehicles, electric drivetrains, battery systems, or motor control.
• ABB, B&R, Beckhoff, or comparable industrial automation platforms.
• PLC programming or industrial automation systems.
• Real-time operating systems such as FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar.
• Embedded Linux and cross-compilation.
• Sensor integration, including LiDAR, GNSS/GPS, IMU, encoders, cameras, or safety sensors.
• Functional safety, machine safety, or safety-related software development.Hardware-in-the-loop or software-in-the-loop testing.
• MATLAB/Simulink or other modelling and control-development environments.
• Git, CI/CD, automated testing, static analysis, and modern software development practices.
• Experience with mobile robotics, mechatronics, logistics, manufacturing, agriculture, or other complex operational environments.