Embedded Controls Engineer

Actalent; Saint Peter (MN); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Disability insurance

Health Spending Account

Job summary

Actalent is seeking an Embedded Controls Engineer in Saint Peter, MN to own the full system architecture for off-highway equipment. You will design electrical and electro-hydraulic architectures, develop embedded software, and manage CAN networks across ECUs, engines, and displays.

Collaboration with mechanical, hydraulic, and service teams is essential. The role emphasizes producing robust, compliant machines and supporting validation, testing, and field data analysis.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Mechatronics Engineering or equivalent
• Experience with embedded control software development and real-time systems
• Knowledge of SAE J1939 and CAN bus interfaces

Responsibilities

• Define and document machine-level electrical, electro-hydraulic, and control system architecture
• Design and develop embedded control software using Danfoss PLUS+1, CODESYS, embedded C/C++
• Configure CAN and SAE J1939 networks between ECUs, engines, transmissions, and displays
• Integrate electrical controls and harnesses into 3D models using Siemens NX and manage BOMs in Teamcenter
• Develop production-ready wiring harnesses with IGE-XAO, AutoCAD, or DraftSight
• Collaborate with suppliers to ensure manufacturability and reliability
• Lead debugging on prototype machines and support production issue resolution
• Write validation plans for electro-hydraulic and control systems
• Assist testing, customer visits, and warranty investigations to propose improvements
• Produce system requirements and documentation supporting SAE J1939, ISO machinery, and EPA compliance
• Manage multiple projects with internal and external teams to meet targets
• Document designs using Microsoft Office and standard engineering tools
• Pursue ongoing learning to stay current with development tools

Skills

Danfoss PLUS+1

CODESYS

Embedded C

Embedded C++

CAN bus / SAE J1939

Siemens NX

Siemens Teamcenter

IGE-XAO

AutoCAD

DraftSight

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Mechatronics Engineering

2-year engineering or technical degree with 10+ years of experience

10+ years of combined experience in off-highway product development, system design and architecture

Tools

Danfoss PLUS+1

CODESYS

Siemens NX

Siemens Teamcenter

IGE-XAO

AutoCAD

DraftSight

Job description

Job Title: Embedded Controls Engineer

Embedded Controls Engineer is responsible for the design, development, integration, and validation of electro-hydraulic control systems, machine electrical architectures, and embedded controls software for off-highway equipment. This role owns the complete system architecture from initial concept through production release and works closely with mechanical, hydraulic, manufacturing, procurement, and service teams to deliver robust, safe, and compliant machines.

Responsibilities

• Define and document machine-level electrical, electro-hydraulic, and control system architecture, including controller selection, I/O allocation, CAN network maps, and power distribution.
• Design and develop embedded control software or coordinate with external suppliers to implement software requirements using tools such as Danfoss PLUS+1, CODESYS (IEC 61131-3), embedded C, and C++ for machine control solutions.
• Design and configure CAN and SAE J1939 communication networks between ECUs, engines, transmissions, telematics systems, and operator displays.
• Integrate electrical controls, harnesses, and sensors into 3D machine models using software such as Siemens NX, while managing revisions, bills of materials, and release workflows in Siemens Teamcenter.
• Design production-ready wire harnesses using tools such as IGE-XAO and AutoCAD or DraftSight, including schematics, from-to lists, connector tables, and manufacturing drawings, and select appropriate wire gauges, connectors, seals, and terminations for off-highway environments.
• Collaborate with harness suppliers to address design considerations and ensure manufacturability and reliability of electrical systems.
• Lead troubleshooting activities on prototype machines and support training and issue resolution for production machines.
• Work with Engineering Technicians to develop and write detailed validation plans for electro-hydraulic and control systems.
• Support machine testing, customer visits, and warranty investigations, and analyze test and field data to identify root causes and propose design improvements and engineering change requests.
• Produce and maintain system requirements, design documentation, and technical files that support compliance with SAE J1939, ISO/CE Machinery Regulation, and EPA requirements.
• Manage multiple development projects concurrently, coordinating with external suppliers and internal business units to meet technical, cost, and schedule targets.
• Use Microsoft Office and standard engineering tools to document designs, track progress, and communicate effectively across departments.
• Continuously learn and adopt new development software and attend training as needed to maintain and improve technical competency.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Mechatronics Engineering with 5+ years of experience, OR a 2-year engineering or technical degree with 10+ years of experience, OR 10+ years of combined experience in off-highway product development, system design and architecture, embedded controls, electro-hydraulic systems, and harness design.
• Hands‑on experience with Danfoss PLUS+1 and/or CODESYS, and working knowledge of embedded C and C++ for control system development.
• Working knowledge of SAE J1939 and CAN bus, including both physical and application layers.
• Experience with Siemens NX and Siemens Teamcenter for 3D integration, product lifecycle management, and release workflows.
• Proficiency with IGE-XAO or equivalent harness design tools for developing production‑ready wiring harnesses.
• Proven ability to perform system‑level troubleshooting on complex electro‑hydraulic machines.
• Strong technical communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across mechanical, hydraulic, manufacturing, procurement, and service teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools for documentation, reporting, and communication.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in off‑highway equipment product development and machine electrical architecture.
• Background in electro‑hydraulic control systems and embedded controls for mobile machinery.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD or DraftSight for electrical schematics and documentation.
• Experience coordinating with external software and harness suppliers to deliver integrated control solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple development projects simultaneously while maintaining high quality and safety standards.
• Comfort with analyzing test and field data to support continuous improvement and design optimization.
• Willingness to learn new development tools and participate in ongoing technical training.

Work Environment

This role focuses on off-highway equipment and involves a mix of office‑based engineering work and hands‑on engagement with prototype and production machines. You will use modern engineering tools such as Siemens NX and Teamcenter for 3D integration and product lifecycle management, IGE‑XAO and CAD software for harness and schematic design, and platforms such as Danfoss PLUS+1 and CODESYS for embedded controls development. Work includes collaboration with cross‑functional teams, external suppliers, and engineering technicians, as well as occasional time in test areas or field environments to support machine testing, troubleshooting, and validation. Standard business productivity tools, including the Microsoft Office Suite, support daily communication, documentation, and project tracking.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Saint Peter, MN.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $95000.00 - $115000.00/yr.

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 3, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Saint Peter,MN.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.