Embedded Software Engineer

The Home Depot; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Home Depot is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to design, develop, test, and support embedded software powering autonomous mobile robots in warehouse environments. This role focuses on robot control, sensing, communications, diagnostics, and hardware integration.

You will collaborate with Robotics, Controls, Electrical, Mechanical, Platform Software, QA, and Product teams to deliver production-ready systems, optimize real-time performance, and ensure reliability in fast-paced industrial

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or a related technical field.
• 3+ years of professional embedded software development experience.
• Strong proficiency in C and C++.
• Experience developing software for embedded Linux systems.
• Experience debugging hardware/software interactions.
• Understanding of real-time systems, multithreading, and concurrency.
• Experience with embedded communication protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, Ethernet.
• Familiarity with Git.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain embedded software running on robotic platforms.
• Develop software for LiDAR systems, Cameras, IMUs, Motor controllers, Battery management, and Safety sensors.
• Collaborate with Robotics and Controls engineers on navigation and autonomy features.
• Support deployment and operation of robotic fleets in production environments.
• Troubleshoot issues observed during field deployments and testing.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Cross-functional teamwork

Real-time systems knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer/Electrical/CS/Robotics or related field

Tools

C/C++ programming

Embedded Linux

Git

UART/SPI/I2C/CAN/Ethernet

RTOS (Zephyr/OpenWRT)

Job description

Position Summary

The Embedded Software Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, testing, and supporting embedded software that powers autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) operating in warehouse and industrial environments. This role focuses on implementing reliable, high-performance software for robot control, sensing, communications, diagnostics, and hardware integration.

Working as part of a cross-functional robotics engineering team, the Embedded Software Engineer collaborates closely with Robotics, Controls, Electrical, Mechanical, Platform Software, QA, and Product teams to deliver production-ready robotic systems. The ideal candidate is passionate about embedded development, enjoys solving complex hardware/software integration challenges, and thrives in fast-paced environments where software directly impacts physical systems.

Key Responsibilities

Embedded Software Development

• Design, develop, and maintain embedded software running on robotic platforms.
• Implement software supporting:
  • Robot motion control
  • Sensor integration
  • Power management
  • Communications
  • Diagnostics and telemetry
  • Safety monitoring systems
• Develop maintainable, scalable, and well-tested software using modern engineering practices.
• Optimize software performance for real-time and resource-constrained environments.
• Participate in software architecture discussions and technical design reviews.

Mobile Robotics Systems

• Develop software supporting autonomous robot operation in warehouse and industrial environments.
• Integrate and support:
  • LiDAR systems
  • Cameras
  • IMUs
  • Motor controllers
  • Battery management systems
  • Safety sensors
  • Wireless communication systems (4G/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth)
  • OTA update mechanisms
• Collaborate with Robotics and Controls engineers on navigation and autonomy features.
• Support deployment and operation of robotic fleets in production environments.
• Troubleshoot issues observed during field deployments and operational testing.

Hardware Integration

• Collaborate with Electrical and Mechanical Engineering teams during hardware development.
• Develop drivers and interfaces for sensors, actuators, and custom hardware.
• Participate in board bring-up and hardware validation activities.
• Diagnose and resolve hardware/software integration issues.
• Support prototype development through production release.

Reliability & Diagnostics

• Develop software that operates reliably under real-time constraints.
• Implement monitoring, fault detection, and recovery mechanisms.
• Support root cause analysis of software and hardware failures.
• Design systems with resiliency and graceful degradation in mind.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of system reliability and operational uptime.

Verification & Validation

• Develop and execute unit, integration, and system-level tests.
• Support automated testing and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) validation.
• Partner with QA and Simulation teams to validate robotic behavior and system performance.
• Develop tools and utilities that improve testability, observability, and diagnostics.
• Participate in release validation and certification activities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or a related technical field.
• 3+ years of professional embedded software development experience.
• Strong proficiency in C and C++.
• Experience developing software for embedded Linux systems.
• Experience debugging hardware/software interactions.
• Understanding of real-time systems, multithreading, and concurrency.
• Experience with embedded communication protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, Ethernet.
• Familiarity with software version control systems such as Git.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional engineering teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing software for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) or robotic systems.
• Experience in warehouse automation, logistics robotics, industrial automation, or autonomous vehicles.
• Familiarity with:
  • Navigation systems
  • Localization
  • Sensor fusion
  • Motion control
• Experience with embedded Linux customization and device driver development.
• Experience with RTOS environments.
• Experience with Zephyr RTOS and OpenWRT.
• Experience integrating LiDAR, cameras, IMUs, and motor control systems.
• Experience supporting deployed robotic fleets and field operations.
• Experience working in Agile development environments.