Embedded Software Engineer – Medical Devices

Medela LLC; McHenry (IL); Hybrid; USD 94,500 - 115,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits plan

401K with match

Money Purchase Retirement Plan

16‑week Paid Parental Leave

Generous PTO package

14 paid holidays

Job summary

Medela LLC in McHenry, IL is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to design, develop, and test firmware for microcontroller-based medical devices. This hybrid role (3 days onsite) focuses on embedded C/C++, hardware integration, and regulatory compliance in a rigorous development environment.

You will work with cross-functional teams, contribute to device drivers, HALs, bootloaders, and production test software, and support manufacturing and post-market maintenance while adhering to quality

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Embedded Systems or related field.
• 3+ years of embedded firmware development experience.
• Strong Embedded C/C++ programming experience.
• Experience with firmware for embedded microcontrollers.
• Experience using embedded tools, debuggers, and version control (Git, Azure DevOps, Jira).
• Experience with UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, BLE, Wi‑Fi or MQTT protocols.
• Experience debugging with JTAG/SWD, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers; RTOS or bare‑metal experience.
• Strong software lifecycle, testing, verification, and documentation understanding.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain embedded firmware in Embedded C/C++.
• Develop firmware for microcontroller-based connected medical devices.
• Create and maintain device drivers, HALs, bootloaders, diagnostics, and test software.
• Support board bring-up, HW/SW integration, debugging and troubleshooting.
• Work with RTOS and/or bare-metal embedded systems.
• Develop communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, BLE, Wi‑Fi, MQTT).
• Participate in software architecture, requirements, verification, risk controls, and traceability.
• Execute unit, integration, regression, and system testing.
• Support manufacturing, design transfer, production ramp-up, and post-market maintenance.
• Ensure compliance with quality and regulatory requirements throughout the SDLC.

Skills

Embedded firmware development

Embedded C/C++

Microcontroller-based devices

RTOS/bare-metal

JTAG/SWD debugging

UART

SPI

I2C

CAN

BLE/Wi‑Fi/MQTT

Software lifecycle & verification

Git/Azure DevOps/Jira

Medical device experience

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering

B.S. in Computer Engineering

B.S. in Computer Science

B.S. in Embedded Systems Engineering

Tools

Git

Azure DevOps

Jira

Job description

Embedded Software Engineer – Medical Devices Location: McHenry, IL (Hybrid – 3 days onsite) Salary starting at $105,000 with bonus potential Build software that helps improve the lives of mothers and babies. At Medela, our mission is to turn science into care by developing innovative medical technology that supports families around the world. We're looking for an Embedded Software Engineer with experience developing firmware for embedded hardware in a regulated product development environment. This is NOT an application, web, or enterprise software development position. We are specifically seeking engineers with embedded firmware development experience and medical device (preferred) or other highly regulated industry experience.

What You'll Do

As an Embedded Software Engineer, you'll design and develop firmware for microcontroller-based medical devices while working closely with electrical, systems, manufacturing, quality, and regulatory engineering teams.

• Design, develop, test, and maintain embedded firmware in Embedded C/C++
• Develop firmware for microcontroller-based connected medical devices
• Create and maintain device drivers, hardware abstraction layers (HAL), bootloaders, diagnostics, and production test software
• Support board bring-up, hardware/software integration, debugging, and troubleshooting
• Work with RTOS and/or bare-metal embedded systems
• Develop communication interfaces using protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, BLE, Wi-Fi, MQTT, or similar
• Participate in software architecture, requirements development, verification, risk controls, and traceability
• Execute unit, integration, regression, and system testing
• Support manufacturing, design transfer, production ramp-up, and post‑market product maintenance
• Ensure compliance with quality and regulatory requirements throughout the software development lifecycle

Required Qualifications

To be considered, candidates should have:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Embedded Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 3+ years of embedded firmware development experience
• Strong programming experience in Embedded C/C++
• Experience developing firmware for embedded microcontrollers
• Experience using embedded development tools, debuggers, and version control systems (Git, Azure DevOps, Jira, etc.)
• Experience with communication protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, BLE, Wi-Fi, or MQTT
• Experience debugging embedded systems using JTAG/SWD debuggers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, or similar lab equipment
• Experience working with RTOS or bare‑metal embedded systems
• Strong understanding of software lifecycle processes, testing, verification, and documentation

Important Candidate Requirements

• Embedded firmware development (not application or web software)
• Embedded C/C++
• Microcontroller‑based products
• Hardware/software integration and debugging
• 3+ years of embedded software engineering experience

What Makes Someone Successful

• A hands‑on embedded engineer who enjoys working close to the hardware
• Comfortable collaborating with electrical, systems, manufacturing, quality, and regulatory engineers
• Detail‑oriented with strong documentation skills
• Passionate about building reliable, safety‑focused products
• Able to balance innovation with quality and regulatory compliance

Strongly Preferred Medical device experience OR experience developing products in another regulated industry (aerospace, industrial controls, automotive safety systems, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications

• Medical device software development
• Other highly regulated industries such as aerospace, automotive safety systems, industrial controls, or life sciences
• IEC 62304
• ISO 13485
• ISO 14971
• Software traceability and Design History Files (DHF)
• Secure firmware development and cybersecurity for connected devices

Why Join Medela?

You’ll work on products that directly improve patient care while collaborating with a multidisciplinary engineering team dedicated to innovation, quality, and regulatory excellence. This is an opportunity to develop technology that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of families around the world.

Competitive Salary

Starting Salary of $105,000 plus bonus

• Comprehensive benefits plan
• 401K with match
• Money Purchase Retirement Plan
• 16‑week Paid Parental Leave
• Generous PTO package
• 14 paid holidays

At Medela, you will be joining a global community of colleagues, united by the purpose that drives our business: helping people. Medela exists to advance human health and well‑being through knowledge‑based and innovative human milk and medical vacuum solutions. Our employees are empowered to serve this purpose in a family‑owned company that is growing rapidly around the world. We value intensive exchanges, diverse perspectives, and unbureaucratic decisions. You will have the opportunity to develop at an international level, and witness the direct impact your work has on our company’s success.

As an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, protected veteran status, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, HIV/AIDs status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity (transgender status), weight, height or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance.

Medela is the #1 breast pump brand* and one of the leading companies in medical vacuum technologies respected and trusted by doctors and healthcare professionals from around the world. A family‑owned company with a global presence in Europe, America and Asia, Medela has 21 locations worldwide and a sales network of independent partners in over 100 countries. The company has production and warehouse facilities in Baar (Switzerland), McHenry (Illinois, USA) and Changzhou (China). With over 1800 employees, Medela improves health and well‑being through the pursuit of knowledge and the development of innovative products and services, empowering mothers, babies and patients to live their lives to the fullest. Founded in 1961 by Olle Larsson, his son Michael Larsson serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2001. Thomas Golücke is the CEO of the company since 2024. "By creating a culture of belonging, we are building engaged teams that work together to serve our customers as one Medela family".