Embedded Software Engineer – Medical Devices

Medela; McHenry (IL); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 125,000; 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

A great place to work!

Job summary

Medela in McHenry, IL is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to design and develop firmware for microcontroller-based medical devices. You will collaborate with electrical, systems, manufacturing, quality, and regulatory teams to ensure compliant, safe software.

We value candidates with embedded C/C++ experience, RTOS or bare-metal development, and a track record in regulated environments. This role offers hybrid work and a competitive salary with bonus potential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering, CS, or embedded systems.
• 3+ years of embedded firmware development experience.
• Strong Embedded C/C++ programming experience.
• Experience with embedded microcontrollers.
• Experience with development tools, debuggers, and version control (Git, Azure DevOps, Jira).
• Experience with protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, BLE, Wi‑Fi, or MQTT.
• Experience debugging with JTAG/SWD, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers.
• Experience with RTOS or bare-metal embedded systems.
• Knowledge of software lifecycle, testing, and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop firmware for microcontroller-based medical devices.
• Create and maintain device drivers, HAL, bootloaders, diagnostics, and test software.
• Support board bring-up and hardware/software integration.
• Develop interfaces using UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, BLE, Wi‑Fi, MQTT.
• Work with RTOS and bare-metal embedded systems.
• Contribute to architecture, requirements, verification, and traceability.
• Execute unit, integration, regression, and system testing.
• Support manufacturing, production ramp-up and post-market maintenance.
• Ensure compliance with quality and regulatory requirements throughout the lifecycle.

Skills

Embedded firmware development

Embedded C/C++

Microcontroller programming

RTOS development

Debugging with JTAG/SWD

Version control (Git/Azure DevOps/Jira

Hardware/software integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer/Electrical Systems/CS

Tools

Git

Azure DevOps

Jira

JTAG/SWD debuggers

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Job description

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.

Responsibilities Include

• 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

We're especially interested in candidates who have experience with:

• 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
• A great place to work!

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.