Embedded System Software Engineer

MPR Associates; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

MPR Associates, Inc. in Alexandria, VA, is seeking an Embedded System Software Engineer to design and implement firmware for connected embedded platforms, bridging hardware and software in demanding environments.

The role emphasizes low-level programming, real-time constraints, and hardware-software integration, with opportunities to extend into higher-level application development and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline.
• 2+ years of software engineering experience.
• Experience building production embedded systems or firmware.
• Understanding of embedded operating systems and bare-metal programming.
• Comfortable working with hardware and debugging tools.
• Strong problem-solving skills for performance and memory optimization.
• Proficiency in C for embedded development preferred.
• Experience with microcontrollers, firmware development, and low-level programming preferred.
• Understanding of embedded constraints, timing requirements, and deterministic behavior preferred.
• Familiarity with hardware interfaces, protocols, and sensor integration preferred.
• Experience with hardware bring-up, schematic reading, and familiarity with design tools like Altium or similar PCB/schematic software preferred.
• Experience with SPI, I2C, UART or similar protocols preferred.
• Willingness to work on high-level software that interfaces with embedded systems preferred.
• Experience or willingness to learn PCB design via Altium preferred.

Responsibilities

• Embedded Systems Development: Design and implement firmware and low-level software for connected embedded platforms and microcontrollers.
• Embedded Control Systems: Develop time-critical software that interfaces with hardware components and sensors.
• Hardware-Software Integration: Work closely with hardware teams to ensure seamless integration between software and physical systems.
• Application Development Support: Extend beyond embedded work to support higher-level applications that interface with your embedded systems.
• Performance Optimization: Ensure embedded performance requirements are met while optimizing for memory and processing constraints.
• Cross-Team Collaboration: Work closely with the remainder of the engineering team to implement a solution which fits all needs of the client.

Skills

C programming

Embedded systems

Firmware development

Debugging tools

Hardware interfaces

SPI I2C UART

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Altium

Job description

Job Locations

US-MA-Burlington | US-VA-Alexandria

Overview

MPR Associates, Inc. (MPR), a thriving multi-discipline, specialty engineering services and consulting firm, is actively seeking a capable and motivated Embedded System Software Engineer to join our team. If you are seeking a unique, challenging, and rewarding career opportunity, MPR may be the right company for you.

Founded in 1964, MPR has a wide and growing client base in the fields of power and energy, federal services, and health and life sciences, in the United States as well as internationally. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, we also have offices in East Lyme, Connecticut, Burlington, Massachusetts, and Salt Lake City, Utah. MPR makes challenging projects successful, delivering safe and reliable technical solutions across the entire project or product lifecycle to benefit our clients and society as a whole. We hire the best and brightest, which results in a high-performance culture built on trust and respect, making MPR an exceptional place to work.

General Job Description

Join our engineering team as an Embedded System Software Engineer where you'll develop connected embedded systems and firmware that bridge the gap between hardware and software. We're looking for someone who thrives at the intersection of low-level programming, embedded control systems, and hardware-software integration, creating reliable systems that operate in demanding real-world environments.

We specifically seek engineers who bring an engineering mindset to software development - those who approach problems with the systematic, analytical thinking that comes from engineering training. As part of our team, you'll architect and develop embedded applications and firmware, working with embedded control systems and hardware interfaces while being willing to stretch into application development to support the full suite of software for device implementations.

Responsibilities

• Embedded Systems Development: Design and implement firmware and low-level software for connected embedded platforms and microcontrollers.
• Embedded Control Systems: Develop time-critical software that interfaces with hardware components and sensors.
• Hardware-Software Integration: Work closely with hardware teams to ensure seamless integration between software and physical systems.
• Application Development Support: Extend beyond embedded work to support higher-level applications that interface with your embedded systems.
• Performance Optimization: Ensure embedded performance requirements are met while optimizing for memory and processing constraints.
• Cross-Team Collaboration: Work closely with the remainder of the engineering team to implement a solution which fits all needs of the client.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship is required.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in an Engineering Discipline.

Experience

• Two (2) or more years of software engineering experience.
• Experience building production embedded systems or firmware.
• Understanding of embedded operating systems and bare-metal programming.
• Comfortable working with hardware and debugging tools.
• Strong problem-solving skills for performance and memory optimization challenges.
• Proficiency in C for embedded development preferred.
• Experience with microcontrollers, firmware development, and low-level programming preferred.
• Understanding of embedded constraints, timing requirements, and deterministic behavior preferred.
• Familiarity with hardware interfaces, protocols, and sensor integration preferred.
• Experience with hardware bring-up, schematic reading, and familiarity with design tools like Altium or similar PCB/schematic software preferred.
• Experience with SPI, I2C, UART or similar protocols preferred.
• Willingness to work on high-level software that interfaces with embedded systems preferred.
• Experience or willingness to learn PCB design via Altium preferred.

Skills

• The ability to learn quickly and adapt to new technologies while multitasking.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Ability to work collaboratively across functional teams.
• Exceptional time and project management skills.
• Ability to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Persistent, questioning attitude and ability to accept that in others.
• Motivated to expand skills and knowledge, as well as tackle new problem and take on new responsibilities.
• Ability to participate in multiple projects and project teams concurrently.

MPR Associates, Inc. is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, who participates in E-Verify. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other classification as required by applicable laws. MPR is a certified Virginia Values Veterans (V3) employer.