Embedded Systems Engineer (Medical Devices)

Black Canyon Consulting; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with employer contribution

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Black Canyon Consulting seeks a mid-career Embedded Systems Engineer to bridge FPGA design with software on medical devices. The role covers board schematics, FPGA architecture, kernel drivers, and regulatory-compliant development within IEC 62304/ISO 13485.

You will own the embedded ecosystem from hardware to application layer, delivering patient-safe solutions. You will work with Xilinx tools, Linux platforms, and cross-functional teams to optimize latency, throughput, and reliability in a

Qualifications

• 4–7+ years hands-on embedded systems development experience.
• Strong board-level schematics, power sequencing and high-speed routing knowledge.
• Deep Xilinx toolchain expertise (Vivado/Vitis) and AXI interconnect usage.
• HDL proficiency: VHDL/Verilog/SystemVerilog for synthesis and timing.
• Embedded Linux experience with Yocto, PetaLinux or Buildroot.
• C/C++ or Rust for firmware and driver work; Python for scripting.

Responsibilities

• Design and verify FPGA architectures and custom IPs interfacing with Linux apps via AXI.
• Generate detailed board schematics, power and signal integrity considerations.
• Develop kernel drivers and user-space libraries bridging FPGA and applications.
• Participate in IEC 62304/ISO 13485 compliant medical device development lifecycle.
• Collaborate with PCB layout and hardware teams for integration and bring-up.
• Debug high-speed signals and automate HIL testing with scripting.

Skills

Xilinx FPGA design

C/C++

Verilog/SystemVerilog

Python scripting

Embedded Linux

Kernel driver development

AXI interconnect

Schematic design

PCB layout guidance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Vivado/Vitis

Altium Designer

KiCad

Xilinx IP customization

Linux kernel development tools

Job description

Embedded Systems Engineer (Medical Devices)

Ashburn, VA

Overview

Are you a versatile engineer who thrives at the intersection of hardware and software? Do you have a deep understanding of Xilinx FPGAs and the AXI protocol, but also enjoy diving into schematic design, PCB layout guidance, or kernel drivers when the need arises? We are seeking a dynamic, mid-career Embedded Systems Engineer to join our team developing next-generation medical devices.

In this role, you will be the linchpin between the digital logic fabric and the high-level application software. You will architect and implement complex FPGA designs that interface seamlessly with user-space applications running on embedded processors via AXI interconnects. Beyond the FPGA, you will own the board-level electronics: you’ll generate detailed schematics for complex devices built around the Xilinx FPGA, ensuring robust power delivery, high-speed signal routing, and peripheral integration. We are looking for a “full-stack” embedded thinker, someone who is equally excited to design a new analog front‑end, refactor a Linux device driver, or optimize a data processing pipeline. You won’t just be writing and using IP blocks; you will own the embedded ecosystem, from the circuit board to the application layer, delivering technology that directly impacts patient lives under a quality management system.

Key Responsibilities

• Board-Level Schematic Generation : Design and own the detailed electrical schematics for complex, FPGA-centric medical devices. This includes component selection, power architecture definition, clock distribution, high-speed memory interfaces (DDR), and analog signal conditioning circuits.
• FPGA Architecture & Implementation : Design, code, and verify complex digital designs on Xilinx platforms (Vivado/Vitis), with a primary focus on implementing custom IP blocks that communicate with user-space Linux applications via AXI4 (Lite, Stream, and Memory‑Mapped) interfaces.
• Device Driver & Kernel Development : Develop and maintain Linux kernel drivers and user-space libraries that bridge the gap between the FPGA logic and C++/Rust/Python applications.
• Full-Cycle Medical Device Development : Participate in all phases of the product lifecycle within a regulated IEC 62304 / ISO 13485 framework, including requirements definition, architectural design, FMEA, and verification testing.
• Cross-Functional Hardware Integration : Work closely with PCB layout engineers to guide stack‑up and routing; perform board bring‑up, bench testing (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers), and debugging of your schematics.
• Broad Problem Solving : Demonstrate flexibility by owning problems outside any single domain. You will debug high-speed signal integrity issues one day, and write a Python script to automate hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) testing the next.
• Optimization : Profile and optimize embedded systems for low latency, high throughput, SWAP‑C (size, weight, power, and cost) constraints, and patient safety.

Must-Have Qualifications

• Experience : 4–7+ years of hands‑on experience in embedded systems development.
• Schematic & Board Design : Proven ability to generate complex board‑level schematics for FPGA‑based designs using industry‑standard tools (e.g., Altium Designer, KiCad). Must understand power sequencing, high‑speed routing constraints, and mixed‑signal layout considerations.
• Xilinx Proficiency : Deep working knowledge of the Xilinx toolchain (Vivado, Vitis) and the ability to generate, customize, and debug IP cores connected via the AXI interconnect protocol.
• Hardware Description Languages : Proficiency in VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog for synthesis, simulation, and timing closure.
• Embedded Linux : Strong experience with embedded Linux (Yocto, PetaLinux, or Buildroot), kernel configuration, and cross‑compilation.
• Software Skills : Fluency in C/C++ or Rust (preferred) for low‑level firmware and driver development; proficiency in Python for scripting and data analysis.
• Interface Knowledge : Solid understanding of communication protocols beyond AXI, such as SPI, I2C, UART, and high‑speed serial links.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Medical Experience : Experience working in a regulated environment (FDA, MDR) with safety‑critical standards like IEC 62304.
• Analog/Digital Circuitry : Deep experience with precision analog front‑ends, ADCs, DACs, and power management ICs (PMICs) commonly found in medical instrumentation.
• Broad Toolbox : Experience with Digital Signal Processing (DSP), SoC design on Zynq/MPSoC/RFSoC platforms, or high‑speed transceivers.

Who You Are

• An Adaptable Engineer : You have deep expertise in Xilinx logic design and schematic generation, and a broad willingness and ability to contribute wherever the project needs it most, from software drivers to regulatory documentation.
• A Systems Thinker: You don’t just see an FPGA task; you see the data flow from the sensor conditioning circuit, through the AXI bus, up to the UI.
• A Clear Communicator : You can translate complex hardware limitations to software engineers and vice versa, documenting your work clearly for regulatory audits.

Benefits and Salary

We attract the best people in the business with our competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; a 401(k) plan with employer contribution; paid holidays, vacation, and tuition reimbursement.

We offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience and location.