RTOS Embedded Software Engineer

Ford; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 86,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Flexible family care days

Parental leave and back-up child care

Family building benefits

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Employee resource groups

Paid time off for community service

Paid holidays including Christmas/New-

Vacation time purchase option

Job summary

Ford is seeking a highly skilled software engineer to develop embedded automotive software across distributed MCUs. You will design real-time Ethernet, and custom communication protocols (UART/SPI/IPC/I2C) for a scalable platform.

You will specify, implement, and test bare-metal and RTOS software while maintaining clear firmware architecture. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, resolve ambiguous specs, and drive MISRA, ASPICE and ISO26262 compliance through rigorous testing,

Qualifications

• 7+ years of Automotive software development experience.
• Strong embedded C/C++ expertise and modern C++.
• Experience with FreeRTOS/SafeRTOS; min 5 years.
• Must cover drivers to applications; debugging complex embedded systems.
• 3+ years AUTOSAR tool chain (Davinci) to design BSWs/SWCs/RTE.
• 2+ years memory drivers, wear-leveling, garbage collection concepts.
• Proficient in ISO26262, SOTIF, ASPICE or similar safety standards; min 3 years.
• 2+ years ISO-14229 UDS protocol experience.
• 1+ years unit testing with GTest/Parasoft; 2+ years Lauterbach.
• 4+ years CAN-FD and Ethernet driver development/debugging.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement software on distributed embedded systems with multiple MCUs.
• Design and implement real-time Ethernet communication.
• Develop UART/SPI/IPC/I2C protocols for reliable data exchange.
• Specify, design, implement and test bare metal and RTOS software.
• Resolve ambiguous requirements; document firmware architecture clearly.
• Create efficient real-time components and interfaces.
• Develop component testing methodologies to ensure MISRA/ASPICE alignment.
• Create traceability matrices per ASPICE/ISO26262 for safety ratings.
• Collaborate with hardware and debuggers at bench and HIL levels.
• Profile power/CPU/bus usage; optimize at component/system level.
• Work with V&V to develop test plans and thorough firmware testing.
• Interface with external vendors; review firmware specs and guidance.

Skills

C/C++ (embedded, modern)

RTOS Embedded systems

CAN

Ethernet

AUTOSAR

MISRA

ASPICE

ISO26262

UDS protocol

GTest/Parasoft

Lauterbach

CAN-FD/Ethernet drivers

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science / Electronics

Tools

DaVinci

Lauterbach

GTest

Parasoft

UART/SPI/I2C debugging

Job description

In this position...

Candidate should be highly skilled and motivated software engineer with strong experience in RTOS embedded systems development. Candidate should possess strong experience on CAN and Ethernet communication protocols. Experience in AUTOSAR is a plus. Candidate will be a key contributor to the development of next-generation automotive software systems, working closely with cross-functional teams to design, implement, and validate robust solutions that meet industry standards.

What you'll do...

Design and implement software running on a distributed embedded system with multiple microcontrollers with a focus on creating re-usable software designs / components.

Design and implement real-time Ethernet communication.

Develop custom serial communication protocol over UART, SPI, IPC and I2C interfaces to support reliable data exchange between the device and external components.

Specify requirements, design, implement, and test both bare metal and RTOS low-level software for creating a scalable platform.

Work with/resolve ambiguity in requirements/specifications/designs. Maintain clear and concise documentation of design and firmware architecture.

Create elegant, efficient real-time software components and interfaces.

Develop software component testing methodologies and implementations to ensure maturity/stability/release readiness, code coverage and adherence to MISRA guidelines

Create traceability matrix between all SW work products as per ASPICE and ISO26262 guidelines based on safety rating of the component.

Work with hardware and debuggers at a bench and HIL level to verify software operation.

Profile power / CPU / bus usage and identify opportunities for optimization on the component/ system level.

Collaborate with V&V to develop comprehensive test plans and perform thorough testing to validate firmware functionality, stability, and performance under various conditions, including low power modes.

Interface with external vendors, including review of firmware specifications, providing design guidance, and integrating code releases.

Work with integration test team to automate unit tests / SW components tests in nightly builds with python scripting

You’ll have...

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer science, Electronics or an equivalent engineering degree.
• 7+ Years of Automotive SW development experience
• Strong Embedded software development expertise (modern C++ and embedded C proficiency), Min 5 years of experience.
• Must have FreeRTOS/SafeRTOSexperience. Min 5 years of experience.
• Must be skilled to support all layers of the software stack from low level device drivers to applications. Should have expertise in debugging low-level performance issues across a complex embedded system. Min 5 years of experience.
• At least 3 years of experience with AUTOSAR tool chain e.g. Davinci to design BSWs/SWCs/RTE and to generate diagnostic descriptions files.
• At least 2 years of experience developing Mem drivers for internal/external memory. Development experience in emulated flash drivers is mandatory, Candidate should have thorough understanding of concepts like wear-leveling, garbage collection, page-swap, redundant storage and recovery strategies for data flash block management.
• Proficient in ISO26262, SOTIF, & ASPICE or similar standards for automotive safety critical applications. Min 3 years of experience
• Min 2+ years of development experience with ISO-14229 UDS protocol for automotive.
• Min 1+ years of working experience with Unit testing tools: GTest, Parasoft
• Min 2+ years of experience using Lauterbach (Debugging tool)
• Min 4+ Experience developing or debugging CAN-FD and Ethernet communication drivers

Even better, you may have...

• Min 2 years of experience in python scripting.
• Should have experience in Boot-time/ Runtime profiling and optimization.
• Min 2+ years of development experience within Linux/QNX domain
• Experience in Manufacturing SW support
• Multicore realtime experience for DMA, shared mem concepts, Multicore BSW
• Interprocessor communication protocols SPI, IPC, PCIe, SDIO and UART.
• Experience developing BIST and runtime safety check driver based on Microcontroller safety manual.
• Extensive experience working with ADAS SOCs and ADAS technologies.

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company,

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

This position ranges from a salary grade 6-8 from $86,000 - $160,000.

For more information on salary and benefits, https://fordcareers.co/GSR.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

This position is hybrid (onsite four days per week).