Senior Software Engineer

brooksauto; United States; On-site; USD 130,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Brooks Automation is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to advance embedded real-time software across complex robotic and automation subsystems. The role involves BSP/RTOS work, FPGA interfaces, and robust software architecture.

You will lead architecture reviews, mentor engineers, and collaborate with hardware, firmware, and customer teams to deliver high-assurance products in an agile environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience developing embedded software for complex real-time systems.
• Expert proficiency in C++11/14/17 and object-oriented software architecture.
• Architect, design, and implement large subsystems spanning software, BSP, FPGA, hardware interfaces, and controls.
• Strong understanding of patterns, scalability, maintainability, and diagnosability.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and technical reviews for controller software and hardware interfaces.
• Drive robust design, testing strategies, and CI/CD integration for embedded projects.
• Mentor engineers and guide cross-functional teams in Agile environments.
• Collaborate with hardware, firmware, and customer teams to resolve field issues and optimize performance.

Skills

Embedded systems

C++11/14/17

Multithreaded programming

Agile leadership

Technical mentorship

Tools

QNX

Real-Time Linux

Device drivers

HAL & BSP

FPGA interfaces

Job description

Brooks is a leading provider of automation solutions with over 40 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, offering precision robotics, integrated automation systems, and contamination control solutions that empower chip manufacturers worldwide. Our product portfolio includes a range of automation solutions, including robots, vacuum systems, and atmospheric robots for semiconductor manufacturing ( www.brooks.com ).

Are you looking for a place where you can be part of a transformation? Join us at Brooks Automation and be a part of a dynamic organization that is shaping the future of technology.

Senior Software Engineer

Job Description

Required Qualifications

The following qualifications apply to all candidates regardless of technical specialization.

Embedded Systems Architecture

• Extensive experience developing embedded software for complex real-time systems.
• Expert proficiency in C++11/14/17 and object-oriented software architecture.
• Demonstrated ability to architect, design, and implement large software subsystems spanning application software, BSP, FPGA, hardware interfaces, and distributed controls.
• Strong understanding of software design patterns, scalability, maintainability, and diagnosability.

Real-Time Operating Systems

• Deep expertise with QNX, Real-Time Linux, or equivalent RTOS environments.
• Advanced knowledge of multithreaded and concurrent software design, interrupt-driven systems, real-time scheduling, memory management, DMA, IPC mechanisms, device driver architecture, and system performance optimization.

Hardware / Software Integration

• Significant experience debugging complex issues spanning software, FPGA, electronics, amplifiers, sensors, communication networks, and mechanical systems.
• Experience with BSP development, board bring-up, HAL design, device drivers, FPGA integration, and low-level hardware interfaces.
• Ability to independently analyze and resolve difficult system-level failures encountered during development, manufacturing, or customer deployment.

Software Engineering Excellence

• Demonstrated technical leadership within Agile development environments.
• Experience defining software architecture, coding standards, testing strategies, and development workflows.
• Proficiency using source control, CI/CD, automated testing, remote debugging, and release management processes.
• Ability to lead design reviews and provide technical mentorship to other engineers.

2. Technical Specialization Requirement

Candidate must possess recognized expertise in at least one of the following areas and be capable of serving as a technical lead in that domain:

• BSP / RTOS architecture
• Motion control systems
• Robotics algorithms
• EtherCAT distributed controls
• Industrial data analytics / AI

3. Technical Specialization Details

BSP / QNX / FPGA Specialist

Key Skills

• BSP customization and board bring-up.
• Device driver development.
• Bootloader architecture.
• FPGA/software interfaces.
• Interrupt latency analysis.
• DMA optimization.
• ARM SoC architecture, such as Zynq.

Expected Contribution: Technical owner for controller architecture and hardware/software integration.

Motion Control Specialist

Key Skills

• Servo system architecture.
• Current, velocity, and position control loops.
• Feedforward and compensation techniques.
• Control theory and dynamic system modeling.
• Performance tuning and system optimization.

Expected Contribution: Lead development of next-generation robot motion performance and control algorithms.

Robotics Specialist

Key Skills

• Robot kinematics and inverse kinematics.
• Dynamics and rigid body modeling.
• Trajectory generation and optimization.
• Multi-axis coordination.
• Motion planning algorithms.

Expected Contribution: Define robot motion architecture and optimize cycle time, accuracy, and robustness.

EtherCAT Distributed Controls Specialist

Key Skills

• EtherCAT architecture and real-time networking.
• Distributed clocks.
• PDO configuration and optimization.
• Deterministic motion synchronization.
• EtherCAT diagnostics and troubleshooting.

Expected Contribution: Define distributed control architectures and resolve complex synchronization or performance issues.

Data Analytics / Industry 4.0 / AI Specialist

Key Skills

• Telemetry and diagnostic system design.
• Time-series analysis and fleet monitoring.
• Machine learning applications for predictive maintenance.
• Statistical analysis and reliability modeling.
• Edge analytics and intelligent diagnostics.

Expected Contribution: Develop next-generation diagnostic and predictive service capabilities.

4. Additional Qualifications

• Experience working directly with customers to investigate and resolve critical field issues.
• Experience leading technical root-cause investigations involving cross-functional teams.
• Ability to translate customer requirements into