Lead Embedded Systems Engineer - IoT Solutions

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private health insurance

Annual bonus

Home office equipment budget

Remote collaboration & knowledge share

Job summary

Placements24 client seeks a Lead Embedded Systems Engineer to architect and deliver firmware for IoT devices from a remote South Africa location. You will lead a distributed team, drive RTOS-based development, and collaborate across hardware and software to ensure scalable, robust systems.

The role requires expert C/C++ embedded programming, experience with MQTT/CoAP/BLE/Wi-Fi, ARM Cortex-M/ESP32, and strong remote leadership capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of professional embedded systems experience.
• Extensive experience with embedded C/C++ programming and debugging.
• Strong RTOS knowledge (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, ThreadX).
• Experience with IoT protocols (MQTT, CoAP, BLE, Wi-Fi, LoRaWAN).
• Experience with microcontrollers and hardware (ARM Cortex-M, ESP32).
• Proven record leading remote engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test embedded firmware for IoT devices.
• Architect scalable embedded systems for IoT applications.
• Implement and optimize MQTT, CoAP, BLE, Wi-Fi, LoRaWAN protocols.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers on system requirements.
• Develop unit and integration tests for firmware.
• Lead and mentor a distributed team of engineers.

Skills

Embedded C/C++

RTOS

MQTT

CoAP

BLE/Wi-Fi

LoRaWAN

ARM Cortex-M

ESP32

Git

CI/CD

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Tools

Remote collaboration tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client is at the forefront of developing cutting-edge Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and is actively seeking a highly skilled Lead Embedded Systems Engineer to spearhead their remote engineering efforts. This is a fully remote position, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere within South Africa. You will be responsible for architecting, designing, and implementing the firmware for our next generation of connected devices. This role requires a deep understanding of embedded C/C++, real-time operating systems (RTOS), and communication protocols used in IoT applications. You will lead a distributed team of engineers, fostering a collaborative and innovative remote work environment. The ideal candidate is a self-motivated individual with a passion for technology and a proven ability to deliver complex embedded projects remotely. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of IoT from the comfort of your own home, contributing significantly to our global product development.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test embedded firmware for IoT devices using C/C++ and RTOS.
• Architect scalable and robust embedded systems for various IoT applications.
• Implement and optimize communication protocols such as MQTT, CoAP, LoRaWAN, and Bluetooth Low Energy.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to define system requirements and ensure seamless integration.
• Develop unit tests and integration tests to ensure firmware quality and reliability.
• Debug complex embedded systems issues using JTAG, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes.
• Lead and mentor a team of remote embedded software engineers, providing technical direction and support.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of development processes and tools within a remote setting.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in embedded systems and IoT technologies.
• Participate in code reviews and design discussions with the engineering team.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in embedded systems development.
• Extensive experience with embedded C/C++ programming and debugging techniques.
• Strong understanding of real-time operating systems (RTOS) such as FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or ThreadX.
• Proven experience with various communication protocols relevant to IoT (MQTT, CoAP, BLE, Wi-Fi, LoRaWAN).
• Experience with microcontrollers and embedded hardware platforms (e.g., ARM Cortex-M, ESP32).
• Demonstrated experience in leading engineering teams, preferably in a remote capacity.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and effectively in a remote environment.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with proficiency in remote collaboration tools.
• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and CI/CD pipelines for embedded development.

Benefits

This fully remote position offers a highly competitive salary, commensurate with experience, and the flexibility to work from any location in South Africa. Our client provides a comprehensive benefits package including private health insurance, a generous annual bonus structure, and a dedicated budget for home office equipment and professional development. You will have the opportunity to work on groundbreaking IoT projects that have a global impact. The company culture emphasizes autonomy, continuous learning, and a results-oriented approach. We offer regular virtual team-building activities and opportunities for remote collaboration and knowledge sharing.

• private health insurance
• generous annual bonus structure
• dedicated budget for home office equipment and professional development
• You will have the opportunity to work on groundbreaking IoT projects that have a global impact.
• The company culture emphasizes autonomy, continuous learning, and a results-oriented approach.
• We offer regular virtual team-building activities and opportunities for remote collaboration and knowledge sharing.