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Position: Embedded Electrical Engineer (Hiawatha, IA)

Job Overview:
Our client is seeking an Embedded Electrical Engineer to support the development and integration of rugged embedded computing solutions for defense and industrial applications. This role is responsible for architecting, developing, testing, and debugging software and firmware for custom electronic assemblies utilizing a variety of programmable devices.
The Embedded Electrical Engineer will serve as a key technical liaison between internal engineering teams and external software development partners, helping define software requirements, manage code integration efforts, and ensure embedded systems are developed to meet customer, program, and quality expectations. This highly collaborative position combines embedded software development, hardware validation, systems-level engineering, vendor coordination, and technical leadership.
This is a contract position.

Key Responsibilities:
Embedded Software & Firmware Development
Design, develop, test, and debug firmware for a variety of microcontroller and microprocessor platforms.
Develop production test software and scripts for both commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and custom programmable devices.
Perform software integration, validation, and troubleshooting activities to ensure reliable system performance.
Support software architecture development and maintain associated design documentation.
Hardware Testing & System Validation
Assist with debugging, troubleshooting, and validation of embedded hardware systems in laboratory and production environments.
Configure and test programmable devices at the register level.
Utilize electrical test equipment including digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and related instrumentation.
Support system-level integration and verification activities.
Technical Leadership & Vendor Management
Serve as the primary technical interface between internal engineering teams and external software development partners.
Develop Statements of Work (SOWs), software specifications, technical requirements, and acceptance criteria for outsourced software projects.
Review externally developed code and provide technical direction to ensure compliance with program requirements and quality standards.
Establish and maintain software development processes, version control practices, and code management procedures.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner with electrical, mechanical, systems, and manufacturing engineering teams throughout the product lifecycle.
Participate in design reviews, requirements reviews, and technical risk assessments.
Ensure software development activities comply with customer requirements, industry standards, and internal engineering processes.

Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
5+ years of experience in embedded systems development.
Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, or protected person as defined by applicable regulations).
Strong proficiency in embedded programming using C.
Extensive experience working in mixed hardware/software development and debugging environments.
Experience with interrupt-driven firmware design and register-level device configuration.
Working knowledge of embedded communication protocols including I2C, SPI, UART, and USB.
Ability to read and interpret schematic diagrams, PCB layouts, and technical datasheets.
Experience using electronic test and measurement equipment.
Knowledge of computer hardware, systems integration, and electrical engineering fundamentals.
Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, and multitasking skills.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with embedded Linux, VxWorks, or similar real-time operating systems (RTOS).
Experience developing applications for Windows and/or Linux environments.
Familiarity with software development lifecycle (SDLC) processes in regulated, mission-critical, or defense-related industries.
Experience working with external software development vendors, contract engineering firms, or offshore development teams.
Knowledge of cybersecurity principles and secure embedded system design practices.
Experience developing software compliant with coding standards such as MISRA-C.
Familiarity with MIL-STD requirements and defense industry compliance standards.
Experience with engineering software tools such as Altium Designer, Autodesk Inventor, and AutoCAD.
Basic soldering, rework, and electronics modification experience.

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