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Embedded Contractor Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

Controls Engineer

North Reading, MA ยท On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

This role functions more like a software or embedded developer than a traditional PLC-only ... and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply.

Managing full-time employees, co-ops, interns, and contractors. * Forecasting needs to meet program ... Strong knowledge of embedded and application Software Engineering processes, tools, and best ...

Project Manager - Capital Projects

Boston, MA ยท On-site

$110K - $160K/yr

This role will be embedded on-site and responsible for leading the planning and execution of ... Serve as the primary point of contact for client stakeholders, contractors, and vendors * Oversee ...

... contracted scope and schedule. Coordinate readiness activities across Contact Center, Technology ... Ensure SDMs are embedded and effective across all active deployment programs within the region and ...

Vice President of Engineering

Boston, MA ยท On-site

$230K - $250K/yr

Reports to the CTO. * Lead an organization of 35+ full-time leaders, engineers and contractors, spanning Platform, Applications, and Embedded Software, Data Science, and Hardware Engineering.

Showing results 21-40

Embedded Contractor information

What is an embedded contractor?

Embedded contractors are professionals who are hired on a contract basis to work directly within a client's organization, usually as part of an internal team. Unlike external consultants who provide advice from outside, embedded contractors are fully integrated into the company's day-to-day operations, often working on-site and collaborating closely with staff. They typically possess specialized skills required for specific projects or roles, such as software development, engineering, or project management. Embedded contractors can offer flexibility and expertise without the long-term commitment of hiring a full-time employee.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as an embedded contractor?

To thrive as an Embedded Contractor, you need a solid background in embedded systems design, programming (typically in C/C++), and hardware/software integration, often backed by an engineering degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with microcontrollers, real-time operating systems (RTOS), and tools like oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and version control systems is essential, along with relevant certifications such as Certified Embedded Systems Engineer (CESE). Strong problem-solving abilities, adaptability, and effective communication skills help contractors quickly integrate with new teams and projects. These skills are crucial for delivering reliable embedded solutions within tight deadlines and diverse environments.

What are common challenges faced by embedded contractors when working with new client teams?

Embedded Contractors often need to quickly adapt to new team dynamics, workflows, and technical environments. One common challenge is understanding the client's existing codebase and aligning with their development standards within a short onboarding period. Additionally, contractors must balance delivering results efficiently with building trust and clear communication among permanent team members. Proactively asking questions and clarifying expectations early on can help ensure a smoother transition and successful project outcomes.

What is the difference between Embedded Contractor vs Embedded Engineer?

AspectEmbedded ContractorEmbedded Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires relevant certifications or experience in embedded systemsRequires similar credentials, often with a degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering
Work EnvironmentContract-based, often project-specific, working on-site or remotelyFull-time or contract, working within engineering teams on product development
Industry UsageCommon in tech, manufacturing, and defense sectorsPrimarily in electronics, automotive, and consumer device industries
Search & Comparison IntentOften compared for project-based roles or freelance workCompared for full-time engineering roles or specialized development

In summary, Embedded Contractors typically work on a temporary basis, focusing on specific projects, while Embedded Engineers are usually full-time staff involved in ongoing product development. Both roles require similar technical skills and certifications, but differ mainly in employment type and work setting.

Infographic showing various Embedded Contractor job openings in Boston, MA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 76% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution.

Sr. Robotics Middleware Engineer

Reading, MA โ€ข On-site

ALTEN Technology USA
Engineering Professional Servicesย โ€ขย 10K+ employees

$135K - $170K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 14 days ago


Job description

We're ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to life-from advancing space exploration and life-saving medical devices to building autonomous electric vehicles. With 3,000+ experts across North America, we partner with leading companies in aerospace, medical devices, robotics, automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, rail, and more.
As part of the global ALTEN Group-57,000+ engineers in 30 countries-we deliver across the entire product development cycle, from consulting to full project outsourcing.
When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you'll collaborate on some of the world's toughest engineering challenges, supported by mentorship, career growth opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. We take pride in fostering a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.
As a Sr. Robotics Middleware Engineer you will be responsible for;
We are seeking a Senior Robotics Middleware Engineer to evaluate, prototype, and optimize next-generation communication middleware for advanced robotic systems. This role will focus on assessing emerging robotics transport technologies, including Zenoh, and improving high-throughput, low-latency messaging architectures on NVIDIA Jetson-class embedded platforms. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in ROS 2 middleware, DDS internals, shared-memory communication, and performance optimization for embedded Linux environments.
  • Lead a comprehensive build-versus-adopt evaluation of Zenoh as a robotics communication transport, including:
    • Standalone deployment models
    • Integration as an RMW (ROS Middleware) layer within ROS 2
    • Technical recommendations supported by quantitative benchmarking and analysis
  • Design, implement, and optimizezero-copy and shared-memory messaging architectures to maximize communication performance on NVIDIA Jetson platforms.
  • Analyze and improve messaging pipelines through:
    • Memory layout optimization
    • Serialization efficiency enhancements
    • Transport-layer tuning
    • Resource utilization optimization
  • Develop and execute benchmarking frameworks to measure:
    • End-to-end latency
    • Throughput
    • CPU utilization
    • GPU overhead
    • Overall system performance versus existing communication architectures
  • Collaborate with robotics, software, and systems engineering teams to identify and implement scalable middleware solutions for production robotic applications.
  • Document findings, benchmark results, architectural recommendations, and implementation best practices.

Qualifications;
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

Deep hands-on experience with:
  • ROS 2 middleware architecture
  • RMW implementations
  • DDS internals and transport mechanisms

Experience with Zenoh or comparable publish/subscribe communication frameworks, including:
  • eCAL
  • iceoryx
  • Cyclone DDS
  • Fast DDS
  • Strong proficiency in modern C++ development.

Extensive knowledge of:
  • Shared-memory inter-process communication (IPC)
  • Zero-copy messaging techniques
  • High-performance distributed systems
  • Experience profiling and optimizing software performance on embedded Linux and ARM-based platforms.
  • Strong analytical and benchmarking skills with a data-driven approach to architectural decision-making.

Preferred Qualifications;
  • Experience developing and optimizing applications on NVIDIA Jetson platforms.
  • Understanding of GPU/CUDA memory management and GPU-aware communication strategies.
  • Experience with real-time operating systems and low-latency robotics applications.
  • Background in autonomous systems, robotics platforms, or edge computing environments.

Salary Range: $135K-$170K
The actual salary offered is dependent on various factors including, but not limited to, location, the candidate's combination of job-related knowledge, qualifications, skills, education, training, and experience.
Note: This is an ON-SITE position. The individual can sit either in North Reading, MA or Woburn, MA.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, genetic information, or pregnancy.
Please beware of job seeker scams and see this important notice on our careers page for more information about our recruiting process.
Compliance Notice: Alten USA is a federal contractor subject to the requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Executive Order 11246. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Drug Screening Requirement: As a federal contractor, Alten USA maintains a drug-free workplace. All candidates selected for employment will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire.