Freelance Automotive Embedded Systems Jobs in Reston, VA

LKC Technologies is seeking an experienced Principal Software Engineer to serve as the technical leader for all software development across the organization. In this onsite role in Germantown, Maryland, you will help lead the software architecture and development of a new medical technology platform while contributing to the continued evolution of the established RETeval product portfolio.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer with a proven track record designing and delivering complex embedded systems that acquire and process video data while generating highly accurate, deterministic control signals with microsecond-level timing requirements. This individual will be responsible for critical technology decisions, including selection of processors, image sensors, operating systems, software architecture, development tools, programming languages, and engineering processes.

You will partner with hardware, systems, clinical, quality, regulatory, and product teams to develop medical technologies from concept through commercialization and ongoing lifecycle support.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior software technical authority for LKC Technologies.
• Lead technology decisions for embedded platforms, operating systems, development tools, software frameworks, and related infrastructure.
• Partner with cross-functional teams, including hardware, optical, systems, clinical, quality, and regulatory.
• Mentor software engineers and promote clear standards for design, documentation, testing, and code quality.
• Lead the software architecture and development of a new, internet-connected, embedded medical device platform.
• Evaluate and select processors, image sensors, operating systems, middleware, and development frameworks.
• Design software solutions that capture, process, analyze, and manage image and video data.
• Develop real-time control systems with precise timing requirements, including microsecond-level control or synchronization.
• Establish software development infrastructure, including automated testing and deployment practices.
• Support system design reviews, risk assessments, verification, validation, and regulatory support activities.
• Architect secure connectivity solutions for connected devices.
• Architect software licensing and software lifecycle management strategies.
• Contribute to feature enhancements, performance improvements, system integration, and long-term maintainability for existing product platforms, including the RETeval device and associated manufacturing and analysis tools.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, including significant experience developing embedded systems.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering complex software products from concept through production.
• Experience developing systems involving image acquisition, video processing, machine vision, or similar technologies.
• Experience implementing real-time systems with precise timing requirements, including microsecond-scale control or synchronization.
• Experience and proficiency in C/C++.
• Strong understanding of embedded software architecture, debugging, optimization, and performance analysis.
• Experience working closely with hardware engineering teams throughout product development.
• Effective communication, collaboration, and technical mentoring skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing connected or cloud-enabled devices.
• Experience with automated testing, continuous integration, and DevOps practices for embedded systems.
• Medical device development experience, including familiarity with design controls, risk management, verification, validation, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience working in regulated industries such as medical devices, aerospace, industrial automation, or automotive systems.
• Experience serving as a technical lead, principal engineer, or mentor to small engineering teams.