Independent Contractor Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Minnesota

We are looking for a talented Embedded Software Systems Engineer to join our team specializing in Engineering for our Cummins Inc. facility in Shoreview, MN. 

In this role, you will make an impact in the following ways: 

• Develop and deliver high-quality software that is embedded within Cummins products, enabling performance across a wide range of customer applications. 
• Translate stakeholder needs into clear software requirements and technical specifications that drive product functionality and value. 
• Design, implement, test, and release software solutions that directly control and enhance product operation. 
• Investigate and resolve complex software issues by identifying root causes and implementing effective, timely solutions. 
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver verified software features, components, and builds aligned with product expectations. 
• Influence software architecture, design, and testing decisions to improve overall product quality, performance, and reliability. 
• Lead or contribute to projects with varying levels of complexity, driving execution while managing ambiguity and delivering results. 
• Support continuous improvement by advancing software development processes, tools, and best practices across teams and business units.
• This role emphasizes strong systems thinking, including the ability to connect requirements, architecture, implementation, and validation into cohesive system-level behavior.

Cummins is an equal opportunity employer. Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, sex, color, disability, national origin, age, religion, union affiliation, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship, gender identity, or other status protected by law.

Preferred Core Responsibilities and Activities:

• Facilitate technical design discussions and drive alignment across architecture, embedded software, controls, and validation teams
• Lead system-level integration across hardware, software, and communication networks, ensuring seamless interoperability
• Define and maintain system interfaces, data flows, and communication protocols across distributed control systems
• Support the development and integration of control features for power generation, grid, and distributed energy applications
• Align system designs with communication architectures, including Ethernet-based, distributed, and industrial communication networks and protocols (ex. OPC-UA, DDS, IEC61850)
• Develop and maintain system architecture artifacts, including diagrams, interface definitions, and technical decision documentation
• Support system-level debugging and integration analysis across embedded software, operating system behavior, communication networks, and hardware interactions
• Contribute to validation strategies, including lab testing, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and networked system verification environments
• Apply systems thinking to evaluate end-to-end behavior, design trade-offs, and overall system performance
• Collaborate cross-functionally to influence technical decisions and ensure high-quality, scalable system design
• Apply working experience with Embedded Linux systems, including system architecture, processes, networking, and runtime behavior, along with familiarity with RTOS-based platforms
• Utilize preferred knowledge of communication networks, model-based design, and validation environments to enhance system capability and reliability
• Experience withmodel-based design or simulation tools (e.g., Simulink or equivalent) and their application in system or control software development
• Exposure tonetworked test environments, including hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), integration labs, or system-level validation setups
• Experience participating in or facilitatingarchitecture and design reviews across multi-team environments
• Familiarity withrequirements management and traceability tools and collaboration platforms (e.g., Jira, Confluence)

Please note that the salary range provided is a good faith estimate on the applicable range. The final salary offer will be determined after considering relevant factors, including a candidate's qualifications and experience, where appropriate.

To be successful in this role, you will need the following:

• Expertise in software design, verification, and validation, with a focus on delivering reliable, high-quality product software.
• Strong systems thinking and requirements engineering skills to translate complex stakeholder needs into actionable solutions.
• Ability to analyze and mitigate product failure modes using modeling, simulation, and data-driven decision-making.
• Excellent communication, decision-making, and relationship-building skills to drive results and navigate complex challenges effectively.

Education, Licenses, Certifications:
College, university, or equivalent Bachelor's degree in Engineering or appropriate STEM field is required.
Post-graduate (Master's) degree relevant to this discipline area may be required for select roles.
This position may require licensing for compliance with export controls or sanctions regulations.
Experience:
Prior Senior or Lead Engineer equivalent work experience in a relevant discipline area is required with a demonstrated track record of technical problem solving and quality decision making. Knowledge of MS Office tools is preferred.