Embedded Software Engineer
The embedded software engineer is a master’s degree graduate specializing in embedded software. As a reminder, an embedded system is an autonomous hardware and software package, often real-time, dedicated to a specific task and which implements limited resources. In broad outline, the embedded software programmer therefore codes optimized software.
We present in this article 6 jobs performed by embedded software engineers, for which many companies are recruiting (job opportunities), with attractive salaries.
Note that this article, dedicated to the professionals of software lower layers, is completed by a second, which presents the jobs of higher layers software development.
Summary:
Embedded software engineer roles & responsibilities
The embedded software developer can covers several roles and responsibilities. We will begin by introducing the embedded software architect profession, before talking about the embedded system engineer, the real-time engineer, the Linux engineer, the Linux expert and finally the cybersecurity engineer.
Embedded software architect
The architect is an experienced professional whose scope of action is particularly wide. It can cover the tasks of specification, architecture, management of technical teams, validation of deliverables and verification of the associated documentation.
For more details about the embedded software architect.
Embedded System Engineer
The embedded system engineer, theoretically, should be an engineer specializing in the electronic AND software parts of embedded systems. Nevertheless, very often, in the job offers for example, one presents missions focused on the software part. Thus, it is not uncommon that the embedded system engineer sought is actually an embedded software engineer.
Anyway, even if it is a software professional, he will have to be familiar with the constraints of the electronic platforms on which his code will run. The hardware is never far away!
For more details about the embedded system engineer.
Real-time software engineer
The real-time software engineer is specialized in real-time embedded software, as its name suggests. Because every embedded software is not real-time. Indeed, we distinguish:
- Hard real-time, which does not tolerate any delay. The system must respond in less than 1 millisecond, failing to potentially produces a disaster. For example, a calculator in charge of the automatic piloting of an airplane is a hard real-time embedded system.
- Soft real-time, which is more flexible. For example, a standard video conferencing system falls into this category.
- The non-real-time. For example, kitchen robots incorporating an embedded system do not need to implement real-time software.
For more details about the real-time software engineer.
Embedded Linux Software Engineer
The embedded Linux software engineer develops low-level software (e.g. drivers, BSP, firmware) around Linux operating system versions adapted to embedded systems.
Why use Linux in the embedded area? Because it is free, open, responds very well to the constraints of the embedded systems, its community of developers is rich and very active etc.
For more details about the embedded Linux software engineer.
Embedded Linux Expert
The embedded Linux expert intervenes throughout the entire life cycle of a product, whereas the Linux engineer usually focuses on the implementation part.
For more details about the embedded Linux expert.
Cyber security engineer
The cyber security engineer, in the field of the embedded systems, intervenes during the phases of design of the products, whereas the “high level” cyber security engineer will for example try to protect the information system of a company as a whole.
On a daily basis, he carries out risk studies, identifies and integrates security solutions (e.g. dedicated electronic components) into products or prototypes, develops software running on electronic boards with one or more microcontrollers.
To know more about the cyber security engineer.
Become embedded software engineer
To become an embedded software engineer, you must have a master’s degree in software development, with a specialization in the field of embedded systems in general or embedded software in particular.
Embedded software engineer skills
The embedded software engineer, like any engineer, is a professional with a very good ability to analyze the problems that are proposed to him and who is able to provide technical answers to them.
These answers go through coding in low-level programming languages, mastering the development in C / C ++ is required.
As already said a little earlier, he has very good knowledge of the constraints of the embedded world. So he has already worked with one or more architectures using different microprocessors and processors, often with real-time constraints.
Finally, the ability to adapt and the soft-skills are essential, as well as the mastery of technical English for non-native speakers.
Embedded software engineer salary
The salary depends on the educational background, experience, specialty, or the country/region where this profesional works.
Main employers
The main employers of embedded software engineers are varied. This can be companies of all sizes operating in a multitude of industries (aeronautics, space, defense, automotive, telecommunications …).
These companies regularly call on technological partners, in other words specialized companies that accompany them in carrying out their projects. Some of these specialized companies are recruiting.
Embedded software engineer employment opportunities
In the field of embedded software development, ELSYS Design recruits all year round specialized engineers in France. The positions are located in Paris, Grenoble, Lyon, Nice Sophia Antipolis, Aix en Provence, Toulouse, Nantes and Rennes.
The offers can be found on this job site.
In Serbia, in the fields of embedded software development, ELSYS Eastern Europe also recruits for its design centers located in Belgrade and Novi Sad.
The offers can be found on its website.