Senior Firmware Engineer (Embedded Linux)

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The Senior Embedded Software Engineer is a hands-on technical contributor responsible for designing, developing, testing, and supporting embedded software for Neogen’s regulated instrumentation portfolio. This role works across the embedded software stack, from board bring-up and Board Support Package (BSP) development through device applications, services, connectivity, security, and user interfaces.
Based in Oakdale, Minnesota, the Senior Embedded Software Engineer partners closely with Electrical, Mechanical, Systems, Software, Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing, and Service teams to support new product development and sustaining engineering. The role contributes to the development of next-generation instrumentation platforms while helping maintain and improve existing products used in food safety laboratories and production environments around the world.
Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesEmbedded Software Development
Design, develop, test, and maintain embedded software for new and existing instrumentation products.
Develop embedded Linux software across the stack, including BSPs, kernel configuration, device drivers, system services, device applications, and user interfaces.
Develop and maintain software using C and C++.
Develop and maintain device user interfaces using Qt.
Support embedded Linux build environments using Yocto, Torizon, or similar technologies.
Develop software interfaces between embedded applications, hardware, sensors, peripherals, and external systems.
Participate in software architecture and platform decisions for future instrumentation products.
Create maintainable, reusable, and testable embedded software components.
Participate in code reviews, design reviews, and technical discussions.
Hardware Integration and Board Bring-Up
Partner with Electrical Engineering during board bring-up, hardware integration, and troubleshooting.
Review electrical schematics and hardware interfaces to support software development and debugging.
Develop and troubleshoot device drivers and hardware interfaces.
Use oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, debuggers, and other laboratory tools to investigate hardware/software interaction issues.
Support prototype hardware builds and early-stage system integration.
Diagnose issues spanning embedded software, firmware, electrical hardware, and system-level behavior.
Device Connectivity and Security
Develop and maintain secure device connectivity capabilities.
Implement device security features such as secure boot, signed software images, access controls, and secure update mechanisms.
Develop and support over-the-air software and firmware update capabilities.
Support communication between instruments, data-management applications, cloud services, and other connected systems.
Apply appropriate security practices throughout embedded software design and development.
Participate in evaluation and implementation of platform security improvements.
Embedded Platform Development
Contribute to technical decisions involving operating systems, processors, BSPs, build environments, deployment models, and update strategies.
Help define reusable software and platform patterns for future instrumentation products.
Evaluate new technologies, tools, and architectures for applicability to Neogen products.
Support development of common software components and platform capabilities that can be reused across product families.
Identify opportunities to improve software maintainability, reliability, security, and development efficiency.
Regulated Product Development
Develop software within established product-development and design-control processes.
Create and maintain software requirements, design documentation, technical specifications, and related engineering records.
Support requirements traceability from software requirements through implementation, testing, and verification evidence.
Participate in software verification and validation activities.
Support product risk-management activities and technical risk assessments.
Contribute technical documentation and evidence required for product-development phase gates, certifications, and regulatory submissions.
Support software change control and configuration-management activities.
Sustaining Engineering and Product Support
Support existing instrumentation products as needed throughout the product lifecycle.
Investigate and resolve software, firmware, integration, and field issues.
Perform root-cause analysis and develop corrective solutions.
Support product updates, component changes, platform updates, and lifecycle-management initiatives.
Partner with Service, Manufacturing, Quality, and other teams to troubleshoot complex product issues.
Identify and implement software improvements that enhance product reliability, maintainability, and customer experience.
Technical Leadership and Collaboration
Review software designs and code developed by internal engineers and external development partners.
Provide technical feedback and guidance within areas of expertise.
Help establish and promote embedded software engineering standards, patterns, and development practices.
Collaborate effectively with development partners located across multiple regions and time zones.
Communicate technical decisions, risks, trade-offs, and recommendations clearly to engineering teams and stakeholders.
Mentor less-experienced engineers as appropriate.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
Five or more years of professional embedded software development experience.
Significant hands-on experience developing software for embedded Linux systems.
Strong programming experience using C and C++.
Experience with embedded Linux build systems such as Yocto, Torizon, or similar technologies.
Experience with BSP development, Linux kernel configuration, or device-driver development.
Hands-on experience with hardware bring-up and embedded-system debugging.
Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics.
Experience using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, debuggers, or similar laboratory tools.
Experience developing applications using Qt.
Experience developing software for products that integrate software, firmware, and hardware.
Experience implementing or supporting device security capabilities such as secure boot, image signing, access controls, or secure software updates.
Experience developing software within a regulated product-development environment using design controls.
Experience creating and maintaining software requirements and engineering documentation.
Experience supporting software verification and validation activities.
Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Strong written and verbal technical communication skills.
Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary engineering teams and external development partners.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with Python for test automation, tooling, scripting, or engineering utilities.
Experience with camera or imaging pipelines on embedded Linux, including V4L2, GStreamer, or similar technologies.
Experience developing firmware for microcontrollers such as AVR or ARM Cortex-M.
Experience with NVIDIA Jetson, TI Sitara, NXP i.MX, or similar embedded processing platforms.
Experience with containerized software deployment on embedded devices.
Experience developing over-the-air update systems for embedded products.
Experience with IEC 62304 or similar regulated software lifecycle standards.
Familiarity with 21 CFR Part 11 or other regulated data-integrity requirements.
Familiarity with validation or regulatory frameworks such as AOAC Performance Tested Methods, AOAC Official Methods of Analysis, AFNOR NF VALIDATION, MicroVal, ISO 16140, USDA FSIS, USDA FGIS, FDA, or Health Canada requirements.
Experience developing laboratory instrumentation, diagnostic systems, food-safety products, medical devices, or other regulated equipment.
Experience with instrument-to-software or instrument-to-cloud connectivity.
Experience reviewing software developed by third-party or external development partners.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Strong knowledge of embedded software architecture and development principles.
Strong understanding of interactions between embedded software, firmware, electronics, and hardware.
Ability to troubleshoot complex issues across software and hardware boundaries.
Strong understanding of embedded Linux architecture, build