Job Title: Software EngineerJob DescriptionThe Software Engineer designs and delivers robust, maintainable embedded firmware architectures for regulated products in a high-technology environment. This role translates high-level product concepts into detailed technical solutions, captures and documents requirements for traceability and compliance, and collaborates closely with hardware engineers and product stakeholders throughout the development lifecycle. The Software Engineer champions development processes and coding standards, ensures all code is well-documented and rigorously tested, and contributes to roadmap planning, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement across multiple product development programs.
Responsibilities
- Translate high-level product concepts into robust, maintainable firmware architectures for embedded systems.
- Capture, document, and maintain requirements and their rationale for regulated products to ensure full traceability and compliance.
- Collaborate with hardware engineers to define hardware/firmware integration strategies and diagnostic coverage for embedded platforms.
- Work closely with Product Owners and other stakeholders using Agile practices to maintain alignment and transparency throughout the development lifecycle.
- Adhere to and champion established development processes, lead technical reviews, and implement source code that meets product requirements and complies with coding standards.
- Ensure all firmware is well-documented, rigorously tested, and managed through appropriate version control systems.
- Perform unit testing and debugging using tools such as IDEs, debuggers, emulators, communication analyzers, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.
- Provide work breakdown structures and task estimates to support project planning, scheduling, and progress tracking.
- Contribute to product roadmap planning by identifying competency and resource gaps and implementing plans to close those gaps.
- Develop and maintain metrics to track development progress and identify areas for process and product improvement.
- Support multiple product development programs simultaneously, effectively prioritizing and managing workload.
- Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies throughout the firmware development lifecycle, from requirements through validation.
- Collaborate with other engineers to distill market needs into defined technical requirements and system, subsystem, and module architectures.
- Communicate clearly and professionally with project stakeholders, including product managers, customers, and engineering peers.
Essential Skills
- Bachelors degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
- 3+ years of experience developing embedded software or firmware using C and C++.
- 2+ years of experience working with Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS).
- Strong proficiency in embedded software and firmware development for embedded systems.
- Solid understanding of firmware architecture and hardware/firmware integration concepts.
- Experience performing unit testing and debugging with tools such as IDEs, debuggers, emulators, communication analyzers, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.
- Ability to follow and champion coding standards and structured development processes.
- Experience working within Agile development methodologies.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for effective collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Masters degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
- Background in regulated industries such as medical, industrial safety, or automotive.
- Experience developing firmware for multi-core embedded processors.
- Familiarity with integrating Ethernet stacks in embedded environments.
- Skilled in using firmware debugging tools such as JTAG/SWD debuggers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers (UART, I2C, SPI, Ethernet).
- Proven ability to deliver firmware across the full development lifecycle, from requirements capture through design, implementation, and validation.
- Proficiency with Agile development and DevOps tools, including Git, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing frameworks.
- Experience contributing to and implementing risk mitigation strategies throughout the firmware development process.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with other engineers to translate market needs into clear technical requirements and system architectures.
Work EnvironmentThis role operates in an engineering-focused environment within the high-technology gas and oil industry. You work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, leveraging modern embedded development tools, IDEs, debuggers, emulators, and hardware analysis equipment such as oscilloscopes and logic analyzers. The setting emphasizes structured development processes, Agile collaboration, and continuous improvement, with access to DevOps tooling including Git, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing frameworks. The work is primarily performed in an office and lab-based engineering environment, focused on designing, implementing, and validating firmware for embedded systems in regulated applications. Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Minneapolis, MN. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $55.00 - $70.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Minneapolis, MN. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 26, 2026. Workplace TypeThis is a hybrid position in Minneapolis,MN.About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
