Bare Metal Embedded Firmware Engineer (C, Microcontrollers)
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation1 month ago
Salem, VA, USASenior
Base Salary
$91k - $130k/yr
Responsibilities
- Define, develop, and verify embedded software according to design and test requirements.
- Develop bare-metal firmware for microcontrollers supporting time-critical processing such as A/D sampling, motor control, and communications.
- Optimize firmware performance, memory utilization, and computational efficiency in resource-constrained systems.
- Configure and interface with real-time clocks, Ethernet PHY chips, external memory, and specialty sensors.
- Implement security and password-access routines, secure firmware update mechanisms, and Ethernet communication protocols.
- Develop automated test and validation tools and conduct verification testing during development.
- Collaborate with Automation, Manufacturing Operations, Product Engineering, and cross-functional project teams to resolve issues and improve manufacturing performance.
- Manage equipment and capital projects within budget and timelines.
- Apply Lean principles and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
- Ensure safety, quality, cybersecurity, regulatory, and process compliance.
- Use AI-enabled engineering tools to improve hardware design, firmware development, testing, troubleshooting, documentation, and data analysis.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a closely related field; a master’s degree is preferred.
- 5+ years of embedded firmware experience.
- 5+ years of C-development experience.
- Hands-on experience developing firmware for microcontrollers such as Microchip dsPIC, STM32, NXP, Renesas, TI, or ARM Cortex-M platforms.
- Experience with bare-metal firmware, state machine architectures, interrupt service routines, and real-time embedded systems.
- Experience with SPI, I2C, UART, PWM, ADC, timers, interrupts, digital I/O, and other microcontroller peripheral interfaces.
- Experience with CAN, CAN-FD, Ethernet, Modbus, RS-485, USB, MQTT, BLE, and Wi-Fi.
- Experience with automated builds, unit testing, continuous integration, software release management, source control, code reviews, branching strategies, and collaborative development workflows.
- Experience developing automated test and validation tools using LabVIEW, Python, or equivalent environments.
- Experience with engineering tools and scripting environments such as MATLAB, Python, C#, and .NET.
- Proficiency with schematic capture, component footprint modeling, and PCB design tools; Altium Designer experience is highly desirable.
- Understanding of secure bootloaders, OTA firmware updates, authentication, encryption, secure key storage, and cybersecurity practices for connected embedded devices.
- Familiarity with IEC 62443, the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, or similar cybersecurity standards is desirable.
- Familiarity with locomotive electrical systems is desirable; desktop application development for Windows or Linux is a plus.
- Ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences, manage multiple priorities, work independently, and adapt to ambiguity and changing deadlines.
- Ability to travel as needed and work in compliance with applicable safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
Benefits
- Health, welfare, and retirement benefits are available through Wabtec benefits programs.
- Annual bonus may be available if eligible.
- The role may require travel as needed.
- Employment is conditioned upon successful completion of a drug screen and fitness-for-duty test, where applicable.
About Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (Wabtec) builds freight locomotives, braking and signaling systems, rail components, and software used by freight railroads, transit agencies, and industrial operators. The Pittsburgh-based public company (NYSE: WAB) sells original equipment, digital solutions, and aftermarket services worldwide; it combined with GE Transportation in 2019 and traces its roots to George Westinghouse’s 19th‑century air brake business. Its portfolio spans rolling stock, parts, condition‑monitoring, and train control platforms.