Lead Software Engineer

Job Description

• [Company] located in Eden Prairie, MN has an opening for a Lead Software Engineer for the Embedded Control Systems Center of Excellence (ECS CoE) which supports the Industrial Sector. [Company] Industrial Sector includes a broad range of Vehicle, Hydraulic and Aerospace applications. The products can vary from on and off-highway hybrid power vehicles, to high-pressure mobile valve applications used in agriculture, construction, material handling, and forestry as just a few examples.
• This position requires an individual with significant experience in embedded control system design for industrial products like electrohydraulic valves, pumps, and motors. Preference will be given to candidates with a strong background in industrial automation. The candidate must have previous experience in developing/negotiating verifiable system requirements with customers and the ability to drive those requirements down to a software architecture based on a design philosophy centered on open design and reuse. This includes development or review of the low level requirements and associated code. The position will require significant interface with our internal [Company] customers and other members of the CoE located globally in India and the UK. 
• The candidate must be capable of multitasking and working with short delivery cycles and have a proven track record of such. Consistent with the [Company] philosophy, the individual will be responsible for tracking quality measurements relating to software design and delivery and will use that knowledge to develop plans for continuous improvement. Knowledge in Design for Six Sigma tool usage (DFSS) is preferred (certified Green Belt, or Black Belt in training).

Essential Functions:

• Coordinates with marketing, the customer, and systems engineers to develop software specifications and requirements.
• Coordinate with the systems engineers and controls and modeling engineers to design, develop and implement system control algorithms and system simulation models utilizing the latest in design tools such as Matlab/Simulink and/or UML based tooling.
• Design and develop the software architecture and software for real-time, embedded systems on electrical and/or electrohydraulic applications.
• Implement and formally review software for real-time embedded systems in a variety of computer languages and tools such as Matlab/Simulink, UML, C, C++, etc.
• Designs and develops communications protocols for inter-microcontroller and inter-microprocessor communication interfaces such as CAN, J-1939, SmartWire-DT, etc.
• Designs and develops software utilities including user interfaces and test programs such as data logging systems and software test harnesses for unit testing and simulation models.
• Performs tests on simulation, software, hardware, and systems. Interfaces and coordinates with hardware and system engineers to verify proper system operation and system certification.
• Develops automated, regression test software using structured or Object-Oriented analysis/design strategies, where appropriate.
• Generates all the applicable software documentation; participates in design reviews associated with each product development phase including system level reviews and FMEA’s.
• Specifies all hardware and software tools required for software development related to assigned projects.
• Develops, deploys, and continually improves software processes and architectures, based on applicable standards and methodologies SEI Capability Maturity Model, ISO 9001, etc.).
• Maintains software skills and intimate knowledge of electrical and electrohydraulic systems and technologies through participation in training, conferences, and reading trade magazines.
• Maintain close liaison with the sales and marketing functions and end customers, as related to application reviews, new product requirements, major modifications of existing products, customer prototype qualification test requirements and resolving product performance deficiencies.
• Initiate the generation of new ideas and document them appropriately for possible patent protection or to reserve as trade secrets.
• Employ problem solving methodologies to solve issues found in electrical and/or electrohydraulic systems.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or Computer Science from an accredited institution required.
• Minimum of 5 years of embedded software design development experience required.
• At least one year of experience working with model-based design tools such as Matlab/Simulink and/or UML based tools required.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship.
• Relocation is not offered for this position. Only candidates residing within the immediate geographic area (50 miles of posted location or reasonable commuting distance) will be considered for this position.

Position Criteria (Hiring Criteria – Job Specific):

• Demonstrated experience in applying digital and analog control algorithms to embedded control systems.
• Safety awareness and experience is critical due to the potential for working in an industrial lab environment with high pressure/voltage systems.
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication.
• Experience working with formal development processes, including requirements development/management and configuration management systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified in Design for Six Sigma concepts preferred.
• Background in control theory for hydraulic applications preferred.
• Industrial systems automation background a plus.
• Experience working with new product development preferred.