Embedded Control Engineer

About the role

Role Description

This is a part-time (approximately 20 hours per week), on-site Embedded Control Engineer role based in the Greater Boston area. You will design, implement, and tune the embedded control and autonomy software that runs our underwater vehicle, working closely with mechanical and systems engineers.

Day-to-day responsibilities include:

• Developing and tuning vehicle control software on Pixhawk hardware running ArduPilot (ArduSub), including parameter tuning, custom modes, and firmware modifications
• Building and integrating ROS 2 nodes for autonomy, sensor fusion, and mission logic, including the ArduPilot–ROS 2 bridge (MAVROS / DDS)
• Integrating and calibrating sensors and actuators — IMUs, depth and pressure sensors, DVLs, cameras, thrusters, and lighting
• Building and maintaining wiring harnesses, test rigs, and bench setups, including soldering and connector work
• Debugging and optimizing performance on embedded Linux companion computers and microcontroller targets
• Bench testing, hardware-in-the-loop and SITL simulation, and supporting on-water field trials
• Participating in code reviews, maintaining clean version control practice, and documenting design decisions

Qualifications

• A fast, self-directed learner — comfortable picking up unfamiliar tools, stacks, and domains with limited hand-holding, and figuring things out from documentation and source when there's no one to ask
• Strong embedded software development on microcontrollers and embedded Linux platforms, with proficiency in C/C++ and Python
• Hands-on experience with ROS 2 — node and package development, launch files, topics/services/actions, and debugging a live graph
• Hands-on experience with Pixhawk flight controllers and the ArduPilot stack (ArduSub, ArduRover, or ArduCopter), including MAVLink, ground control station workflows, and parameter tuning
• Practical control engineering: PID tuning, state estimation, sensor fusion, and closed-loop control of real hardware
• Software design and architecture skills, with the ability to build modular, maintainable, reliable embedded systems
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting ability, including use of debuggers, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and log analysis
• Experience with RTOS and communication protocols: CAN, UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet
• Comfort with hardware–software integration and working alongside mechanical and electrical design

Hands-on hardware skills

• Confident soldering — through-hole and surface-mount rework, connector termination, and repair of your own bench setups
• Cable and harness work: building, routing, strain-relieving, and labeling harnesses, with an eye toward waterproof penetrators and subsea connectors
• Comfort with bench instrumentation — multimeter, bench supply, oscilloscope, logic analyzer — and basic board bring-up
• Willingness to get hands dirty in the shop: assembly, disassembly, and pressure-testing support alongside the mechanical team

Nice to have

• Experience with underwater drones, ROVs, AUVs, or other subsea systems — strongly preferred
• Familiarity with Gazebo, SITL, or other simulation environments
• Experience with DVLs, acoustic positioning, or subsea navigation
• Test-driven development and safety-critical or mission-critical software practice
• Familiarity with marine operations, tethered vehicle systems, or pressure-rated hardware

Other

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or a related technical field — or equivalent practical experience
• Approximately 20 hours per week, on-site in Greater Boston, with flexible scheduling around core collaboration hours
• Ability to communicate clearly across disciplines and work safely in laboratory, workshop, and on-water environments