Job Title:

Embedded Controls Software Engineer

Type of Position:

DIRECT HIRE

Candidate Requirements:

This role is working for a major defense contractor. Candidates MUST be eligible to obtain a secret security clearance (please note, clearance isn’t required to start but all candidates will need to be eligible to obtain a clearance). Obtaining secret clearance requires US Citizenship (accordingly that’s a requirement for this role). Candidates who are Permanent Residents (Green Card Holders) are not eligible for this role. Candidates on CPT, OPT, H1B or TN visas are also not eligible for this role. This company is NOT open to corp2corp (c2c) or corp2hire (c2h).

Job Location:

Fredericksburg, VA (on site role).

Compensation:

Compensation is commensurate with experience, education, and skill level. We are generally targeting $90K/yr to $110K/yr but there may be some flexibility depending on experience.

Benefits:

Available and competitive (health insurance, dental, vision, 401k, PTO, etc)

Job Description:

HRU Technical Resources has partnered with a leading developer of advanced robotic and electromechanical systems for military, government, and commercial use. Our engineering teams specialize in rugged, field-deployable platforms, including unmanned ground vehicles, robotic arms, power systems, and environmental control technologies. We are seeking a hands-on Embedded Controls Software Engineer to join a tight-knit, multi-disciplinary engineering team building next-generation unmanned and robotic systems. This role is part of a broader effort to develop advanced robotic and electromechanical platforms for military, government, and commercial use. Our engineering teams work on rugged, field-deployable systems that integrate mechanical, electrical, and software disciplines—from prototype through production. You’ll be part of a group that builds and tests real-world systems in lab environments, not just in simulation or on paper. Your initial focus will be on a hybrid diesel-electric unmanned ground vehicle, with opportunities to contribute to robotic arms and other electromechanical systems as projects evolve. This is not a desk-only role. You'll spend a significant portion of your time working hands-on with hardware—bringing up new systems, tuning control loops, integrating sensors, and troubleshooting physical prototypes. If you thrive at the intersection of embedded software, hardware integration, and real-world testing, this position offers the kind of challenge you're looking for.

Primary and Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and integrate embedded software using C/C++ for real-time control systems
• Conduct hands-on hardware testing, system integration, and debugging of robotic vehicles and subsystems
• Work on motor control, sensor integration, and actuator interfacing
• Develop low-level drivers, board support packages, and software for real-time embedded systems (Linux or RTOS-based)
• Collaborate with electrical and mechanical engineers to test and validate hardware/software interactions
• Use communication protocols such as CAN, RS232/422/485, TCP/IP
• Support wiring, instrumentation, and test setup in the lab
• Use tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and multimeters to diagnose and solve system-level issues
• Version control with Git/GitHub
• Support analysis and simulation using Python (NumPy/SciPy/Matplotlib) or Matlab/Octave
• Optional: Contribute to electronics design using Altium or similar tools (this isn’t required, but candidates with this experience are desired).

Qualifications:

• US Citizenship required (must be eligible to obtain a Secret security clearance, and Secret clearance requires US Citizenship)
• BS/MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or related field
• 2+ years of experience in embedded software development and hardware integration (early to mid career)
• Demonstrated experience with:
• Real-time embedded systems (RTOS and/or Embedded Linux)
• Motor control, actuator interfacing, and sensor feedback loops
• Embedded software bring-up, device drivers, and board support packages
• Hardware troubleshooting with instruments (oscilloscopes, multimeters, logic analyzers)
• Communication protocols like CAN, RS232/422, TCP/IP
• Comfort working on electro-mechanical systems and debugging across disciplines
• Strong intuition for mechanical systems; able to support system-level integration
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced prototype lab environment
• Solid foundation in electronics and practical circuit debugging
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work with teammates, vendors, and partners
• Strong computer literacy including proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Bonus / nice-to-have:
• Experience with robot locomotion, exoskeleton robotics, or hybrid electric vehicles
• Familiarity with localization, mapping, motion planning, or autonomous navigation
• Experience with computer vision
• Knowledge of software safety in embedded systems

Work Environment / Other Info:

• 1st (day) shift role – standard business hours.
• Daily lab work and prototyping in a hardware-focused R&D setting (there will be standard office work as well).
• Frequent physical interaction with robotic systems; expect time spent testing, wiring, and troubleshooting alongside engineers
• PPE may be required when in manufacturing areas
• Offer may be contingent upon a drug screen and background check (drug screen would include cannabis).
• EOE (including Disability/Veterans).

How to Apply for This Job:

To apply for this position, please follow these steps: Apply for this job with your current resume. We’ll get back to you the same day with some feedback on your application. Next you’ll be invited to an online screening conversation so we can go over the job requirements together and you can ask questions. After this stage we’ll give you more feedback on your application and select the candidates to move forward in the process. Typically steps 1 to 4 takes less than 24 hours.

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