Senior Electronics & Embedded Software Engineer
Location: Filton, Bristol
Contract: 1-year initial contract, with possibility to extend for six months
Start Date: ASAP
Pay Rate: £75 - £85 per hour
About the Role
We are looking for a Senior Electronics & Embedded Software Engineer to design, develop, and maintain advanced embedded systems for a jet engine Blade Inspection Tool (BIT) product suite. This role combines embedded firmware development, electronics/PCB design, and hands‑on prototyping, with a strong focus on custom camera modules and LED strobing systems.
You will work on both a matured legacy product and a new hardware platform, collaborating with internal teams and external camera vendors to deliver reliable and production‑ready solutions.
Key Responsibilities
Embedded Software & Firmware Development
* Develop, test, and debug embedded firmware in C/C++ for microcontrollers, including bootloaders.
* Implement and maintain device drivers for peripherals such as I2C, SPI, UART, USB, ADC, PWM, and others as required.
* Implement serial communication protocols for interfacing with embedded boards and host systems.
Electronics & PCB Design
* Design schematics for small embedded systems, custom camera interfaces, and development boards.
* Perform PCB layout, including component placement and routing, with a focus on miniaturized boards.
* Design and review LED driver circuitry and associated control electronics for pulsed/strobing operation.
* Work with high‑speed interfaces such as USB2.0 & USB3.0 in PCB layouts.
Prototyping, Testing & Debugging
* Assemble and test electronic prototypes and development boards.
* Perform hand soldering and rework of SMD components, including fine‑pitch and miniaturized PCBs.
* Use lab equipment (oscilloscope, logic analyser, power supplies, etc.) to debug hardware and firmware issues.
* Build simple development and test boards to support ongoing R&D and validation activities.
* Support QA, validation, and verification of prototype cameras and embedded systems.
Documentation, Collaboration & Delivery
* Maintain clear, traceable documentation including schematics, PCB revisions, firmware versions, and test reports.
* Collaborate closely with mechanical engineers, manufacturing partners, and external vendors to ensure robust, manufacturable designs.
* Support the transition from prototype to small‑scale and volume production, including design‑for‑manufacture (DFM) and design‑for‑test (DFT) considerations.
* Participate in design reviews and provide technical input on requirements, specifications, and architecture.
Vendor & Stakeholder Interaction
* Interface with external camera vendors to review and refine camera designs, requirements, and performance targets.
* Review and provide feedback on camera specifications, optical sensor interfaces, and integration constraints.
* Collaborate with internal stakeholders on pulse LED architecture, requirements, and system‑level trade‑offs.
Required Skills & Experience
Embedded Software
Strong experience developing firmware in C/C++ for microcontrollers; ability to write, test, and debug low‑level drivers and application code.
Peripherals & Interfaces
Hands‑on experience with I2C, SPI, UART, USB, ADC, PWM and similar protocols/interfaces.
Electronics Design
Experience in schematic design and PCB layout for small, embedded systems; familiarity with miniaturized PCBs.
PCB Tools
Proficiency with Altium Designer (or equivalent professional PCB design tools).
Prototyping
Comfortable assembling and reworking PCBs, including SMD hand soldering and working with fine‑pitch components.
Debug & Test
Proficient using oscilloscopes, logic analysers, and related lab equipment for system bring‑up and troubleshooting.
Communication & Teamwork
Ability to collaborate with cross‑functional teams and external vendors, clearly communicate technical topics, and document work thoroughly.
Nice‑to‑Have Skills
Camera & Imaging Systems
Experience with camera module design, image sensors, lens selection, and integration into embedded systems.
Optical Sensors & ISPs
Familiarity with optical sensors and image signal processors (ISPs), including configuration and tuning.
High‑Level Software
Experience with Python and/or C/C++ for PC‑ or host‑side applications to interface with embedded boards (e.g., test automation, calibration tools, data acquisition).
Control & Image Processing
Experience implementing closed‑loop control for camera/illumination systems and basic image processing pipelines.
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