Senior Real-Time & Application Software Developer

Emerson•Round Rock, TX

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Emerson is seeking a software engineer excited by the challenge of building both embedded firmware and user-facing applications that power industrial automation systems. This role involves working across the full software stack, from real-time controller firmware running on Linux and VxWorks RTOS to workstation applications used by engineers to configure, program, visualize, and manage industrial automation systems. The position is based in Austin, Texas, and involves contributing to Emerson's PACSystems technologies, which are trusted by leading companies in discrete and hybrid manufacturing industries. Responsibilities include contributing to both the embedded controller platform and the engineering software tools that interact with PACSystems controllers, potentially covering PLC programming, deterministic control execution, industrial communications, diagnostics, configuration, visualization, and management workflows. The role involves C and C++ software development, real-time distributed computing, Linux and VxWorks RTOS environments, workstation application development, and systems where timing, reliability, usability, and predictable behavior are critical. The team embraces modern development practices like automated testing, AI-assisted development, and spec-driven methods. The organization is committed to technical excellence, Agile principles, mentorship, and fostering an environment where engineers can do their best work.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM discipline plus 5+ years of experience; or Master's degree plus 3+ years of experience.
Strong knowledge of embedded software development using C/C++, C#, or RUST.
Knowledge of Linux and/or VxWorks RTOS concepts, including real-time execution, concurrency, memory management, and debugging.
Strong problem-solving skills and a genuine desire to understand complex, distributed control systems.
Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship now and in the future.
Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1 (including those with OPT or CPT), H-1, H-2, L-1, B, J or TN, or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing embedded firmware for Linux, VxWorks, or other RTOS platforms.
Experience developing desktop or workstation applications used for configuration, programming, diagnostics, monitoring, or system management.
Familiarity with PLCs, industrial controllers, industrial automation, process control, or discrete and hybrid manufacturing environments.
Exposure to real-time distributed computing, deterministic scheduling, time-critical communications, or high-reliability control systems.
Familiarity with industrial Ethernet and industrial internet protocols such as EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, Modbus TCP, OPC UA, MQTT, or related technologies.
Experience with AI-assisted and spec-driven development workflows, including the use of structured specification languages such as OpenAPI, Protobuf, GraphQL schemas, or JSON Schema to drive code generation, validation, and AI-assisted implementation.
Experience with distributed systems, edge computing, or industrial IoT solutions.
Familiarity with version control systems such as Git.
Exposure to automated testing, CI pipelines, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or system-level validation.
Any experience with Agile or structured development processes.

Responsibilities

Collaborate to contribute to a creative team atmosphere, participate in code reviews, and actively engage in Agile activities such as sprint planning and retrospectives.
Take part in Hackathons, Tech Talks, and Communities of Practice with like-minded engineers.
Learn from Domain Experts by working alongside experienced engineers, product managers, and subject matter experts in industrial automation.
Contribute to Specifications by supporting the authoring and review of structured software specifications, gaining hands-on experience with spec-driven development practices and AI-assisted development workflows.
Innovate by writing software using modern tools, frameworks, and AI-enabled development practices, and learning to apply spec-driven methodologies.
Automate by writing automated unit tests and contributing to system-level testing to support a healthy automation pipeline and a release-ready product.
Iterate by actively participating in team retrospectives and bringing ideas for process improvement.
Stay curious about emerging technologies, AI development tooling, and spec-driven methodologies, and look for opportunities to apply new skills.
Ask questions, challenge assumptions, and take time to understand the problem before diving into solutions, treating every task as a learning opportunity.
Engage openly with teammates, actively seek feedback, and commit to continuous improvement.