Senior Real-Time Software Developer

Emerson•Round Rock, TX

11d•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 and C++
Basic understanding 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.

Nice To Haves

Experience in embedded firmware development, real-time systems, or controller/runtime software
Familiarity with PLCs, 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, or MQTT
Familiarity with version control systems such as Git
Exposure to automated testing, CI pipelines, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or system-level firmware validation
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

Responsibilities

Collaborate with a creative team, participate in code reviews, and actively engage in Agile activities such as sprint planning and retrospectives.
Participate in Hackathons, Tech Talks, and Communities of Practice.
Learn from experienced engineers, product managers, and subject matter experts in industrial automation.
Support the authoring and review of structured software specifications, gaining hands-on experience with spec-driven development practices and AI-assisted development workflows.
Write software using modern tools, frameworks, and AI-enabled development practices.
Learn to apply spec-driven methodologies to improve quality, reduce ambiguity, and accelerate delivery.
Write automated unit tests and contribute to system-level testing to support a healthy automation pipeline and a release-ready product.
Actively participate in team retrospectives and bring 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.
Treat every task as a learning opportunity.
Engage openly with teammates, actively seek feedback, and commit to continuous improvement.