Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Brooks Automation•Fremont, CA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Brooks is a leading provider of automation solutions with over 40 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, offering precision robotics, integrated automation systems, and contamination control solutions that empower chip manufacturers worldwide. Our product portfolio includes a range of automation solutions, including robots, vacuum systems, and atmospheric robots for semiconductor manufacturing (www.brooks.com). Are you looking for a place where you can be part of a transformation? Join us at Brooks Automation and be a part of a dynamic organization that is shaping the future of technology. Staff Embedded Software Engineer Job Description PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY: Performs design, development, testing, documentation, and analysis of software applications for company products. Assignments include development of new programs and subprograms, as well as enhancements, modifications, and corrections to existing software/software systems. Duties include designing application, writing code, completing programming, developing and executing testing and debugging routines, and documenting work and results. May be responsible for developing or executing project plans, budgets, and schedules and for documentation of work and results. May function as a project engineer/leader with the resident responsibilities of proposals/project plan, schedules, work assignments, prime contact, technical presentations, cross functional issue resolution, etc. Is expected to keep up to date on technical advances in the discipline and related fields. Note: job levels E3 through E5 may include a software architect role. SENIOR PRINCIPAL LEVEL: Assumes the highest level of complex and/or critical assignments under the business or technical function. Project leadership for system/company wide projects requiring cross organizational teams. Plans/manages integration and implementation of new technologies. Works toward predetermined long range goals. Recognized as the internal authority/highest level of expertise in the discipline and related fields, and is sought after as such. Applies advanced concepts and contributes to advancing company products and processes to achieve organizational objectives in a creative and effective manner. May not be found in non-technical areas. Is assigned to the highest level of unique and complex problems due to the extensive knowledge of advanced principles and techniques. Has significant latitude in the choice of methods, procedures and evaluation criteria to resolve technical and business issues along with implementation of recommendations. Role is typically the principal spokesperson for the organization, project, or program. Interacts with Executive Company and Customer Management. Erroneous decisions would normally result in a failure to reach goals crucial to organizational objectives. Bachelor’s degree with 10-12+ year’s experience, or Masters with 6+ years, or its equivalent. Position Summary The Staff Embedded Software Engineer is recognized as a technical authority within the organization and provides leadership for the most complex and strategically significant software initiatives. This individual drives system architecture, technology strategy, and cross-functional execution for next-generation automation, robotics, and embedded control platforms. The role requires deep expertise in embedded software development, real-time systems, controls, and complex hardware/software integration. The Staff Engineer serves as a principal technical leader, influencing product direction, mentoring engineering teams, and collaborating directly with executive leadership, customers, and cross-functional organizations. The successful candidate will be responsible for solving highly complex technical challenges, defining long-term technology roadmaps, and leading the adoption of innovative technologies that enhance product performance, reliability, scalability, and customer value.

Requirements

10+ years of experience developing embedded software for complex real-time systems.
Expert proficiency in modern C++ (C++11/14/17/20) and object-oriented software design.
Demonstrated experience architecting large-scale embedded software platforms.
Strong expertise in software architecture, design patterns, scalability, maintainability, and fault diagnosis.
Experience developing software spanning applications, middleware, BSPs, device drivers, and hardware abstraction layers.
Deep expertise with QNX, Real-Time Linux, Embedded Linux, or equivalent RTOS environments.
Advanced knowledge of: -Multithreaded and concurrent software design -Real-time scheduling -Memory management -Interrupt handling -DMA architectures -Interprocess communication -Performance optimization
Device driver development
Significant experience integrating software with: -ARM-based SoCs -Industrial communication networks -Sensors and vision systems -Motion controllers and drives -Robotics systems -FPGA-based devices
Experience with board bring-up, BSP customization, bootloader development, and low-level hardware debugging.
Ability to diagnose and resolve complex system-level failures across software, electronics, networking, and mechanical domains.
Proven success leading large engineering efforts within Agile development environments.
Experience establishing: -Software architectures -Coding standards -CI/CD processes -Automated testing frameworks -Release management strategies
Strong understanding of software quality, reliability engineering, observability, and diagnosability.
Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and elevate organizational technical capability.
Servo control architecture
Current, velocity, and position loop design
Feedforward control techniques
Motion profile generation
Control theory and dynamic system modeling
System tuning and performance optimization
Vibration reduction and precision motion techniques
Robot kinematics and inverse kinematics
Robot dynamics and rigid body modeling
Trajectory planning and optimization
Multi-axis coordination
Motion planning algorithms
Calibration and compensation techniques
Industrial robotics architectures
BSP development and customization
Device driver architecture
Board bring-up
Bootloader design
ARM SoC architecture
Performance optimization
Low-latency system design
Hardware abstraction layers
EtherCAT and distributed control systems
Fieldbus technologies
Deterministic communication architectures
Synchronization and real-time networking
Motion-over-network systems
Functional safety integration
Telemetry system design
Predictive maintenance architectures
Fleet-wide diagnostics
Time-series analytics
Edge intelligence
Machine learning applications for industrial systems
Reliability and statistical analysis
Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or related field with 12+ years of relevant experience; or Master's degree with 10+ years of relevant experience; or Equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Controls, Robotics, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline.
Experience developing semiconductor automation, robotics, precision motion, or industrial automation products.
Experience serving as a technical lead or architect for multiple successful commercial product releases.

Responsibilities

Serve as a recognized technical authority in embedded systems, robotics, motion control, or related engineering disciplines.
Define and drive software architecture for complex, system-wide product platforms.
Lead cross-functional engineering initiatives involving software, firmware, controls, electronics, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, and manufacturing teams.
Establish technical direction, architectural standards, and development best practices across multiple programs and product families.
Evaluate emerging technologies and lead their integration into company products and development processes.
Drive technical strategy aligned with long-term business objectives and product roadmaps.
Architect and develop large-scale embedded software systems spanning application software, middleware, BSPs, device drivers, communications, and hardware interfaces.
Lead design and implementation of distributed control systems, robotic platforms, and real-time automation solutions.
Define software frameworks that enable scalability, maintainability, diagnosability, and long-term product evolution.
Review and approve critical architectural decisions affecting product reliability, performance, safety, and serviceability.
Lead technology assessments and proof-of-concept efforts for future product platforms.
Assume ownership of the most challenging technical issues impacting product development, field deployments, and customer escalations.
Lead root-cause investigations involving software, firmware, hardware, controls, networking, and electromechanical systems.
Develop innovative solutions to unique and previously unsolved engineering challenges.
Drive resolution of critical customer and business issues that have significant organizational impact.
Provide technical guidance and mentorship to senior and principal engineers.
Lead design reviews, technical reviews, and architecture governance activities.
Influence engineering processes, development methodologies, testing strategies, and product quality initiatives.
Serve as a primary technical spokesperson with executive leadership, strategic customers, partners, and suppliers.
Build alignment across organizations to drive successful execution of company-wide initiatives.
Lead development of next-generation motion control architectures delivering improvements in throughput, accuracy, repeatability, and reliability.
Define robotic software architectures and optimize system performance, cycle time, precision, and robustness.
Own foundational controller software architecture and drive platform evolution across multiple product generations.
Lead development of high-performance distributed automation and control architectures.
Drive next-generation intelligent service, diagnostics, and predictive maintenance capabilities.
Experience leading large, cross-organizational engineering initiatives.
Experience interacting directly with executive leadership and strategic customers.
Proven success translating business objectives into technical roadmaps and architectural decisions.
Strong customer-facing skills with the ability to lead technical discussions during critical escalations and product strategy engagements.
Demonstrated record of influencing engineering organizations through technical leadership rather than direct authority.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and executive audiences.