Technical Leader, Embedded Software and Electronics

Cambridge Consultants

9d•$180,000 - $210,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Cambridge Consultants (CC) is a technology innovation partner that excels at solving complex engineering challenges. As their North America business expands, they are seeking a Techno-Commercial Leader for their Energy and Industry team. This role operates at the intersection of deep technology and commercial strategy, focusing on Industry 4.0. The leader will act as a "second CTO" to clients, bridging boardroom ambitions with R&D realities in embedded software, electronics, and hardware systems to drive the commercialization of world-first technologies. The ideal candidate is driven to challenge client assumptions, define what gets built and why, and leverage embedded systems expertise into competitive advantage.

Requirements

Deep technical foundation in embedded software and electronics—firmware architecture, hardware–software integration, real-time systems, and connected device design.
Proven track record of leading complex technical programmes where technical strategy and commercial outcome were inseparable.
Ability to set direction, manage client expectations at the executive level, and challenge the brief.
Prioritize value delivery over technical perfection.
Ability to articulate why a technical decision matters to the client’s bottom line, future valuation, or competitive position.
Experience identifying shared-risk partnership opportunities that extend the relationship beyond fixed-scope delivery.
Experience delivering systems where embedded software and hardware are tightly coupled and value lies in intelligence (control algorithms, connectivity, edge compute, sensing).
Ability to articulate value in commercial terms.
Resilient communicator who can translate technical constraints into boardroom-level commercial risk.
Ability to retain credibility and respect of deep technical SMEs.
Ability to engender trust that allows clients to make bold bets on unproven technology.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the Energy and Industry sector.
Experience with Industry 4.0 technologies.
Experience with edge compute, connectivity, and intelligent control.

Responsibilities

Lead the "What" and the "Why": Act as a trusted technical advisor to clients, validating that the embedded architecture directly supports their commercial goals. Advise clients to pivot their technical strategy when new realities emerge.
Shape the Commercial Relationship: Identify long-term, shared-risk partnership opportunities beyond fixed-scope delivery. Design technical roadmaps that elevate the client’s market position, proposing novel embedded solutions that create defensible competitive advantage, and helping structure commercial terms.
Bridge Technical Disciplines: Guide architectural decisions and interrogate client assumptions based on a background in embedded software and electronics. Reframe client requests based on technical reality to protect their investment.
Navigate Ambiguity: Define clear technical paths forward in uncertain early stages of innovation with shifting requirements. Translate complexity (firmware constraints, hardware–software trade-offs, silicon maturity) into digestible commercial risk for client executives.
Think Like a Founder: Collaborate with business development to define new market offerings grounded in embedded systems innovation. Shape the technical direction of the Energy and Industry practice by identifying value creation opportunities in edge compute, connectivity, and intelligent control, and building business cases.