Principal Embedded Hardware/Firmware Engineer

Key responsibilities: Develop innovative solutions in IoT and remain well-versed in new technologies in the evolving IoT space; Provide technical and thought leadership for the development and integration of new IoT solutions; Participate in project proposals and detailed specifications based on the needs of the business; Contribute to various aspects of the product development life cycle including concept development, analogue and digital circuit design and printed circuit board (PCB) design / manufacturing and packaging of robust or industrialised products; Lead and coordinate projects involving hardware/firmware development and RTOS development; Lead the development of the system’s low-level software architecture; Implement firmware and hardware drivers; Debug issues related to product development; Develop test procedures and test hardware, software and systems developed; Communicate with vendors of components and tools as needed; Ensure code compliance and best practices are adhered to; Ensure approvals are obtained through SABS, ICASA, etc. Create and maintain technical documentation; Supervise/mentor junior staff in area(s) of expertise; Remain current in field of expertise with respect to new approaches in tools, methods or technologies. Qualifications, skills and experience: A Bachelor’s degree in electrical/electronic engineering or related fields with at least ten years’ electronic engineering (embedded hardware and firmware) experience, of which five years’ should be in IoT field; An Honours or Master’s degree will be advantageous; All international qualifications require an evaluation report / certificate issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA); Experience in developing low-power and real-time embedded systems, including sensor modelling and integration, hardware interfacing such as GPIO, UART, I2C, SPI; Experience in schematic and PCB design, electronic components selection and sourcing,, managing production, testing; Experience in technical writing, such as preparing good quality technical reports for complex systems; Experience with networking and communications standards, protocols, and technologies relevant to IoT (applications e.g. BLE, Wi¿Fi, 6LoWPAN, Zigbee, LoRa, Sigfox, and NB-IoT) for industrial applications; Proficient in rapid prototyping, development of multi-disciplinary nature; Mechanical CAD design and 3D printing knowledge will be advantageous; Must be extremely proficient in embedded C /C++; Must have a thorough grasp of TCP/IP (both IPv4 and IPv6) networking; Solid practical embedded hardware/software skills – including planning, designing, implementing, monitoring and troubleshooting of the developed technologies; Data analytics and ability to develop algorithms to extract useful information from data; Ability to analyse new IoT technologies to quantify risk and feasibility; Good knowledge of various Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) technologies, 3G/4G/5G and RFID; Familiar with electronic measurement instruments and software test methods; Establish, design and configure a secure IoT system for industrial applications; Self-motivated, high initiative and enthusiastic person; Demonstrated skills in: analytical thinking, flexibility and adaptability, investigative orientation, planning and organising, problem solving, verbal and written communication, teamwork, self-management (planning, prioritising and time management – includes the ability to work independently), systems level thinking and quality management..