CalTek is an Oakland Area staffing agency specializing in the recruitment of IT and Software Engineers for the automotive and electric vehicle (EV) industry. Our client is a pioneering software technology company accelerating the global adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) through intelligent, data-driven charging solutions. Their mission is to create smarter, more efficient charging infrastructure that benefits both EV drivers and the electrical grid, using advanced embedded systems, IoT connectivity, and real-time analytics to optimize energy distribution, demand response, and grid stability.
The company develops next-generation embedded software powering EV charging stations, on-board vehicle controllers, energy management systems, and smart grid interfaces. Their technology bridges the gap between automotive innovation and sustainable energy, helping utilities, OEMs, and fleet operators reduce costs, maximize uptime, and drive a more resilient, electrified future.
Typical Duties and Responsibilities
As a Senior Embedded Software Engineer, you will:
- Design, develop, and integrate embedded control software for EV charging stations, battery management systems (BMS), power electronics, and smart grid interfaces.
- Implement real-time control algorithms for charging optimization, load balancing, power conversion, and communication with energy management platforms.
- Develop and maintain firmware in C/C++ and embedded Linux, ensuring deterministic performance and low-latency operation.
- Collaborate with hardware, systems, and electrical engineers to validate designs, troubleshoot hardware/software integration issues, and ensure system reliability.
- Develop software conforming to automotive-grade safety and quality standards including ISO 26262 (Functional Safety), ASPICE, AUTOSAR, and MISRA C.
- Integrate communication protocols such as CAN, LIN, Modbus, TCP/IP, RS-485, OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol), and ISO 15118 for EV charging communication.
- Work with RTOS (Real-Time Operating Systems) such as FreeRTOS, QNX, VxWorks, or Embedded Linux Yocto, optimizing for performance, security, and reliability.
- Utilize model-based design tools such as MATLAB/Simulink for control system development and simulation.
- Implement firmware update (FOTA) and diagnostic systems (UDS, OBD-II) for remote maintenance and over-the-air updates.
- Participate in full SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle): requirements gathering, architecture design, coding, testing (HIL/SIL), debugging, validation, and release.
- Contribute to the design of energy-efficient embedded architectures that support demand response, V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid), and renewable integration scenarios.
- Use version control (Git, SVN, Bitbucket) and CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitLab CI) to ensure efficient and traceable software releases.
- Conduct code reviews, static analysis, and performance profiling to maintain the highest standards of software reliability, maintainability, and safety.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline required.
- Master’s degree in Embedded Systems, Software Engineering, or Controls Engineering strongly preferred.
Required Skills and Experience
- 10+ years of professional experience developing and integrating embedded software within automotive, electric vehicle, or power electronics environments.
- Proficiency in C, C++, Embedded C, Python, and embedded Linux development.
- Deep understanding of microcontroller and microprocessor architectures (ARM Cortex-M/A, TI, NXP, Renesas, STMicroelectronics, Infineon, or Microchip).
- Experience working with real-time control systems, RTOS, and bare-metal programming.
- Hands-on experience with CAN bus, LIN, OCPP, and ISO 15118 communication protocols for EV charging.
- Familiarity with functional safety and automotive software standards:
- ISO 26262 (Functional Safety)
- AUTOSAR (Classic and Adaptive Platforms)
- ASPICE and MISRA C Compliance
- Strong background in debugging tools and instrumentation (JTAG, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, debuggers).
- Experience with powertrain control, battery management, inverter/converter control, or EVSE firmware development.
- Knowledge of IoT device communication, cloud-to-edge integration, and data telemetry for connected EV platforms.
- Proficiency with software validation tools (Vector CANoe, CANalyzer, ETAS INCA, NI LabVIEW, or dSPACE).
- Strong collaboration skills and ability to work in cross-disciplinary engineering teams (hardware, controls, cloud, and systems).
Preferred Qualifications
- Direct experience developing software for EV charging systems, on-board chargers, power converters, or smart grid devices.
- Working knowledge of power electronics control, grid communication standards (IEEE 2030.5, IEC 61850), and renewable energy integration.
- Experience developing IoT-enabled embedded systems leveraging MQTT, OPC-UA, and RESTful APIs.
- Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks (ISO/SAE 21434, TLS, PKI, and secure boot).
- Experience implementing Machine Learning algorithms on embedded targets for predictive maintenance or adaptive energy optimization.
- Knowledge of simulation and modeling tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, Modelica, or PLECS.
- Certifications or advanced training in Embedded Software Safety, Automotive Cybersecurity, or Functional Safety Engineering (TÜV Certified ISO 26262 Engineer).
