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Firmware and Software Engineer (Part-time/Casual)
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Software Engineering
Woods Hole, Falmouth, MA, USA
Posted on Feb 27, 2025
Job Summary
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is currently searching for a Firmware and Software Engineer to join the Advanced Engineering Lab within the Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering Department. This is a casual position, and is not eligible for benefits. The position will be at the Research Engineer level.The Advanced Engineering Laboratory, located in a waterfront facility in Woods Hole, consists of engineers and technicians who work on a wide range of oceanographic systems including autonomous undersea vehicles, autonomous surface vehicles, underwater acoustics and communications, and complex sensors for physical oceanography, chemistry and biology. Within the lab, multiple groups develop cutting-edge technology for scientific and US Navy applications, and take that technology from initial prototype to complete product.
The position requires an engineer with significant hands-on experience with programming and electronics. Experience working at sea is desired.
Job Description
The Firmware and Software Engineer will work within an engineering team in the development, test and fielding of complex assemblies for many applications as described above, including acoustic signal processing, data telemetry, robotics, and instrument control. The work will include feature additions and maintenance within existing code bases, as well as clean-sheet designs for new projects and applications. In addition to software development skills, a reasonable amount of electronic hardware skills are required as well, including an understanding of wiring diagrams and schematics, experience with meters and oscilloscopes, and ideally, debugging tools such as logic analyzers and extensive use of JTAG. Engineers in this position are also expected to work with many types of sensors whose interfaces may include I2C, RS-232/485, CAN, SPI and understand the principles of DMA and interrupt service routines.
The position will include projects that take multiple forms, including working with a team that includes other engineers and a project manager, or, operating independently with a scientist and a group of graduate students or post-docs. Domestic and foreign travel up to several times per year for several weeks is typical, but not always required. Time at sea on small coastal vessels or large research craft will likely be required. The successful applicant will also have a strong interest in the ocean and marine environment, ocean-related sciences, and robotics for scientific and US Navy applications.
The job will primarily involve part-time work at a level sufficient to support individual projects and also participation in cruises of varying duration, from days to weeks.
Additional Job Requirements
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The required skills of the position include:
Embedded firmware development and debugging in C.
Experience with higher-level object-oriented languages, such as Python and C#.
Basic electronic design
Basic electronics troubleshooting, including reading schematics and using oscilloscopes and logic analyzers for signal tracing and decoding (e.g. SPI/RS-232 signals).
Willing and able to support at-sea and field deployments.
DESIRABLE SKILLS and EXPERIENCE:
Other skills that are desirable for this engineering position include:
Experience with real-time operating systems (for example, FreeRTOS) or multi-threaded programming.
Programming FPGAs in Verilog.
Electronic design using Altium
Basic soldering and wire crimping skills.
Experience working at sea
NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
As deemed necessary by supervisor
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree plus two to four years relevant work experience, or Masters with at least 1-2 years work experience in computer science, computer engineering, or related disciplines.
Special Requirements
Able to get a Transportation Worker Identity Card (TWIC).
US Citizen
Must be willing to travel and spend time in the field
Willing and able to go to sea
Affirmative Action/EEO Statement
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.