Senior Embedded Software / Systems Integration Engineer

Overview

Embedded software is at the core of our scientific instrumentation, driving sophisticated electromechanical subsystems that deliver world-class material characterization in thermal analysis, rheology, and mechanical testing!

We are seeking a Senior Embedded Software / Systems Integration Engineer to contribute to the design, development, integration, and optimization of our instrument platforms. This role is ideal for an experienced engineer who combines a strong foundation in embedded systems with a systems-level mindset and a passion for solving complex technical challenges.

This role goes beyond traditional firmware development. Successful candidates will work at the intersection of embedded software, electronics, mechanics, controls, and scientific applications to deliver innovative instrumentation solutions. The engineer will take ownership of features and subsystems from concept through delivery, collaborate cross-functionally to drive architectural decisions, and apply strong analytical thinking to understand and resolve complex system behaviors.

We value engineers who enjoy learning new technologies, exploring unfamiliar problem spaces, asking thoughtful questions, and continuously expanding their technical expertise.

This is a full-time on-site position in New Castle, Delaware. We build physical products that interact with the physical world, and working directly with the systems is essential to their development and success!

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain embedded software systems for instrument platforms and related products.
• Lead the integration and validation of embedded software within complex electromechanical instrument systems.
• Collaborate across firmware, electrical, mechanical, systems, software, and applications engineering teams to deliver complete instrument solutions.
• Take ownership of features and subsystems from concept through architecture, implementation, integration, validation, and release.
• Investigate complex system behaviors and apply systems thinking and analytical problem-solving techniques to identify root causes and drive effective resolutions.
• Analyze interactions between software, electronics, sensors, motors, control systems, and mechanical subsystems to ensure reliable system performance.
• Provide technical guidance and support to junior engineers through code reviews, knowledge sharing, and mentoring.
• Continuously build expertise in new technologies, scientific domains, and instrument subsystems to improve product capabilities and development effectiveness.
• Challenge assumptions, ask thoughtful questions, and contribute to a culture of technical curiosity and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Embedded Software Fundamentals

Strong foundation in embedded software development, including:

• C and/or C++ development in resource-constrained environments, real-time processing, and multi-threaded systems.
• Microcontroller architectures and device features (NXP, STMicroelectronics, and similar platforms).
• Execution environments including bare-metal systems, RTOS environments, and embedded Linux.

Systems Integration & Systems Thinking

• Demonstrated experience integrating embedded software with hardware, sensors, actuators, motors, and distributed control systems.
• Ability to understand, troubleshoot, and optimize complex interactions across hardware, software, and physical systems.
• Experience working on multi-disciplinary engineering teams spanning firmware, hardware, mechanical, controls, and systems engineering.
• Strong systems-thinking mindset with the ability to evaluate technical decisions in the context of overall product performance and customer outcomes.
• Experience owning complete features, subsystems, or product capabilities rather than isolated software components.

Technical & Professional Skills

• Proficiency in hardware design principles, electronics fundamentals, and troubleshooting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to break down complex technical challenges into practical solutions.
• Intellectual curiosity and a willingness to learn new technologies, scientific concepts, and engineering disciplines.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, investigate unfamiliar technical domains, and develop a deep understanding of how products function as complete systems.

Desired Competencies

• Experience with distributed real-time controller architectures.
• Control systems expertise including PID tuning, stepper motor control, and three-phase motor control.
• Signal processing expertise including filtering, conditioning, and signal transformations.
• Experience with scientific instrumentation, industrial automation, medical devices, robotics, transportation systems, telecommunications equipment, or other complex electromechanical products.
• Experience working in environments requiring investigation of complex scientific, technical, or experimental problems.
• Familiarity with system architecture, product integration, and system-level validation methodologies.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in embedded systems development.
• Demonstrated experience developing and integrating embedded technologies within complex physical products or electromechanical systems.

Why This Role Is Different

This role is not simply about writing firmware. It is about understanding how software, electronics, controls, mechanics, and scientific applications come together to create highly capable measurement systems. We are looking for engineers who enjoy diving into complex products, learning how they work end-to-end, and solving challenging system-level problems that have a direct impact on the performance and success of our instruments.

Company Description

Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) is a global leader in life sciences and diagnostics, dedicated to accelerating the benefits of pioneering science through analytical technologies, informatics, and service. With a focus on regulated, high-volume testing environments, our innovative portfolio harnesses deep scientific expertise across chemistry, physics, and biology. We collaborate with customers around the world to advance the release of effective, high-quality medicines, ensure the safety of food and water, and drive better patient outcomes by detecting diseases earlier, managing routine infections, and combating antibiotic resistance. Through a shared culture of relentless innovation, our passionate team of ~16,000 colleagues turn scientific challenges into breakthroughs that improve lives worldwide. 

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our core values at Waters Corporation. It benefits our employees, our products, our customers and our community. Waters complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, marital status (including civil unions), military service, veteran status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, legally recognized disability, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Waters is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

Key Words

firmware, embedded software, microcontrollers, linux, rtos, control systems, signal processing, engineering