What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Embedded Software Engineer position at Virginia Controls, LLC?
Company Description
Virginia Controls, LLC is among the most established and respected independent elevator controller manufacturers in the United States. Known for its expertise and quality, the company is dedicated to delivering advanced, reliable, and innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of the elevator industry. Located in Oilville, VA, Virginia Controls takes pride in fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented work environment. The company is committed to upholding high standards of excellence and customer satisfaction.
Senior Embedded Systems & Software Engineer – Elevator Control Systems
Position Overview
Seeking an experienced Senior Embedded Systems & Software Engineer to lead the design, development, and integration of advanced elevator control and monitoring systems. This role blends hands-on engineering with team leadership, spanning embedded firmware, industrial communication protocols, hardware integration, and safety-critical compliance. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with the ability to guide multidisciplinary teams from concept through deployment.
Key Responsibilities
System Architecture & Design
- Lead the design and implementation of elevator motion control algorithms.
- Architect embedded systems for high-reliability, real-time control applications.
- Develop and maintain communication interfaces using industrial fieldbus and Ethernet-based protocols.
Firmware Development
- Write, optimize, and maintain embedded C/C firmware for real-time systems such as FreeRTOS.
- Implement low-level drivers for peripherals such as I²C, SPI, Ethernet, and encoder interfaces.
- Debug and optimize interrupt-driven state machines and timing-sensitive processes.
Hardware Integration
- Collaborate on PCB design, ensuring compliance with electrical safety, signal integrity, and manufacturability requirements.
- Design circuits for sensor integration, power regulation, and ESD/overvoltage protection.
- Integrate and configure variable frequency drives (VFDs) in velocity and position control modes.
HMI & Monitoring Systems
- Oversee development of elevator HMIs using commercial HMI software platforms and custom solutions.
- Maintain and modernize legacy monitoring clients, transitioning from desktop-based to modern web-based interfaces.
- Optimize data visualization and reporting features for maintenance and traffic analysis.
Compliance & Safety
- Ensure designs meet applicable elevator safety standards and regulatory requirements.
- Implement redundant safety monitoring and fault handling
- Work with absolute positioning systems (APS) and safety-rated devices for compliance.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Supervise and mentor a small team of software engineers.
- Coordinate with mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing teams to ensure design compatibility.
- Interface with vendors, contractors, and certification agencies to validate product readiness.
Required Skills & Experience
- Extensive experience in embedded systems design and software development, including leadership roles.
- Strong proficiency in C and C for embedded applications.
- Hands-on experience with real-time embedded operating systems and architectures.
- Expertise in industrial communication protocols (e.g., CANopen, Modbus TCP/IP, BACnet/IP).
- Experience with safety-critical system design and compliance processes.
- Familiarity with PCB design tools and electronic circuit best practices.
- Knowledge of elevator control principles, VFD drive configuration, and motion profiling.
Work Environment
- Combination of office, lab, and field work in elevator equipment rooms and test facilities.
- Collaborative, hands-on, and iterative design process with emphasis on reliability, maintainability, and safety.