Embedded Software Engineer

Shift5 is redefining the future of onboard operational technology (OT). As a fast‑growing scale‑up, we specialise in cutting‑edge cybersecurity, predictive maintenance and compliance for OT systems across defence, aerospace and rail. We are a team of passionate, innovative professionals who thrive in a collaborative environment, driven by a shared mission to revolutionise how fleets operate. By unlocking and democratising the vast potential of onboard OT data, we help our customers’ fleets run smarter, safer and more efficiently.

Ready to be part of the next frontier in transportation and critical infrastructure? Come join us.

• Embrace Truth and Integrity: Base decisions on data, foster open dialogue and uphold unwavering integrity.
• User‑Centric Focus: Prioritise user needs to guide our actions and resource allocation.
• Collaborative & Adaptable: Collaborate for excellence, learning from failures and driving iterative improvements, recognising every decision’s significance.

Embedded Software Engineer – Shift5 is seeking a full‑time engineer to join our growing team. In this role, you will drive the design, development and implementation of real‑time, high‑performance embedded software systems deployed on custom Linux‑based hardware platforms. You will be instrumental in building robust software solutions, enabling advanced data analytics at the edge and collaborating across multi‑disciplinary teams to ensure resilient and reliable software releases in mission‑critical environments.

If you’re passionate about developing complex systems, optimising software performance and thrive in a collaborative environment with endless opportunities to take ownership and expand your skills, Shift5 might be the right fit for you.

• Develop, optimise and maintain real‑time embedded software for custom Linux‑based hardware platforms
• Design and implement low‑level hardware interface layers: memory‑mapped register access, DMA transfer, and efficient hardware/software communication protocols
• Write and maintain Linux kernel drivers and userspace APIs for custom hardware, ensuring robust integration and performance
• Profile, analyse and tune embedded software for low‑latency, high‑throughput, high‑reliability data acquisition and processing
• Investigate hardware, firmware and software issues and understand the interactions between each layer
• Write comprehensive unit, functional and integration tests
• Document designs, data flows, hardware and software interfaces
• Lead and participate in rigorous code review and hardware/software interface specification processes
  
  Support bring‑up and troubleshooting of new hardware platforms, including board‑level debugging with oscilloscopes and logic analyzers
• Collaborate closely with hardware, FPGA and data analytics teams to define requirements and deliver end‑to‑end solutions

• BS or MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related field
• 3+ years of experience in embedded systems / low‑level software development
• Experience with systems programming languages: C, C++ or Rust (preferred)
• Experience with scripting languages:
  Python, Bash etc.
• Experience with tooling to build custom embedded Linux distributions:
  Yocto, Buildroot
• Experience with Git or similar version control and CI/CD automation
• Experience with low‑level software and firmware debugging tools: GDB, JTAG
• Experience with Linux kernel driver development is a plus
• Experience with RTL design and simulation (preferably VHDL) is a plus
• Experience with FPGA IDEs (Libero, Vivado, Quartus or similar) and TCL is a plus
• Familiarity with oscilloscopes and FPGA internal logic analyzers is a plus
• Familiarity with CAN, MIL‑STD‑1553, ARINC‑429 and other serial protocols is a plus
• Familiarity with DSP techniques and real‑time implementation is a plus
• Bonus program and equity in a fast‑growing startup
• Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage for employees and their families
• Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions
• Employer‑paid Life and Disability Insurance
• Uncapped paid time off policy
• Tax‑deferred public transit benefits with Metro Smart Benefits (DC/MD/VA)

We are…