Software Engineer, Embedded Software Engineer, Robotics

Overview

Machine Solutions is the premier provider of advanced equipment and services for the medical device, biopharmaceutical, and blood- and plasma-collection industries. We support our customers’ needs and growth by delivering quality and value through a wide breadth of products. Our experienced team of engineers has been instrumental in automating manual processes to increase production volumes and profit margins, and we provide a dedicated aftermarket team for technical service and process support.

Machine Solutions is privately owned by BW Forsyth Partners, a Barry-Wehmiller company.

GENERAL PURPOSE OF JOB:

The Principal Software Engineer will serve as the technical leader for embedded control and automation software design, with a primary focus on microcontrollers and embedded systems, and additional work with programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and system-level integration. This individual will drive software architecture, development standards, and design best practices for complex capital equipment supporting the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. The ideal candidate combines deep hands-on experience with embedded systems and PLC programming, strong systems engineering acumen, and the ability to mentor and serve as a software development expert.

• Lead the design and implementation of real-time control systems for automated medical device manufacturing equipment.
• Define software architectures integrating microcontrollers, PLCs, motion controllers, sensors, and HMI systems.
• Design, implement, and optimize motion control systems for precision automation applications, including servo and stepper motor control.
• Provide technical guidance on hardware selection, control strategy, safety interlocks, and network communication protocols.
• Serve as the primary software technical authority during design reviews, risk assessments, and design verification activities.
• Develop and maintain embedded firmware in assembly/C/C++ for microcontrollers (e.g., 68000, ARM Cortex, Microchip, or Maxim Integrated).
• Develop and maintain Windows Visual Studio HMI applications in C/C++/C#/C# WPF (for BW-TEC HMI).
• Develop structured PLC software (Ladder Logic, Function Block Diagram, Structured Text) using Allen-Bradley, Beckhoff and Omron platforms.
• Implement deterministic communication between embedded controllers, PLCs, and supervisory systems (Ether Net/IP, Modbus, CAN, RS-485, SPI, I²C, etc.).
• Develop user interfaces and operator controls through HMI systems for production environments.
• Ensure software modules are robust, maintainable, and traceable to design inputs and risk mitigations.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and process engineers to develop integrated control solutions for precision motion, fluidics, robotics, and safety systems.
• Participate in design verification and validation (V&V) testing, including protocol creation, execution, and documentation per QMS requirements.
• Support factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), and field support of deployed systems.
• Conduct root cause analysis and corrective action for software-related field or production issues.
• Contribute to the development of company-wide software standards for automation platforms and embedded systems.

• Solid working knowledge of microcontrollers (ARM Cortex, Microchip, STM
  32, etc.), PLCs (Beckhoff, Omron, Allen-Bradley, etc.), FPGAs, sensors, and communication interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, Ethernet, Modbus, Profinet).
• Strong understanding in Microsoft Visual Studio development using programming languages C, C++, C#, and C# WPF.
• Expert in IEC 61131-3 programming languages and embedded assembly/C/C++.
• Strong analytical and debugging skills using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and network tools.
• Excellent documentation, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to balance innovation with compliance and risk management.

• Strong leadership, communication, and mentoring abilities.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical thinking.
• Collaborative and adaptable with cross-functional teams.

• Experience…