Firmware/Hardware Design Engineer II and III

Position Summary:

S & A Systems is a family-owned corporation, in business since 1970. We’ve grown steadily for decades, with no layoffs, and are profitable each year. Our customer base grows annually, and we currently own approximately 70% of our target market. The environment is low stress with good people. We have low turnover and run like a startup in our approach to design: If it’s a good idea, we do it. If it’s a good feature, we add it. Input from employees is not only appreciated but expected. There is no such thing as a bad idea, just an idea in progress.

This position designs and develops new hardware and embedded products and technologies and supports existing products already on the market. This position gives the right individual a diverse range of projects, utilizing a wide range of tools and knowledge. If you don’t want to work on the same thing every day, this is the right position.

Job Responsibilities:

·        The products you design are varied including automated vehicle location systems, vehicle data recorders, handheld data terminals, fueling/dispensing systems, RF readers, gate readers, access control, low power digital signage, Wi-Fi/cellular data links, and much more.

·        You have full ownership of your products, from conceptual design through verification and documentation. These are combined hardware design (both schematic creation and PCB layout) and embedded software/firmware projects.

· Represents the company in a professional manner while providing outstanding customer service that aligns with S & A System’s vision and values.

·        Must be hands on. 95% of your work will be in the office, but testing in the field is sometimes required.

·        Expect light travel, on the order of 1-3 trips per year.

Skills & Experience:

·        Experience writing firmware (C/C++/C#) in an embedded system environment. Experience with the Microchip PIC products (PIC18F and PIC32 especially) is a big plus, but similar experience with other processor families is acceptable

·        Familiarity with Altium or similar PCB Layout tools is required.

·        Understanding and working knowledge of common electronic components, and the ability to read and understand circuit design schematics and component datasheets

·        Working knowledge of hardware peripherals, including the use of timers, interrupts, communication protocols and modules (including SPI, CAN, UART, USB, & I2C controllers), bootloaders, and debug tools (IDEs, ICEs, etc.)

·        Hardware debug experience, including familiarity with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, etc.

·        Experience with board bring-up

·        Experience programming in .NET (C++, C#, or VB) is a plus, as you’ll use one or more of these languages to develop test & verification software for your projects

·        Experience with all the technologies above is not required, but the desire (and ability) to learn is.

·        A diverse experience and background are helpful, as the products you work on will cover a range of applications.

·        Good communication skills and good customer interaction skills (friendly, trustworthy) are important.

·        Demonstrate initiative and strong follow-through.

·        Excellent organizational and follow-up skills with strong attention to detail.

·        This position requires intimate knowledge of and interaction with hardware, so your experience and knowledge should be demonstrated in your application.

Ideal Candidate:

·        A BS or MS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering is the best fit.

·        Experience as a Design Engineer II or III

·        Must be self-motivated, with a strong work ethic. This trait cannot be understated, because quality and service are what differentiate our product line and drives our reputation and growth.

·        Intelligence and creativity are a must. You should enjoy taking on challenging designs, be a fast learner, and enjoy picking up new skills.

·        Each project usually requires the acquisition of new knowledge to complete. The right person will constantly have ideas on improving the products they’re working on and will strive to put forth the best product they’re capable of.

·        If you enjoy challenges, learning new skills, and working on a variety of projects, this position is a good fit. You must be flexible and creative, as well as quality oriented.

·        We look for highly productive personnel and strive to retain them.

·        Can-Do Attitude: Upon hearing about a new idea, your first instinct should be “Let’s do it!”

·        Experience in the transit, oil & gas/manufacturing/construction industries is a plus.