Embedded Systems Engineer at an energy startup -- hardware integration

Mesodyne is a startup company revolutionizing power generation with its innovative LightCell technology--using thermophotovoltaics to provide efficient, silent, reliable, long-endurance power from any fuel. By bridging the gap between batteries and internal combustion engines, Mesodyne's LightCell technology provides more than a 10x improvement in endurance for unmanned vehicles, wearables, and various other equipment. At Mesodyne, we are committed to bringing groundbreaking products to the industrial and defense sectors, with multiple existing contracts and numerous upcoming business opportunities.

This role is for the Embedded Systems Engineer who wants to be close to the hardware. You won't just be writing code; you'll be in the lab with a terminal on one screen and an oscilloscope on the other, testing the hardware your code controls. You will write the firmware that acts as the brain of our LightCell power generator, implementing control loops, managing sensors, and bringing a complex physical system to life. If you are driven by the challenge of making hardware and software work together seamlessly, we want to talk to you.

Responsibilities:

• Firmware for System Control: You'll develop, test, and debug the embedded firmware that controls the LightCell's pumps, valves, and thermal systems, implementing robust PID control loops and state machines.
• Driver Development: You will write and validate drivers for various sensors and peripherals using protocols like I2C, SPI, and UART.
• Hardware-in-the-Loop Troubleshooting: Be the primary debugger at the hardware/software interface, using your skills to isolate issues in the firmware, electronics, or mechanical systems.
• Develop Test Automation: You will write test scripts (e.g., in Python) to automate the testing of our integrated prototypes, streamlining data collection and validation.
• Collaborate on System Architecture: Work closely with EE and ME teams to define control strategies and provide input on sensor/actuator selection.

Qualifications and skills:

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Proven experience writing and debugging firmware for complex electromechanical systems.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems. A working understanding of low level computer architecture is required. Prior experience with FreeRTOS or another RTOS is preferred but not required.
• Hands-on experience with debugging tools that bridge hardware and software (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, etc.).
• Experience implementing control loops (e.g., PID) and managing real-time system behavior.

Location:

This position is based at our facility in Somerville, MA.