Embedded Systems Engineer

Description

We are seeking an Embedded Systems Engineer, Super Intelligence (SI) Integration, to support an architecture that connects commercial scientific, laboratory, and manufacturing equipment to orchestration and SI platforms. You will focus on device integration, firmware-adjacent engineering, and reliable machine interfaces that enable real equipment to be safely monitored and operated through software-driven workflows. This position is in the Materials Engineering Division (MED) within the Engineering Directorate.

This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.

This position will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

Responsibilities

• Bring up new devices, interfaces, and embedded systems used in laboratory and manufacturing environments.
• Build and maintain software connectors that link equipment, telemetry, and command pathways to orchestration and SI platforms.
• Implement and document machine-interface contracts, including command semantics, telemetry fields, units, timestamps, device states, and error conditions, so that orchestration and SI platforms can reliably use equipment capabilities.
• Write protocol-level integrations and supporting code for hardware-software interfaces rather than relying solely on vendor tools.
• Implement appropriate command validation, interlocks, approval points, and fallback behaviors for connected equipment in partnership with senior engineers and equipment owners.
• Develop test harnesses, diagnostic utilities, and debugging tools for hardware-in-the-loop workflows.
• Help standardize telemetry and command interfaces across hardware and software systems.
• Partner with senior engineers to address reliability, safety boundaries, and deployment readiness for connected equipment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.2 level
• Design and debug complex device integrations involving multiple protocols, hardware components, and orchestration and SI platform services.
• Independently define and improve reusable interface patterns, including device contracts, safety-aware command paths, test harnesses, and diagnostic tools, to increase reliability across connected equipment.
• Diagnose integration failures involving device states, protocol layers, intermittent connectivity, and orchestration and SI platform services, and recommend practical corrective actions.
• Coordinate technical approaches with equipment owners and software partners, and provide informal guidance to less experienced contributors.

Requirements

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Experience with firmware, drivers, or hardware-software integration through coursework, projects, research, internships, or professional work.
• Familiarity with microcontrollers, embedded Linux, real-time operating systems, or comparable embedded environments.
• Experience writing code for hardware-protocol integrations using Python, C, C++, Rust, or similar languages.
• Familiarity with one or more hardware-communication protocols, such as CAN, Modbus, serial, I2C, or SPI.
• Ability to troubleshoot device bring-up, interface issues, and system-integration problems in a structured manner.
• Additional qualifications at the SES.2 level
• Ability to independently define or improve device-interface contracts and safety-aware command or control pathways for connected equipment.
• Ability to diagnose issues spanning multiple hardware components, protocol layers, and orchestration and SI platform services.
• Ability to independently develop and troubleshoot embedded or hardware-software integrations involving device protocols, telemetry, and control pathways.
• Experience with MQTT, NATS, or similar messaging technologies.
• Exposure to ROS or ROS 2.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Background in robotics, mechatronics, industrial equipment, or laboratory instrumentation.
• Familiarity with edge-system considerations, such as latency, intermittent connectivity, remote diagnostics, or device lifecycle management.

Conditions

$121,830 - $185,544 Annually

$121,830 - $154,500 Annually for the SES.1 level

$146,340 - $185,544 Annually for the SES.2 level

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Additional Information

LI-Onsite

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

Included in 2026 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!

Flexible Benefits Package

401(k)

Relocation Assistance

Education Reimbursement Program

Flexible schedules (depending on project needs)

Our values - visit the company's site

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance. If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing. Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship.

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession. This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas. Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

How to identify fake job advertisements

Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (the company) to post fake job advertisements. The company never extends an offer without a personal interview and will never charge a fee for joining our company. All current job openings are displayed on the Career Page under “Find Your Job” of our website. If you have encountered a job posting or have been approached with a job offer that you suspect may be fraudulent, we strongly recommend you do not respond.

To learn more about recruitment scams: the company's site