Job Title: Embedded Software Engineer
Job Description
Join a Residential & Robot Charging team that builds the full software stack for home, multi-family, and humanoid-robot charging products, including mobile and wall-connected EV chargers and an advanced robot charger. You will design and deliver secure, grid-interactive IoT firmware that keeps safety-critical systems running reliably around the clock, supports seamless over-the-air updates, manages dynamic loads across many units, and enables vehicles to power homes and support energy billing and reimbursement. This role offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge charging technologies that will scale to support millions of robots and connected devices.
Responsibilities
Own major firmware subsystems end-to-end, from gathering requirements and defining architecture through implementation, validation, and ongoing fleet monitoring.
Design and implement safety-critical, real-time software in C and C++ on RTOS and embedded Linux platforms for connected charging products.
Lead protocol implementation and certification efforts for OCPP 2.0.1, ISO 15118-2/-20 (Plug and Charge), DIN standards, and emerging robot-charging standards.
Develop and optimize wireless communication stacks and mesh topologies using technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy, as well as wired communication interfaces including Ethernet, PLC, and CAN-FD.
Collaborate closely with mobile, backend, and hardware engineering teams to deliver complete features such as PowerShare, scheduled charging, and site-level load balancing.
Drive test automation for firmware, including unit tests, software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and fault-injection testing, and integrate these into robust CI/CD pipelines.
Provide technical mentorship to other engineers, share best practices, and set a high quality bar for firmware design, implementation, and testing.
Contribute to continuous improvement of system reliability, security, and performance across a large and growing fleet of connected charging devices.
Essential Skills
At least 5+ years of experience shipping high-reliability embedded firmware for connected devices.
Expertise in embedded C programming and strong C/C++ skills in resource-constrained and real-time environments, including RTOS such as FreeRTOS, Zephyr, and bare-metal systems.
Hands-on experience working with microcontrollers, including writing low-level drivers and configuring peripherals.
Proven experience implementing and troubleshooting TCP/IP, TLS, HTTP, and WebSockets in embedded systems.
Basic electronics knowledge, including understanding of Ohm's Law and practical experience using an oscilloscope.
Ability to read and interpret electronic schematics and perform lab-based debugging using tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and CAN tools.
Demonstrated track record of leading cross-functional projects in a fast-moving environment.
Strong commitment to writing clean, well-structured, and thoroughly tested code.
Willingness and ability to learn quickly and adapt to new technologies and standards.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Hands-on experience with electric vehicle charging standards such as OCPP and ISO 15118 or DIN-based standards.
Experience in robotics or robot-charging systems.
Familiarity with smart-home protocols such as Matter/CHIP and HomeKit.
Experience developing firmware on embedded Linux platforms in addition to RTOS-based systems.
Experience implementing communication over Ethernet, PLC, and CAN-FD in embedded products.
Experience in building or maintaining CI/CD pipelines for firmware projects.
Experience with test automation frameworks for unit, SIL, HIL, and fault-injection testing.
Experience mentoring other engineers and contributing to team-wide technical standards and best practices.
Work Environment
You will work in a product-focused environment that owns the firmware for two EV chargers-a mobile connector and a wall connector-as well as the charging systems for a humanoid robot platform. The team operates at the intersection of embedded systems, power electronics, connectivity, and robotics, with a roadmap that includes advanced capabilities such as vehicle-to-grid (V2G) energy export. You will collaborate closely with mobile, backend, and hardware teams and spend time both in the lab and in a development environment, using tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and CAN interfaces to debug and validate high-reliability charging systems. The role centers on building secure, grid-interactive IoT devices that run 24/7, support over-the-air updates, and operate across large distributed fleets in real-world conditions.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Palo Alto, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $65.00/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Palo Alto,CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on May 14, 2026.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:
Hiring diverse talent
Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we've helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC-with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.
Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.
