Hardware, Firmware and Embedded Software Electronic Engineer at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job:

• The CSIR has a vacancy for a Hardware, Firmware and Embedded Software Electronic Engineer in the Technology for Special Operations Impact Area within the Defence and Security Cluster.
• The successful incumbent will be responsible for developing analogue and digital electronic hardware, and firmware and embedded software for digital hardware. The position is based in Stellenbosch and will report to the Research Group Leader.

Key responsibilities:

The successful candidate would be involved in the design, development, test, evaluation and qualification of electronic modules and sub-systems. This will include, amongst others, the following:

Interpretation of requirements and specifications

• Interpret user requirements and/or system level requirements.
• Generate detailed item development specifications.
• Develop test plans.

Digital and analogue design

• Participate in digital and analogue design.
• Develop code for microprocessor units (MCUs).
• Implement firmware designs on pure digital and mixed digital/analogue devices.
• Perform simulations to verify design functions both for electronic hardware and firmware designs.
• Capture schematic designs.
• Design printed circuit board (PCB) layouts.
• Develop code for programmable logic devices (field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs)) using very high-speed integrated circuit hardware description language (VHDL).

Debugging and verification

• Debug designs.
• Perform sub-system and system integration.
• Develop test procedures.
• Perform functional verification testing, qualification testing and acceptance testing.
• Complete test reports.

Generation of data pack, design documentation and build history

• Generate design documentation and data packs.
• Generate production data packs and build history files.

Project management

• Plan project execution (budget forecasting, task determination, resource allocation, execution timelines).
• Manage and monitor internal resources.
• Monitor and report risks, timelines and budget.
• Liaise with suppliers, clients and third parties.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Bachelor of Engineering in electronic engineering with at least three years’ experience in firmware, digital hardware and mixed signal design;
• A Master’s degree will be advantageous;

Must have experience in the following:

• Design and set to work of digital and mixed signal PC Boards;
• Debugging of hardware;
• PCB design;
• Embedded firmware development;.
• The following experience will be advantageous:
• FPGA and/or CPLD development using either Vivado or Quartus environments.
• VHDL development of complex circuits;
• STM platform;
• Altium.
• Proficient in the C programming language;
• Ability to understand or develop high speed digital/analogue hardware will be considered an advantage;
• Proven capability of document preparation;
• Must be comfortable working in Linux environments and navigating command-line interfaces.