Sr System Engineer

100% onsite - San Jose, CA or Morrisville, NC

We are looking for a talented and versatile Sr. Systems Engineer to join our embedded engineering team. In this role, you will own the full development lifecycle of embedded electronic systems — from concept and architecture through hardware design, PCB layout, and firmware implementation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design and develop electronic systems from requirements to production, including power supply design, signal conditioning, communication interfaces, and mixed-signal circuits.
• Perform schematic capture using industry-standard EDA tools (Altium).
• Execute PCB layout, routing, and design rule review for multi-layer boards, ensuring signal integrity, EMC compliance, and thermal performance.
• Write and maintain hardware design documentation, including schematics, BOM, and design verification reports.
• Lead PCB design reviews.
• Develop bare-metal and RTOS-based firmware for 32-bit ARM Cortex-M (FreeRTOS).
• Implement and optimize peripheral drivers (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, USB, Ethernet) and communication stacks.
• Write clean, maintainable C/C++ code following embedded best practices, including memory management, interrupt handling, and low-power design.
• Perform bring-up, debugging, and root cause analysis of complex hardware/firmware issues using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG/SWD debug tools.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure system-level requirements are met and properly validated.

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in embedded systems engineering in a professional setting.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ firmware development for 32-bit ARM MCUs or MPUs.
• Experience with one or more RTOS environments (FreeRTOS and ThreadX preferably).
• Solid understanding of digital and analog circuit design, including power electronics fundamentals.
• Experience with embedded communication protocols (UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, USB, Ethernet).
• Proficiency with debug tools: JTAG/SWD probes, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters.
• Ability to read and interpret datasheets, application notes, and reference manuals independently.
• Strong documentation habits and experience with version control systems (Git).

NICE TO HAVE (PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS)

Candidates with any of the following will be given strong preference:

• Embedded Linux experience — Embedded Linux:

• Board bring-up, device tree configuration, and kernel/driver development.
• Yocto Project or Ubuntu for custom Linux distribution builds.
• Familiarity with Linux IPC mechanisms, system services, and application development.

• Robotics middleware (ROS/ROS 2) — ROS / ROS 2:

• Development of ROS 2 nodes, topics, services, and actions.
• Integration of sensor drivers and actuators within a ROS 2 ecosystem.
• Experience with Nav2, MoveIt, or similar ROS 2 navigation/manipulation stacks is a plus.

• Motor control and power electronics — Motor Control & Power Systems:

• Field-Oriented Control (FOC) / BLDC / PMSM motor drive design and implementation.
• Power electronics design: DC-DC converters, motor driver stages, gate drive circuits.
• Experience with motor control libraries or DSPs.

The expected annual pay range for this position is $109,500 - $171,150. This position is also eligible for bonus opportunities and commission pay.  Please note that the final offer amount will be dependent on geographic location, applicable experience, and skillset of the candidate. 

Renesas offers a full range of elective benefits including medical, health savings account (with applicable medical plan), dental, vision, health and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, life insurance, AD&D, and pet insurance. In addition to elective benefit options, benefited employees receive company-paid life insurance and AD&D, LTD, short term medical benefits as well as paid sick time, paid holidays, and accrued paid vacation. New employees will attend a detailed benefit orientation to learn more about our many benefits and resources.

Renesas is an embedded semiconductor solution provider driven by its Purpose ‘To Make Our Lives Easier.’ As the industry’s leading expert in embedded processing with unmatched quality and system-level know-how, we have evolved to provide scalable and comprehensive semiconductor solutions for automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT industries based on the broadest product portfolio, including High Performance Computing, Embedded Processing, Analog & Connectivity, and Power.
 
With a diverse team of over 22,000 professionals in more than 30 countries, we continue to expand our boundaries to offer enhanced user experiences through digitalization and usher into a new era of innovation. We design and develop sustainable, power-efficient solutions today that help people and communities thrive tomorrow, ‘To Make Our Lives Easier.’     
 
At Renesas, you can: 

• Launch and advance your career in technical and business roles across four Product Groups and various corporate functions. You will have the opportunities to explore our hardware and software capabilities and try new things.  

• Make a real impact by developing innovative products and solutions to meet our global customers' evolving needs and help make people’s lives easier, safe and secure. 

• Maximize your performance and wellbeing in our flexible and inclusive work environment. Our people-first culture and global support system, including the remote work option and Employee Resource Groups, will help you excel from the first day.    

Are you ready to own your success and make your mark?  

Join Renesas. Shape Your Future with Us.  

Renesas Electronics is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, committed to celebrating diversity and fostering a work environment free of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military status, veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. For more information, please read our Diversity & Inclusion Statement.

Renesas Electronics deals with dual-use technology that is subject to U.S. export controls regulations. Under these regulations it may be necessary for Renesas to obtain U.S. government export license prior to release of technology to certain persons. The decision whether or not to file or pursue an export license application is at the sole discretion of Renesas.