Firmware Developer in Vaughan, Ontario at J Sterling Industries

TITLE: FIRMWARE DEVELOPER

DEPARTMENT: Engineering

3-MONTH CONTRACT

The Firmware Engineer is responsible for the design, development, integration, verification, and maintenance of embedded firmware for medical devices and other electromechanical products. The role works closely with Systems & Electronics, Mechanical, Software, Process Engineering, Quality, and Program Management teams to translate product and system requirements into robust, reliable, and manufacturable firmware solutions.

The Firmware Engineer supports the complete product development lifecycle from concept and feasibility through design verification, validation, design transfer, production launch, and sustaining activities in accordance with applicable customer requirements, Sterling procedures, and relevant regulatory and industry standards.

DIRECT REPORT : NO

MAJOR DUTIES:

• Develop embedded firmware for microcontroller- and processor-based products.
• Develop firmware architecture, modules, drivers, and application-level functionality.
• Develop and maintain bootloaders, device drivers, and hardware abstraction layers.
• Implement real-time control, state machines, communication protocols, and device interfaces.
• Develop firmware for sensors, actuators, motors, displays, power-management circuits, and other electronic components.
• Support wired and wireless interfaces including UART, SPI, I²C, USB, CAN, Bluetooth/BLE, and other applicable protocols.
• Develop firmware using C/C++ and other applicable embedded programming languages.
• Perform debugging, troubleshooting, code optimization, and root-cause analysis.

• Collaborate with Systems Engineering to define and review system and firmware requirements.
• Work closely with Electronics Engineering during component selection, schematic development, PCB design, and prototype bring-up.
• Review hardware interfaces and ensure compatibility between firmware and electronic designs.
• Support board bring-up, prototype evaluation, and hardware/firmware integration.
• Participate in technical trade-off studies and architecture decisions.
• Support integration with mechanical, electrical, software, mobile, cloud, or external systems as applicable.

Software/Firmware Lifecycle

• Support development and maintenance of the Software Development Plan (SDP).
• Develop and maintain Software/Firmware Requirements Specifications and detailed design documentation.
• Maintain traceability between system requirements, firmware requirements, design outputs, risks, and verification activities.
• Participate in formal Design Reviews throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Maintain firmware configuration, revision history, release documentation, and source-code repositories.
• Support firmware builds, releases, change control, and configuration management.
• Perform impact assessments and regression testing for firmware changes.

• Develop firmware verification methods, test cases, protocols, and acceptance criteria.
• Perform unit, integration, interface, and system-level firmware testing.
• Support Software/Firmware Verification and Validation activities.
• Document test results, anomalies, deviations, and corrective actions.
• Support hardware-in-the-loop and automated testing where applicable.
• Support product-level Design Verification and Design Validation.
• Investigate firmware defects and implement corrective actions.
• Support regression testing following firmware or hardware changes.

• Support product and software risk-management activities in accordance with ISO 14971.
• Participate in DFMEA, software risk analysis, STPA, and other applicable risk-management activities.
• Implement and verify firmware-based risk-control measures.
• Support software safety classification and associated life cycle activities in accordance with IEC 62304.
• Support cybersecurity activities where connectivity or external interfaces are incorporated into the product.
• Support compliance activities associated with IEC 60601, EMC, wireless, FCC/ISED, or other applicable requirements.

• Support firmware design transfer from development into manufacturing.
• Develop and release production firmware and programming requirements.
• Support development of manufacturing programming and test methods.
• Define firmware version identification and traceability requirements.
• Support engineering builds, pilot builds, qualification, and production launch.
• Support Process Engineering and Operations in troubleshooting firmware-related manufacturing issues.
• Support transfer of customer-developed or third-party firmware into Sterling manufacturing.
• Perform gap assessments of transferred firmware documentation and verification evidence as required.

• Investigate field, manufacturing, and customer-reported firmware issues.
• Perform root-cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Assess firmware changes for technical, regulatory, and product-risk impact.
• Support ECR/ECO activities and firmware revision control.
• Maintain released firmware throughout the product lifecycle.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: ENG, QA, Operations, PMO, Business Development

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Results-Oriented – Consistently achieves measurable improvements in cost efficiency, quality standards, and overall operational performance.
• Analytical Expertise – Skilled in evaluating data to identify relevant patterns, trends, and insights that support informed decision-making.
• Effective Problem Solver – Proficient in identifying issues, developing and evaluating alternative solutions, and executing effective action plans.
• Critical Thinker – Applies objective analysis to interpret data, minimizing bias and ensuring sound, evidence-based conclusions.
• Team-Oriented Collaborator – Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to shared goals through effective cross-functional collaboration.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.

• 3+ years of experience in embedded firmware development or a related engineering role.
• Experience developing embedded systems using C/C++.
• Experience with microcontrollers, embedded processors, peripherals, and electronic hardware.
• Experience with embedded debugging tools such as JTAG/SWD debuggers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and related laboratory equipment.
• Experience with version-control systems such as Git.
• Experience with RTOS and/or bare-metal embedded development.
• Experience with firmware verification, debugging, and hardware integration.

Preferred Experience

• Medical-device or other regulated product-development experience.
• Experience working within an ISO 13485 quality-management system.
• Knowledge of IEC 62304 software lifecycle processes.
• Knowledge of ISO 14971 medical-device risk management.
• Familiarity with IEC 60601 and medical electrical equipment requirements.
• Experience with Bluetooth/BLE or other wireless communication technologies.
• Experience with connected medical devices and cybersecurity principles.
• Experience supporting products from concept through verification, validation, design transfer, and production.
• Experience working within a CDMO or customer-driven product-development environment.