Embedded Systems Engineer Firmware and PCB Design
Company: Corvita Biomedical Inc.
Location: Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada - Hybrid
Employment: Full-time, permanent
Experience: Typically 1 to 3 years of relevant hands-on experience
Reports to: Head of Engineering
Start date: As soon as mutually agreed
About Corvita BiomedicalCorvita Biomedical Inc. is a mission-driven medical device startup transforming neonatal healthcare globally. We are developing the ARK Incubator, designed to democratize access to intensive care for premature and critically ill newborns. Our technology addresses the global crisis where millions of infants die annually due to lack of access to proper neonatal intensive care, particularly in underserved communities, rural areas, and humanitarian settings. As a member of our team, you'll have the unique opportunity to directly impact infant mortality rates and health outcomes on a global scale.
Role SummaryWe are seeking a hands-on Embedded Systems Engineer to own both embedded firmware and MCU-based PCB design for assigned ARK subsystems. This role spans requirements, electronics architecture, schematic capture, PCB layout, board bring-up, firmware development, hardware-software integration, verification support, and manufacturing-release documentation.
The role suits an engineer who enjoys moving between code, schematics, the laboratory bench, and controlled technical records. You will own reliable embedded implementation and objective engineering evidence while working with the Electrical Engineer on power, isolation, grounding, protection, and other higher-energy or system-level electrical functions.
Key ResponsibilitiesEmbedded firmware development- Develop and maintain embedded firmware in C/C++ for STM32 or comparable ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers.
- Implement board-support packages, hardware-abstraction layers, peripheral drivers, state machines, and real-time application logic.
- Configure and use an RTOS where appropriate, with deliberate handling of timing, concurrency, memory, and failure states.
- Implement UART, I2C, SPI, USB, CAN, and other assigned interfaces with clear protocol definitions, diagnostics, and error handling.
- Develop watchdog, self-test, fault-detection, event-logging, calibration, safe-state, bootloader, and controlled-update behaviours appropriate to subsystem risk.
PCB and embedded electronics design- Own assigned control boards from schematic capture through design review, layout, fabrication outputs, bring-up, verification, and revision closure.
- Design and review digital, low-voltage power, communication, sensor, and actuator-interface circuits, using specialist review where higher-risk circuitry requires it.
- Apply design-for-manufacture, design-for-assembly, and design-for-test principles, including test access, programming interfaces, component availability, and serviceability.
- Prepare controlled BOMs, fabrication and assembly packages, approved alternatives, programming instructions, and production-test requirements.
Integration automation and verification- Define and maintain clean electrical, firmware, and communication interfaces with mechanical, biomedical, high-level software, and data systems.
- Integrate sensors, actuators, alarms, power-state interfaces, and communication links into ARK engineering prototypes.
- Create unit, integration, hardware-in-the-loop, fault-injection, and regression tests appropriate to subsystem risk.
- Develop test fixtures, Python scripts, emulators, and reference tools that make bring-up and verification repeatable.
Medical-device lifecycle and documentation- Work within Corvita's design-control, software-lifecycle, configuration-control, review, and change-management procedures.
- Maintain traceability from assigned requirements and risk controls through architecture, design outputs, implementation, and verification evidence.
- Contribute technical content to hazard analysis, FMEA, essential-performance discussions, cybersecurity risk work, and verification planning.
- Produce architecture descriptions, hardware and software design specifications, interface-control documents, test protocols, reports, anomaly records, and engineering changes.
Collaboration and ownership boundaries- Own assigned embedded firmware, MCU-based control PCBs, board bring-up, embedded interfaces, controlled design files, and subsystem-level test evidence.
- Collaborate with the Electrical Engineer on power, protection, isolation, grounding, analog front ends, EMC, and board partitioning.
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, Embedded Systems, or a closely related discipline, or equivalent demonstrated capability.
- Practical experience developing embedded firmware in C/C++ on a microcontroller platform such as STM32 or ARM Cortex-M.
- Hands-on experience designing at least one custom PCB through schematic, layout, assembly, bring-up, and debug.
- Working knowledge of interfaces, interrupts, timers, ADCs, PWM, memory constraints, and real-time behaviour.
- Experience with an RTOS or a disciplined bare-metal firmware architecture.
- Ability to use electronics laboratory and firmware-debugging equipment safely and methodically.
- Experience with Git or equivalent version control and structured issue and change tracking.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience in medical devices or another safety-critical or highly regulated product environment.
- Familiarity with IEC 62304, IEC 60601, ISO 14971, ISO 13485, and IEC 81001-5-1 concepts.
- Experience with Altium Designer, KiCad, or a comparable professional PCB tool.
- Exposure to EMC-aware layout, ESD protection, power integrity, grounding, isolation, creepage and clearance, or sensor analog front ends.
- Experience with DFM and DFT reviews, contract manufacturers, component lifecycle management, and production-test fixtures.
- Experience with Python test automation, continuous integration for firmware, static analysis, or hardware-in-the-loop testing.
- Familiarity with secure boot, signed updates, device identity, or cybersecurity controls for connected products.
What We Offer- Meaningful ownership of defined work in an early-stage medical-device program.
- Hands-on exposure to requirements, prototyping, integration, verification, and manufacturing preparation.
- Close collaboration with engineering, clinical, quality, regulatory, and manufacturing contributors.
- Hybrid work with regular access to Corvita's Greater Toronto Area development environment.
- The opportunity to help establish practical engineering processes as the team grows.
How to ApplyPlease email the following to [email protected]:
- Resume or CV.
- A brief cover letter explaining your interest and relevant experience.
- A short description of a firmware-and-PCB project you personally designed, built, debugged, or helped release, with an optional non-confidential portfolio or public repository.
Please do not include confidential or proprietary information from a current or former employer. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
