Johnson Controls

Firmware Engineer (mid-level)

Belfast, Countyantrim 3 days ago
Full-time Industrial Engineering

Job Description

What you will do

We are looking for a Firmware Engineer to join our engineering team and contribute to the development of embedded firmware used in security‑critical systems deployed worldwide.

In this role, you’ll work on real‑world embedded products, collaborating closely with hardware, software, and systems engineers. You’ll be involved throughout the product lifecycle—from development and debugging to supporting production and continuous improvement.

This is a hands‑on, technical position suited to an engineer who enjoys practical problem‑solving and building reliable, well‑engineered embedded solutions.

How you will do it

Embedded Firmware Development

  • Design, develop, and maintain firmware for embedded systems, primarily in RTOS‑based environments
  • Implement and debug multithreaded firmware, using RTOS primitives such as semaphores, queues, and signals
  • Develop finite state machines to ensure predictable and robust device behaviour
  • Interface firmware with MCU peripherals and internal communication protocols including SPI and I²C
  • Apply secure coding practices and contribute to firmware developed with security considerations in mind

Networking & Security

  • Contribute to embedded networking functionality using standard concepts such as TCP/IP and client/server communication
  • Work with existing secure communication technologies (e.g. TLS) and common cryptographic algorithms
  • Support integration with access‑control communication standards such as OSDP

Smart Card & RFID

  • Support firmware interacting with smart‑card and RFID technologies
  • Work with industry standards such as ISO 14443 and ISO 15693
  • Assist with maintaining compatibility with existing and customer‑specific card technologies

Hardware Interaction & Debugging

  • Work alongside hardware engineers using schematics and system diagrams
  • Debug hardware/firmware interactions using oscilloscopes, logic analysers, and other diagnostic tools
  • Interface with common embedded hardware including RS485, Ethernet, NFC, and digital I/O

Problem Solving & Collaboration

  • Investigate and resolve issues across firmware and hardware components
  • Participate in root‑cause analysis and contribute to practical, low‑risk solutions
  • Take part in code reviews and team discussions to support continuous improvement

What we look for

Essential

  • Right to work in the UK
  • Willingness to work on‑site three days per week
  • Commercial experience developing embedded firmware, ideally in real‑time or resource‑constrained environments
  • Strong programming skills in C; exposure to C++ or Java is beneficial
  • Experience with embedded development tools and version control (Git)
  • Understanding of microcontrollers, embedded peripherals, and hardware fundamentals
  • Exposure to networked embedded systems and secure communication concepts
  • Confident debugging skills using standard hardware and software tools
  • Ability to work independently on assigned tasks while collaborating effectively within a multidisciplinary team

Desirable

  • Experience with embedded Linux or Android‑based systems
  • Exposure to smart‑card, RFID, or access‑control systems
  • Experience working in regulated, security‑focused, or safety‑critical environments
  • Familiarity with industrial systems or PLC‑integrated environments

What we offer

  • Work on innovative, industry-leading security products used worldwide.

  • Join an experienced engineering team with strong technical depth.

  • Opportunities for technical leadership, architecture influence, and career progression.

  • Competitive salary, benefits, and flexible working options.

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