Medical Software Tech Lead (Contractor)

Title: Medical Software Tech Lead
(Contractor) 

Location: Morrisville, NC - Onsite

Anticipated Start Date: July 2025

About the Company: 

NIRSense is a cardiology company focused on developing world-leading non-invasive medical devices. Our tools measure oxygenation changes in the body 10x deeper than typical pulse oximetry and track the electrophysiological activity of muscles and the brain. We are a growing team of technology developers seeking candidates interested in helping advance our capabilities for a wide range of interested stakeholders who are driven to transform the way humans understand and interact with their own health.

Job Summary: 

NIRSense is seeking an Embedded Systems Engineer to join our multidisciplinary team in developing cutting-edge wearable medical devices. This role is ideal for an engineer who thrives at the intersection of firmware and hardware, and is excited to take products from early concept to production.

You will be responsible for embedded firmware development, electronics bring-up, and system-level integration of compact, wearable platforms. This role requires a hands-on mindset and cross-functional collaboration across electrical, mechanical, and software domains.

Salary: The compensation package will be commensurate with the successful applicant’s experience.

Hours: Full-time 

Travel: 0-5%

Job Summary: 

NIRSense is seeking an Embedded Systems Electrical Engineer to join our multidisciplinary team in developing cutting-edge wearable medical devices. This role is ideal for an engineer who thrives at the intersection of firmware and hardware, and is excited to take products from early concept to production.

You will be responsible for embedded firmware development, electronics bring-up, and system-level integration of compact, wearable platforms. This role requires a hands-on mindset and cross-functional collaboration across electrical, mechanical, and software domains.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test embedded firmware in C for microcontroller-based systems.


• Lead electronics bring-up of prototype and production systems, including debugging and validation.


• Design and review PCB layouts using Altium Designer, including rigid, flex, and rigid-flex circuits.


• Integrate sensors, optical components, batteries, and RF modules into compact wearable form factors.


• Support device testing,
  root cause analysis, and field troubleshooting in collaboration with cross-functional teams.


• Contribute to engineering documentation, including code and design reviews, failure analysis, and verification reports.


• Participate in design-for-manufacturing (DFM) and regulatory documentation efforts (e.g., IEC 60601 compliance).


• Support onsite or remote customer engagements during key milestones.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.


• 3+ years (Mid-Level) / 8+ years (Senior) of experience in embedded systems firmware development.


• Proficiency in Embedded C with a focus on driver development.


• Hands-on experience in the design and development of medical biosensing hardware, with working knowledge of IEC 60601-1 compliance requirements.


• Hands-on experience with electronics bring-up, including the use of oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and multimeters.


• Familiarity with embedded protocols: I2C, SPI, UART, USB.


• PCB design experience using Altium Designer.


• Strong written and verbal communication skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.


• Demonstrated ability to succeed in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary, and dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Nordic nRF microcontrollers or Bluetooth-enabled SoCs.


• Prior work on wearable or medical devices.


• Familiarity with Python scripting for test automation or data analysis.


• Prior experience in startups or fast-paced R&D environments.


• Experience with optical sensing or biophotonics.


• Experience working in regulated industries such as medical devices, aerospace/space systems, or military/defense applications.