Principal Firmware Engineer

Position: Lead Firmware Developer – Surgical Robotic Systems

Company: Meril Life Science

Location: Chennai, TN, India

Department: Medical Robotics R&D – Embedded Systems Product Development

Reports To: GM (HOD)

Experience: 7-12 years

Job Type: Full-Time

Skills with Strong Experience: Firmware, C++, EtherCAT, Microcontrollers, Motors, Encoders

Notice Period: 30 Days

Working Days: Mon - Sat

Position Overview

Meril Life Science is looking for an innovative and detail-oriented Firmware Developer to join our cutting-edge team developing precision-controlled surgical robotic systems. This role involves working closely with hardware, control systems, and software teams to develop embedded firmware for safety-critical medical devices compliant with IEC 62304, IEC 60601, and ISO 14971 standards.

As a key member of the R&D team, you will develop firmware for motor control, sensor integration, safety subsystems, communication protocols, and real-time control loops in robotic applications.

Key Responsibilities

Firmware Development:

- Develop and maintain embedded firmware for microcontrollers (ARM Cortex-M, STM32, etc.) used in robotic actuators, encoders, and sensors.

- Implement real-time control loops (PID, torque control, trajectory following) for robotic arms and haptic feedback mechanisms.

- Write low-level drivers (SPI, I2C, UART, ADC, PWM, CAN, EtherCAT).

System Integration & Debugging:

- Interface with FPGA, motor drivers, absolute and incremental encoders, and force sensors.

- Perform in-system debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG/SWD tools.

- Collaborate with hardware teams to bring up custom PCBs and validate communication and control blocks.

Safety & Compliance:

- Develop safety-related software features (watchdogs, diagnostics, error handling) per IEC 62304 Class B/C.

- Support risk management documentation and design traceability to comply with ISO 14971.

- Work with QA teams on firmware verification, validation, and unit testing.

Collaboration & Documentation:

- Participate in design reviews, code walkthroughs, and system-level integration testing.

- Contribute to firmware architecture documents, flowcharts, and interface specifications.

- Use version control (Git) and task tracking tools (JIRA, GitLab, etc.).

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electronics, Embedded Systems, Computer Engineering, or related field.

- 7+ years of experience in embedded firmware development (preferably for medical, robotics, or automotive domains).

- Proficient in C/C++, RTOS-based development, and peripheral driver development.

- Hands-on experience with motor control, encoder interfaces, and real-time sensor data acquisition.

- Familiarity with safety-critical development processes (IEC 62304, ISO 13485, IEC 60601-1).

Preferred Skills

- Experience with STM32, TI C2000, or NXP microcontroller families.

- Exposure to EtherCAT, CANopen, or RS485 communication protocols.

- Familiarity with MATLAB/Simulink, model-based design, or control tuning.

- Knowledge of unit testing, static code analysis, and code coverage tools.

- Experience with motor types like BLDC, stepper, brushed DC, and high-resolution encoders (BiSS-C, SSI).

Soft Skills & Traits

- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

- Passion for innovation in surgical robotics and medical devices.

- Good communication and documentation skills.

- Team player with a proactive and self-driven attitude.

What We Offer

- Opportunity to work on life-saving medical robotic technologies.

- A collaborative and innovation-driven work environment.

- Career growth through cross-disciplinary learning and training in medical safety and compliance.

- The chance to make a real impact in the healthcare space.