Disclaimer:
Please only apply for this job if you hold a valid freelance permit or contractor status in Germany - or you're currently in the process of getting one.
Location: Greater Hamburg area (50% onsite / 50% remote – more remote possible after 3 months)
Start Date: 30th June
Duration: 12 months (extension possible)
Workload: Full-time (40 hours/week)
Languages: English & German
Interviews: Starting asap
Overview:
We are seeking a skilled Mid/Senior Freelance/Contract Embedded Software Engineer to support the development of software solutions for vehicles and mobile machinery control systems. This role is key to the design and enhancement of embedded systems the client's industrial and municipal machinery platforms.
Key Responsibilities:
* Develop embedded software in C/C++ for real-time control systems in mobile machinery and municipal vehicles
* Design software and communication architectures for control networks (CAN/CANopen, J1939, proprietary protocols)
* Translate customer and system requirements into robust, testable software solutions
* Conduct unit and integration testing on actual vehicles and dedicated test benches
* Optimize and maintain existing embedded software across its lifecycle
* Work collaboratively with cross-site teams and external development partners
Skills & Experience Required:
* Degree in Technical Informatics, Electrical Engineering, or similar discipline
* Proven experience with Embedded C development
* Expertise in CAN/CANopen, J1939, and proprietary communication protocols
* Basic understanding of project/requirements management
* Broad system-level understanding (control technology, power electronics, embedded software)
* Structured, pragmatic and collaborative work style
Challenges You Will Tackle:
* Writing reliable embedded software for complex, real-time environments with hardware-specific limitations
* Managing diverse communication protocols efficiently
* Turning vague or evolving requirements into concrete software solutions
* Testing and debugging on real vehicles and sophisticated test benches
* Balancing maintenance of existing code with new feature development
* Coordinating across distributed teams and external partners
If this role interests you—or you’d like to be considered for future embedded systems projects—please attach your updated CV .