Embedded Software Engineer

Do you have a strong background in embedded software and C/C++? Do you want to work on high-performance systems that operate at the intersection of sensors, real-time processing, and intelligent applications? Join Xsens and help build the foundation for next-generation motion intelligence across robotics, mobility, and human-centered technologies.

Who is Xsens

Xsens is a leading full-stack provider of sensors, software, and analytics that enable the digitization of movement. Xsens serves entertainment, humanoid robotics, health & sports and automation & mobility markets. By turning complex motion data into actionable insight, we help our partners accelerate development, improve control and learning, and bring physically intelligent systems to life. We collaborate with leading global innovators including Boston Dynamics, Toyota, Siemens, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Netflix, and 20th Century Studios, alongside more than 1,000 research institutions, humanoid robotics companies and universities worldwide.

Your role as an Embedded Software Engineer at Xsens

As an Embedded Software Engineer, you develop firmware that directly interfaces with sensors and hardware, forming the foundation of Xsens’ sensing and positioning systems.

You will work in a multidisciplinary team and report to the Manager Firmware Engineering. You collaborate closely with senior engineers who provide technical direction and guidance. In this role, you are responsible for building reliable, high-performance embedded software that operates in real-world conditions across a variety of applications and domains, including robotics, mobility, and industrial systems.

You go beyond implementing specifications: you seek to understand system behavior, hardware constraints, and real-world usage, contributing to robust and efficient solutions. You bring energy to the team, pick up topics others have not claimed, and drive them to a conclusion.

We actively leverage modern development tools, including generative AI, to accelerate development, improve code quality, and streamline engineering workflows. You are expected to be comfortable adopting these tools and exploring how they can enhance productivity and engineering outcomes.

You take ownership of your work end-to-end — from design and implementation to testing and validation — and collaborate with your team on complex system-level challenges.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and maintain embedded software and firmware in C/C++

• Translate system and product requirements into efficient embedded solutions

• Develop firmware for new and existing sensor platforms

• Ensure high reliability and performance in real-time and resource-constrained environments

• Contribute to system behavior including data processing, sensor integration, and communication across wireless and wired interfaces (e.g., Bluetooth, 802.15.4, WiFi, CAN, Ethernet)

• Implement and optimize algorithms (e.g., sensor fusion, positioning) on embedded platforms

• Design and execute unit tests and functional tests

• Collaborate closely with Hardware, Application Software, QA, and Lead Engineers

• Analyze and debug issues across hardware/software boundaries

• Continuously improve system performance, robustness, and development practices

• Take ownership of your work and ensure reliable delivery within agreed scope and timelines
  
  

Key challenges:

• Developing reliable embedded software in real-world, hardware-constrained environments, operating across the boundary of hardware, firmware, and higher-level systems

• Designing and maintaining robust communication across multiple interfaces (e.g., Bluetooth, 802.15.4, WiFi, CAN, Ethernet), balancing latency, bandwidth, power consumption, and reliability

• Making pragmatic trade-offs between performance, power consumption, memory, and maintainability

We are looking for engineers who combine strong embedded expertise with a system-oriented and pragmatic mindset.

What we value in this role

• You take ownership and deliver reliable, high-quality results

• You think in terms of system behavior, not just code

• You are curious about how software interacts with hardware and real-world systems

• You proactively identify issues and improvements

• You collaborate effectively across disciplines

• You are comfortable working in an environment with evolving requirements

Furthermore, you bring:

• Proven experience in embedded software development

• Strong C/C++ programming skills in embedded environments

• Ability to read and understand hardware schematics (digital electronics)

• Experience with real-time systems, debugging, and performance optimization; familiarity with RTOS environments (e.g., FreeRTOS) is a plus

• Experience debugging across hardware and software layers

• Familiarity with sensor systems, positioning, or signal processing is a plus (e.g., IMU, GNSS, visual odometry)

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, Embedded Systems, or related field

• Strong communication skills in English (Dutch is a plus)

Nice to haves:

• Experience using generative AI tools to support software development and improve productivity is a plus

• Experience with communication protocols and interfaces such as Bluetooth, 802.15.4, Wi-Fi, CAN bus, or Ethernet

• Experience with microcontrollers and low-level programming (STM32 and/or Nordic nRF is a plus)

Working at Xsens

We value ingenious ideas, no matter where they come from. We believe diverse thoughts, voices, and backgrounds make us stronger as a company. We know that it is through collaboration with people from all walks of life that we make the most positive impact as an organization.

Join Xsens’ innovative, ambitious, and international team, where your ideas and talents make an impact. Along with a competitive compensation package, we offer a range of benefits designed to support your well-being and help you thrive.

• 28 paid vacation days with an option to buy, sell, or carry over days, giving you flexibility to manage your time off as appropriate to your situation

• Tax perks for your sports memberships and bicycle purchase; so staying active is easier than ever.

• Flexible working hours and the option to work from home, helping you balance life and work

• Paid volunteer time: Through our partnership with Stichting Present, you have the opportunity to give back to the community during office hours

• Our partnership with Equip gives you on-demand access to a dedicated financial planner who provides clear guidance and a concrete plan for wealth building, pensions, and major life events.

• Enjoy company social events as well as fun, informal activities organized by our staff association. From movie nights and sports clinics to cooking classes and LAN parties, there’s always something happening to connect and have fun