Principal Engineer – Embedded Systems Integration

Job Posting – Principal Engineer – Embedded Systems Integration

About Balko

Balko Technologies is a Quebec-based company that designs and develops modular, interoperable data capture systems for drones, ground vehicles, and maritime platforms. Our multidisciplinary team pushes the boundaries of data acquisition and fusion in the energy, infrastructure, natural resources, public safety, and defence sectors.

Our mission is to democratize data capture through intelligent, modular systems designed and developed entirely in Canada.

Join Balko to design, integrate, and evolve the embedded systems at the heart of our products, from development through validation and production release.

Your role

As Principal Engineer – Embedded Systems Integration, you will be responsible for the architecture, development, and reliable operation of the embedded hardware platforms that support Balko products and R&D activities.

Your objective will be to bring these platforms to a level of maturity that enables software and algorithm teams to develop and integrate their capabilities on a stable, high-performance, and well-controlled hardware foundation.

Reporting to the Director of Engineering, you will also serve as R&D Team Lead – Electronics Engineering. You will guide the team’s work, mentor its members, and ensure that electronics and embedded systems developments remain consistent with the overall product architecture.

Your role will combine architecture with hands-on engineering: embedded computing platforms, power systems, sensor and communication interfaces, electronic design, bring-up, base firmware, operating systems, hardware drivers, prototyping, diagnostics, and validation.

You will also help evolve these architectures so they can meet current software needs while creating the capabilities required for future generations of products.

Your responsibilities

Define and evolve the architecture of embedded hardware platforms, including computing platforms, electronics, power systems, memory, storage, communication interfaces, sensor connectivity, and interactions with other subsystems.
Bring up and make developed platforms operational, including, as required, initial firmware, board support packages, operating system startup and configuration, hardware drivers, peripherals, and the communication interfaces required for platform operation.
Deliver stable and validated reference hardware configurations to software and algorithm teams, together with the tools, configurations, and technical information they need to efficiently develop, test, and integrate their capabilities.
Design and oversee electronic integration, including the selection of components and computing platforms, schematics, printed circuit boards, power systems, interfaces, wiring, and other elements required to build prototypes and products.
Design communication and data-flow architectures to meet throughput, latency, synchronization, or real-time requirements and, when needed, enable direct transfer or redistribution of sensor data to complementary systems such as flight controllers, navigation systems, or other autonomous vehicle control devices.
Anticipate future computing and data-management needs, particularly for artificial intelligence, data fusion, and onboard processing applications, considering compute performance, memory, bandwidth, storage, hardware accelerators, and the associated power and thermal constraints.
Define and oversee hardware validation of the platforms, including debugging, functional and performance testing, interface characterization, integration testing, and identification of operating limits and margins.
Take ownership of complex technical issues encountered during design, bring-up, or integration, structure diagnostic efforts, and guide their resolution through robust and repeatable solutions.
Provide technical leadership for the R&D – Electronics Engineering team: set direction and priorities, assign responsibilities, lead technical reviews, support design decisions, and foster the development of team capabilities.
Work closely with software, mechanical, geomatics, and production teams to ensure that hardware platforms support the system as a whole and can evolve efficiently from prototype to robust, manufacturable, and maintainable products.
Maintain rigorous technical documentation of architectures, interfaces, reference configurations, design decisions, bring-up procedures, and validation results to ensure traceability and long-term continuity of developments.

Profile we are looking for

Bachelor’s degree in electrical, electronics, computer engineering, or a related discipline; membership in the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ), or eligibility to become a member.
Significant experience developing electronic products and complex embedded systems, including demonstrated responsibility for architecture, integration, or technical leadership.
Strong understanding of architectures combining electronics, embedded processors or computers, microcontrollers, operating systems, firmware, peripherals, and communication interfaces.
Hands-on experience in electronic design (multilayer PCBs and design tools such as Altium Designer, EAGLE, KiCad, or equivalent), prototyping, bring-up, integration, debugging, and validation of embedded platforms.
Experience developing and debugging embedded software, particularly in C/C++, as well as with Python or similar tools for development, automation, testing, and diagnostics.
Strong command of the main interfaces and communication protocols used in embedded systems, including Ethernet, CAN, UART, SPI, I2C, and USB.
Ability to work at the hardware-software interface and understand the constraints that architecture decisions impose on applications, data flows, and overall system performance.
Ability to analyze complex technical problems, manage engineering trade-offs, and make well-documented architecture decisions.
Demonstrated ability to provide technical direction and mentorship to a team while encouraging autonomy and accountability.
Rigour in documenting architectures, interfaces, configurations, and validation results.
Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines, suppliers, and partners.
Bilingual proficiency in French and English, both spoken and written.
Eligible to obtain and maintain a Government of Canada Secret security clearance and, when required, meet the requirements of the Controlled Goods Program.

Bonus points if

You have developed systems for drones, robotics, aerospace, defence, or other demanding environments.
You have experience with embedded Linux, ARM or x86 platforms, and edge computing architectures.
You are familiar with GNSS/INS systems, time synchronization, data acquisition architectures, or sensor integration.
You understand the hardware constraints associated with data-intensive processing, embedded artificial intelligence, or compute accelerators.
You have helped transition technology prototypes into robust, documented, and repeatable products.

What we offer

Take on a leading technical role with direct influence on the architecture of the next generations of Balko products.
Lead an R&D team while remaining actively involved in design, bring-up, integration, and testing.
Design the hardware platforms on which Balko’s next software, algorithm, and artificial intelligence capabilities will be developed.
Work on systems combining electronics, embedded computing, sensors, navigation, communications, software, and advanced data processing.
Rapidly advance technologies from prototypes to robust and repeatable platforms.
Benefit from a comprehensive insurance plan and flexible work schedule.
Enjoy a hybrid work arrangement adapted to prototyping and integration needs.
Be part of a culture where autonomy, initiative, technical rigour, and fast decision-making are valued.
Receive a public transit allowance or take advantage of convenient on-site parking.
Use a company laptop and have the option to set up an ergonomic workstation.
Receive a financial contribution toward your sports membership, enjoy free unlimited coffee at the office, and more!

Do you enjoy designing a platform as much as bringing it up and understanding what happens between the hardware, operating system, and applications? Do you enjoy guiding a team, solving problems at system interfaces, and creating a technology foundation that enables others to develop quickly? Join Balko Technologies and help build the next generations of intelligent systems developed in Canada.

Make the difference! Send you resume to samuel.soucy@balkotechnologies.com