Embedded Engineer

Within Solar Team Twente, the Embedded Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining the embedded systems that control and monitor the rally car. In this role, you will work closely with the Electrical and Mechatronics Engineers to ensure seamless integration between hardware and firmware. Embedded systems are used throughout the car, ranging from battery management and reading sensor data to controlling the steer.

As an Embedded Engineer, you will develop and maintain firmware for various microcontrollers. You will also be responsible for the communication systems within the car that allow us to send data across the solar car. Within this function, you will gain hands-on experience with CAN networks, analog and digital sensors, and programming microprocessors such as the STM32 series.

Are you looking for a challenge and interested in deepening your computer science and electrotechnical knowledge? Are you an accurate worker and able to work both independent and in a team? Do you like to dive deep in a complex technical project? Then Embedded Engineer might be something for you! Programming experience in languages such as Python, C, and C++ is a prerequisite.

The experience of Jurre

In the edition of 2023 I, Jurre, was software and embedded engineer of the team. I just finished my bachelor Computer Science at the University of Twente when I applied for Solar Team.

At Solar Team Twente we’re sometime a bit stubborn, and that’s why we create all our electrical component and firmware for it ourselves! Quite some work, but over the years we’ve gathered lots of experiences with it. That’s also the main thing that I’ll always remember from Solar Team: I immediately learned so much about embedded software from day one! I learned from older team members and existing software. 

During the year I worked on multiple components in the car. Most of my time went into the Battery Management System (BMS). This system monitors our own-built battery continuously, to keep it safe. The component has many connected devices, such as voltage monitors, that all have their own communication protocol. All to be implemented in this one BMS. Sometimes hard (because embedded 😉) but extremely satisfying when electric devices “magically” come to life! By doing so, I learned more than ever (mainly practical software skills) and had more fun than ever as well!

(We’re never ‘done’ though: there’re lots of ideas to improve the existing components, add new ones or even completely redo some components. Also, new team members bring in great new ideas every year. This can be you!)