---
title: 'Embedded Systems Engineer (Medical Devices) at Black Canyon Consulting'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/embedded-systems-engineer-medical-devices-black-canyon-consulting-ashburn-w18ke9nmmb2r'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-09'
---

# Embedded Systems Engineer (Medical Devices) at Black Canyon Consulting

- **Company:** Black Canyon Consulting
- **Location:** Ashburn, VA
- **Posted:** 2026-08-25
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-09
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/blackcanyonconsulting/jobs/7974196003

## Job description

## Overview

Are you a versatile engineer who thrives at the intersection of hardware and software? Do you have a deep understanding of Xilinx FPGAs and the AXI protocol, but also enjoy diving into schematic design, PCB layout guidance, or kernel drivers when the need arises? We are seeking a dynamic, mid-career Embedded Systems Engineer to join our team developing next-generation medical devices.

In this role, you will be the linchpin between the digital logic fabric and the high-level application software. You will architect and implement complex FPGA designs that interface seamlessly with user-space applications running on embedded processors via AXI interconnects. Beyond the FPGA, you will own the board-level electronics: you’ll generate detailed schematics for complex devices built around the Xilinx FPGA, ensuring robust power delivery, high-speed signal routing, and peripheral integration. We are looking for a “full-stack” embedded thinker, someone who is equally excited to design a new analog front-end, refactor a Linux device driver, or optimize a data processing pipeline. You won’t just be writing and using IP blocks; you will own the embedded ecosystem, from the circuit board to the application layer, delivering technology that directly impacts patient lives under a quality management system.

## Key Responsibilities

- Board-Level Schematic Generation: Design and own the detailed electrical schematics for complex, FPGA-centric medical devices. This includes component selection, power architecture definition, clock distribution, high-speed memory interfaces (DDR), and analog signal conditioning circuits.
- FPGA Architecture & Implementation: Design, code, and verify complex digital designs on Xilinx platforms (Vivado/Vitis), with a primary focus on implementing custom IP blocks that communicate with user-space Linux applications via AXI4 (Lite, Stream, and Memory-Mapped) interfaces.
- Device Driver & Kernel Development: Develop and maintain Linux kernel drivers and user-space libraries that bridge the gap between the FPGA logic and C++/Rust/Python applications.
- Full-Cycle Medical Device Development: Participate in all phases of the product lifecycle within a regulated IEC 62304 / ISO 13485 framework, including requirements definition, architectural design, FMEA, and verification testing.
- Cross-Functional Hardware Integration: Work closely with PCB layout engineers to guide stack-up and routing; perform board bring-up, bench testing (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers), and debugging of your schematics.
- Broad Problem Solving: Demonstrate flexibility by owning problems outside any single domain. You will debug high-speed signal integrity issues one day, and write a Python script to automate hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing the next.
- Optimization: Profile and optimize embedded systems for low latency, high throughput, SWAP-C (size, weight, power, and cost) constraints, and patient safety.

Must-Have Qualifications

- Experience: 4–7+ years of hands-on experience in embedded systems development.
- Schematic & Board Design: Proven ability to generate complex board-level schematics for FPGA-based designs using industry-standard tools (e.g., Altium Designer, KiCad). Must understand power sequencing, high-speed routing constraints, and mixed-signal layout considerations.
- Xilinx Proficiency: Deep working knowledge of the Xilinx toolchain (Vivado, Vitis) and the ability to generate, customize, and debug IP cores connected via the AXI interconnect protocol.
- Hardware Description Languages: Proficiency in VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog for synthesis, simulation, and timing closure.
- Embedded Linux: Strong experience with embedded Linux (Yocto, PetaLinux, or Buildroot), kernel configuration, and cross-compilation.
- Software Skills: Fluency in C/C++ or Rust (preferred) for low-level firmware and driver development; proficiency in Python for scripting and data analysis.
- Interface Knowledge: Solid understanding of communication protocols beyond AXI, such as SPI, I2C, UART, and high-speed serial links.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

- Medical Experience: Experience working in a regulated environment (FDA, MDR) with safety-critical standards like IEC 62304.
- Analog/Digital Circuitry: Deep experience with precision analog front-ends, ADCs, DACs, and power management ICs (PMICs) commonly found in medical instrumentation.
- Broad Toolbox: Experience with Digital Signal Processing (DSP), SoC design on Zynq/MPSoC/RFSoC platforms, or high-speed transceivers.

## Who You Are

- An Adaptable Engineer: You have deep expertise in Xilinx logic design and schematic generation, and a broad willingness and ability to contribute wherever the project needs it most, from software drivers to regulatory documentation.
- A Systems Thinker: You don’t just see an FPGA task; you see the data flow from the sensor conditioning circuit, through the AXI bus, up to the UI.
- A Clear Communicator: You can translate complex hardware limitations to software engineers and vice versa, documenting your work clearly for regulatory audits.

## Benefits and Salary

We attract the best people in the business with our competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; a 401(k) plan with employer contribution; paid holidays, vacation, and tuition reimbursement.

We offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience and location. If you enjoy being part of a high-performing, professional, technology-focused organization, please apply today!

## About Black Canyon Consulting

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Black Canyon Consulting (BCC) is a privately held, woman-owned small business that delivers innovative program and IT management support services to federal research and development programs.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Woman-Owned Small Business, SBA-certified WOSB)
- **Headquarters**: Fairfax, Virginia, United States
- **Founded**: 2017 [bccdc.net](https://www.bccdc.net/)
- **Founders**: Manish Salhotra (Managing Director, Co-Founder) and Haley Esser (Principal / CEO) [sba.gov](https://dsbs.sba.gov/search/dsp_profile.cfm?SAM_UEI=WB3LFMA4KM45) | [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-canyon-consulting-llc)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Federal IT consulting and program management support for life sciences, bioinformatics, tool development, and environmental sciences.
- **Target customers**: U.S. federal government agencies (e.g., NIH, HHS) and other R&D-focused organizations.
- **Mission/purpose**: “Integrity, Impact, Innovation” – providing agile, adaptive, customer-focused support to advance national missions. [bccdc.net](https://www.bccdc.net/)

## Products & Services
- **Program Management Support**: Strategic and tactical program oversight, administrative management, and consulting for federal R&D initiatives.
- **IT Management Support**: Custom computer programming, systems design, cloud engineering, DevOps, data engineering, AI/ML, and cybersecurity services.
- **Proprietary Technologies**: BCC leverages its own IT system tools, workflows, and a distributed network of consulting resources to deliver turn-key enterprise solutions. [bccdc.net](https://www.bccdc.net/)
- **GSA Schedule Holder**: Contract #47QTCA18D00JA, providing a streamlined procurement vehicle for federal clients. [gsaelibrary.gsa.gov](https://www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov/ElibMain/home.do/contractorInfo.do?contractNumber=47QTCA18D00JA&contractorName=BLACK+CANYON+CONSULTING+LLC&executeQuery=YES)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly available (private company).
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue not disclosed; total funding not applicable (bootstrapped / organic growth).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: No external investors; key certifications include WOSB, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 20000-1:2018, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, FISMA compliance, and SOC readiness. [bccdc.net](https://www.bccdc.net/)
- **Growth Signals**: LinkedIn reports 42 employees (+75% year-over-year growth), 65 active job postings on Greenhouse, and a +50% increase in job postings monthly/quarterly. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-canyon-consulting-llc) | [greenhouse.io](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/blackcanyonconsulting)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB)**: Provides set-aside contracting advantages in the federal market.
- **Deep Federal R&D Focus**: Over 125 years of combined experience in supporting NIH and other research programs.
- **Compliance & Security**: Holds multiple ISO certifications and FISMA, NIST, and PCI-DSS compliance, enabling work on sensitive government systems.
- **Agile Delivery**: Proprietary workflows and IT tools allow rapid, high-value execution for complex program needs. [bccdc.net](https://www.bccdc.net/)

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: Expanding support for NIH bioinformatics, data platforms (e.g., DailyMed, RxNorm, SRA), and AI/LLM initiatives. Actively hiring for roles like AI/ML Specialist, FHIR API SME, and Platform DevEx Engineer. [greenhouse.io](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/blackcanyonconsulting)
- **Growth direction**: Continuing to secure federal contracts, growing the consulting workforce, and deepening capabilities in cloud, DevOps, and data science.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Emphasizes “Integrity, Impact, Innovation” with a collaborative, mission-driven environment focused on supporting national research priorities. [bccdc.net](https://www.bccdc.net/)
- **Work location**: Most roles are based in Bethesda, Maryland (NIH campus) or Fairfax, Virginia. Remote/hybrid policy not explicitly stated but likely on-site or hybrid given federal client requirements.
- **Notable perks**: Opportunity to work on high-impact federal R&D programs (e.g., NIH’s National Library of Medicine), professional growth in a rapidly expanding company (75% YoY headcount growth), and exposure to cutting-edge technologies (AI, cloud, bioinformatics). [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-canyon-consulting-llc)
- **Engineering culture**: Strong focus on software development, DevOps, data engineering, and AI/ML. Teams are organized into divisions like Software Engineering, Platform & DevOps, and Information Engineering. [greenhouse.io](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/blackcanyonconsulting)

## Sources
1. [bccdc.net](https://www.bccdc.net/)
2. [greenhouse.io](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/blackcanyonconsulting)
3. [sba.gov](https://dsbs.sba.gov/search/dsp_profile.cfm?SAM_UEI=WB3LFMA4KM45)
4. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-canyon-consulting-llc)
5. [gsaelibrary.gsa.gov](https://www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov/ElibMain/home.do/contractorInfo.do?contractNumber=47QTCA18D00JA&contractorName=BLACK+CANYON+CONSULTING+LLC&executeQuery=YES)

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