Staff Engineer (Software Engineering)

About our group:

The Software Engineering department within Equipment Design Engineering (EDE) organization at Seagate Technology is responsible for designing, developing, and sustaining robust software solutions for HDD backend test equipment and automation systems. The team specializes in automation controllers (PLCs), vision software, Linux OS and kernel optimization, firmware development, and secure system integration. Their work spans supporting and optimizing automation sequences, developing new software for equipment and drive component assembly, and ensuring system reliability and efficiency through rapid troubleshooting and continuous improvement. The department also leads initiatives in Industry 4.0, machine learning, and AI—enabling advanced data collection, streaming, and analytics for Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) reporting. By collaborating across hardware, firmware, and software domains, the team drives innovation, supports high-volume manufacturing, and ensures the scalability, security, and performance of Seagate’s production test environments.

About the role - you will:

We're looking for a highly experienced engineer with over 15 years of hands-on experience in software and firmware development for sophisticated test equipment systems. Your expertise should include a comprehensive understanding of the hardware-software interface, from low-level communication protocols to microcontroller programming. 

Oracle Linux and Test Equipment (TE) Security   

• Design, develop, and maintain software in a Linux environment. 
• Architect frameworks and co-develop software with the team for new OS and tool integrations.
• Manage and optimize the OS and Kernel for custom server configurations and devices. 
• Build and maintain the hardware cryptography applications within RPM releases. 
• Coach and mentor engineers to expand their technical expertise.
• Resolve software issues quickly to maintain system uptime and testing efficiency. 

New Software Design for Test Equipment  

• Analyze a problem from a high level, evaluate different solutions, and determine the technical feasibility of implementation.
• Partner with internal teams to clearly define requirements, set realistic timelines, and ensure project goals are met. 
• Manage individual project priorities, workloads and deadlines to consistently deliver on time. 
• Proficient in developing and executing software tests. Ensuring that the new hardware and software integrations are robust, reliable and perform as expected.

Firmware Development & Sustaining  

• Develop firmware for new PCBA boards, with a focus on hardware-software interfaces and low-level communication protocol.
• Provide prompt bug fixes and feature enhancements for existing boards. 
• Manage firmware upgrades and provide ongoing support.  

Industry 4.0, OEE, Machine Learning & AI Initiatives  

• Develop applications to support Industry 4.0 efforts, including data collection and streaming for OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) reporting.  
• Collaborate with internal teams to scope and build software for new AI and Machine Learning initiatives.  

About you:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field is required. 
• Highly adaptable and willing to take ownership of projects, with a proactive attitude toward learning new tools and languages. 
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with teams on co-development efforts. 

Your experience includes:

• Programming Languages: Proven expertise in C/C++, C#, Java, and Python for developing, deploying, and managing large-scale production software. 
• Linux & Operating Systems: Extensive experience developing, optimizing, and maintaining backend test equipment software in a Linux environment. This includes proficiency with Linux OS, custom kernel builds, Kickstart for installations, and package management with RPM/Yum. 
• Embedded Systems & Firmware: Proficiency with Microcontroller and Chipsets (AVR32 chip), RTOS firmware, and C/C++ for embedded systems development. 
• Security: A strong understanding of security protocols and technologies, including SSL/TLS, certificate lifecycle management, and key management systems. 
• Communication Protocols: Strong command of I2C and UART for communication between different components and connected drives.
• Firmware and Bootloaders: Experience with SPI Flash for storing and managing bootloader images (U-boot) and configuration data.
• Knowledge of FPGA programming is a plus.

Project & Systems Management: 

• Experience in supporting custom server configurations and hardware, including OS and kernel-level optimizations. 
• Ability to design integration frameworks for new operating systems and software tools. 
• Proficiency with Git and modern development workflows. 
• Experience with build tools like Makefile, Ant, and GitHub Actions. 

Location:

Location: Shugart, Singapore
Travel: None