Principal I, Embedded Software Engineer

Company: Alcon Research
Location: Lake Forest
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

At Alcon, we are driven by the meaningful work we do to help people see brilliantly. We innovate boldly, champion progress, and act with speed as the global leader in eye care. Here, you’ll be recognized for your commitment and contributions and see your career like never before. Together, we go above and beyond to make an impact in the lives of our patients and customers. We foster an inclusive culture and are looking for diverse, talented people to join Alcon. As a Principal I, Embedded Software Engineer supporting the Research and Development of Surgical Devices, you will be trusted to work on exciting and challenging projects, applying your skills to design, develop, integrate and test computer-controlled electromechanical devices in a Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) environment. You will contribute to software risk management and writing software requirements to ensure our products are safe for use on millions of patients and in compliance with regulations worldwide. As a member of our team, you will work with the latest technologies and software development principles, using your experience in C++ and C programming languages targeting embedded microcontrollers. You will also apply your knowledge of object-oriented design patterns and implementation in C++, and experience with RTOS based applications to design and develop multi-threaded applications. You will gain an in-depth understanding of the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the eye, as our work is focused on developing medical devices for this field. Your work will have a direct impact on people's lives, making it both rewarding and meaningful. In this role, a typical day will include: Developing cutting-edge software for embedded systems based on requirements and specifications Designing and implementing software architectures for embedded systems Creating software documentation that is user-friendly and technically accurate Conducting thorough software testing and debugging to ensure that our systems meet the highest standards Collaborating with hardware engineers to ensure that software and hardware work seamlessly together Participating in code reviews and contributing to the continuous improvement of our software development process Keeping up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies in embedded systems, and sharing your knowledge with the team WHAT YOU'LL BRING TO ALCON: Minimum Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent years of directly related experience (or high school 13 yrs; Assoc.9 yrs; M.S.2 yrs; PhD0 yrs) The ability to fluently read, write, understand and communicate in English 5 Years of Relevant Experience Education in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related field Excellent written and verbal communication skills Proficient with formal software development and test methodologies Proficient knowledge of embedded software architecture and design patterns Preferred Requirements: Hands on embedded software development experience Experience in developing firmware for medical devices Proficiency in C /C++ targeting embedded Microcontrollers (Example: ST STM32, NXP Kinetis or similar) Object Oriented design patterns and implementation in C++ Experience with RTOS based applications and designing multi-threaded applications Strong debugging skills at component-level designs on the PCBA or within an integrated product Experience with CAN and Ethernet Experience in software risk management and writing software requirements Experience with waveform generation, transducer signal sampling, motor control and other electromechanical control Understanding of electronic circuitry: board bring up and interfacing with on and off chip peripherals such as SPI, UART, I2C, ADC s and DAC s Proficient in using lab equipment (logic analyzers, in-circuit emulators, oscilloscopes and DVMs) to debug and troubleshoot designs Experience in using static analysis, unit testing and other tools/methods to produce high quality software Experience using Git and Azure DevOps Experience in working in a Continuous Integration (CI) environment Experience with Python for general purpose scripting HOW YOU CAN THRIVE AT ALCON: Join Alcon’s mission to provide top-tier, innovative products and solutions to enhance sight & enhance lives. Grow your career in a highly collaborative and diverse environment. Alcon provides robust benefits package including health, life, retirement, paid time off, and much more! Relocation assistance: Not available Visa sponsorship: Not available Alcon Careers See your impact at alcon.com.careers ATTENTION: Current Alcon Employee/Contingent Worker If you are currently an active employee/contingent worker at Alcon, please click the appropriate link below to apply on the Internal Career site. Find Jobs for Employees Find Jobs for Contingent Worker Total Rewards Alcon’s Total Rewards programs are designed to align to incentives with business goals, encourage the right values and behaviors, and deliver long-term value. The first layer of our rewards program is compensation. We offer a combination of fixed pay and variable pay, which includes short-term incentives, and long-term incentives for eligible population. Our benefits program provides security for life events through life and disability insurance, supports savings for retirement, promotes good health and well-being and supports associates and their families during times of illness. To learn more about Alcon’s Corporate Social Responsibility including our Total Rewards, click here Pay Range $113,250.00 - $188,750.00 Pay Frequency Annual Alcon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify. Alcon takes pride in maintaining a diverse environment and our policies are not to discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Alcon is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email to alcon.recruitment@alcon.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Keywords: Alcon Research, San Bernardino , Principal I, Embedded Software Engineer, IT / Software / Systems , Lake Forest, California