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Wabtec

Develops electric locomotives and digital solutions

Bare Metal Embedded Firmware Engineer - C, Microcontrollers

Full-Time
$91k - $129.8k+ Annual bonus
Senior
Bachelor's
Salem, VA, USA
In Person
Software EngineeringEmbedded Engineering
No H1B Sponsorship

About the job

Requirements
  • A BS in Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a closely related field is requested; an MS is preferred.
  • At least 5 years of embedded firmware experience.
  • At least 5 years of C development experience.
  • Hands-on firmware development experience with microcontrollers such as Microchip dsPIC, STM32, NXP, Renesas, TI, or ARM Cortex-M platforms.
  • Experience with bare-metal development and time-critical processing systems, including analog-to-digital sampling, motor control, and communications.
  • Experience with SPI, I2C, UART, PWM, ADC, timers, interrupts, digital I/O, CAN, CAN-FD, Ethernet, Modbus, and RS-485.
  • Familiarity with state machine architectures, interrupt service routines, the Microchip Ethernet stack, and industrial or embedded protocols including USB, MQTT, BLE, and Wi-Fi.
  • Experience with automated builds, unit testing, continuous integration, software release management, source control, code reviews, branching strategies, and collaborative software development workflows; Git experience is desirable.
  • Experience developing automated test and validation tools using LabVIEW, Python, or equivalent environments.
  • Experience with PC-based engineering tools and scripting environments such as MATLAB, Python, C#, and .NET, or equivalent.
  • Proficiency with schematic capture, component footprint modeling, and PCB design tools; Altium Designer experience is very desirable.
  • Ability to travel as needed for the role.
  • Ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
  • Experience building desktop applications for Windows, Linux, or similar environments is a plus.
  • Understanding of secure bootloaders and over-the-air firmware update mechanisms is desirable.
  • Knowledge of secure boot, secure firmware updates, authentication, encryption, secure key storage, and cybersecurity best practices for connected embedded devices is desirable.
  • Familiarity with IEC 62443, the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, or similar cybersecurity standards is desirable.
  • Familiarity with locomotive electrical systems is desirable.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities, adapt to changing deadlines, work independently, and operate in ambiguous and complex environments.
  • Legally authorized to work in the United States; employment is conditioned on successful completion of a drug screen and fitness-for-duty test, as applicable.
Responsibilities
  • Define and develop embedded software according to software design and test requirement specifications, and conduct verification testing during development.
  • Optimize firmware performance, memory utilization, and computational efficiency in resource-constrained embedded systems.
  • Develop code to configure and interface with real-time clocks, Ethernet PHY chips, external memory, and specialty sensors.
  • Implement security and password access routines and Ethernet communication protocols.
  • Use AI-enabled engineering tools and technologies to enhance hardware design, firmware development, testing, troubleshooting, documentation, and data analysis; evaluate emerging AI capabilities and implement practices to improve efficiency, product quality, and innovation while meeting cybersecurity, safety, and regulatory requirements.
  • Manage equipment and capital projects within budget and timelines.
  • Collaborate with teams to resolve issues and improve manufacturing performance.
  • Apply Lean principles and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Ensure safety, quality, and compliance in all processes.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience using Git.
  • Microchip dsPIC experience.
  • Altium Designer experience.
  • Experience building desktop applications for Windows, Linux, or similar environments.
  • Understanding of secure bootloaders and over-the-air firmware update mechanisms.
  • Knowledge of secure boot, secure firmware updates, authentication, encryption, secure key storage, and cybersecurity best practices for connected embedded devices.
  • Familiarity with IEC 62443, the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, or similar cybersecurity standards.
  • Familiarity with locomotive electrical systems.

About the company

Wabtec provides transportation solutions by designing and producing electric locomotives and related services for freight railroads, transit authorities, and industrial operators. Its flagship product, the FLXdrive, is a 100% battery-electric locomotive with a battery pack over 7 megawatt-hours that cuts fuel use and emissions, while the company also sells traditional locomotives, aftermarket services, and digital solutions to optimize operations. Wabtec differentiates itself through a fully electric propulsion option paired with value-added digital tools and manufacturing techniques like mixed-reality work processes, aiming to improve efficiency and sustainability across rail networks. The company’s goal is to make rail transport more efficient and eco-friendly by delivering reliable locomotives, ongoing maintenance, and advanced software and digital capabilities that help customers run greener, lower-cost operations.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Founded

1872

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q2 2026 sales reached $3.18 billion, and adjusted EPS rose 21.6%.
  • Management raised 2026 revenue guidance to $12.30 billion-$12.60 billion on July 22, 2026.
  • Multi-year backlog hit $30.93 billion, with 12-month backlog up 11.3% year over year.

What critics are saying

  • Progress Rail sued Wabtec in 2023; settlement on February 26, 2026 left breach claims history.
  • Wabtec’s premium valuation demands flawless execution after 17.5% Q2 2026 revenue growth.
  • Heavy debt-funded acquisitions, including Dellner and Frauscher, raise integration and return-risk through 2027.

What makes Wabtec unique

  • Wabtec bundles locomotives, signaling, and inspection through 2025-2026 acquisitions.
  • FLXdrive battery-electric locomotives and Forsee Power deepen Wabtec’s electrification edge.
  • Railroad incumbency plus $30.93 billion backlog locks in long-cycle customer relationships.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Performance Bonus
  • Flexible Work Hours

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

30%

1 year growth

30%

2 year growth

30%
Yahoo Finance
Jul 23rd, 2026
Wabtec stock trades at premium valuation despite $30B order backlog and rail business headwinds

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (Wabtec) has surged 39% over the past year, trading at the top of its 52-week range following 17.5% sales growth and an increased forecast. The rail technology manufacturer now holds a multi-year order backlog exceeding $30 billion. However, investors face a steep premium. The stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.1, well above the S&P 500's 24.3. Price-to-sales and price-to-operating-cash-flow multiples also exceed market averages at 3.7 and 22.3 respectively. Revenue has grown 10.2% annually over three years, outpacing the S&P 500's 5.9%. The 12-month backlog rose 11% whilst the multi-year backlog jumped 42%. Debt stands at a manageable 14.7% of market value. Operating cash flow reached approximately $2 billion over the past twelve months.

Yahoo Finance
Jul 22nd, 2026
Wabtec beats Q2 estimates with $2.76 EPS as revenues hit $3.18B

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies reported second-quarter earnings of $2.76 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.63 per share. This represents a 4.94% earnings surprise and compares to $2.27 per share a year ago. The locomotive, subway, and bus parts maker posted revenues of $3.18 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, exceeding estimates by 3.20%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $2.71 billion. The company has topped consensus estimates for both earnings and revenue in each of the last four quarters. Wabtec shares have risen 23.5% year-to-date, outpacing the S&P 500's 9.7% gain. The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) rating.

Yahoo Finance
Jul 15th, 2026
Wabtec to report Q2 2026 earnings on 22 July, sales expected to reach $3.08B

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies, operating as Wabtec Corporation, is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on 22 July before market open. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings stands at $2.63 per share, representing a 15.9% increase from the year-ago period. Revenue is expected to reach $3.08 billion, up 13.8% year over year. Wabtec has beaten earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 3.97%. However, the company's second-quarter performance may face headwinds from higher operating expenses, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and supply-chain disruptions. Offsetting these challenges, stronger demand for services and components across aftermarket and OEM channels is expected to support top-line growth. Freight revenues are forecast at $2.19 billion, whilst Transit revenues are projected at $839.37 million.

Yahoo Finance
Jun 15th, 2026
Forsee Power and Wabtec team up to electrify locomotives with advanced battery tech

Forsee Power, a smart battery systems specialist, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Wabtec to integrate advanced battery systems into battery-electric locomotive platforms. Wabtec, which unveiled the world's first battery-electric freight locomotive in 2021, will collaborate with Forsee Power to enhance performance and reliability whilst optimising costs. Forsee Power's PULSE PLUS RAIL battery system, built on Toshiba's latest-generation LTO cells, offers up to 20 years lifespan, high-power output and voltage range up to 1,500 VDC. The system features advanced liquid thermal management for extreme temperatures and meets the highest safety standards. The partnership leverages Forsee Power's industrial presence in Ohio for Buy America compliance. The electrical architecture suits both freight and passenger rail applications, with potential expansion into mining trucks.

Yahoo Finance
Jun 1st, 2026
Wabtec tops heavy transportation equipment Q1 earnings with $2.95B revenue, up 13% YoY

Wabtec reported Q1 revenues of $2.95 billion, up 13% year on year, meeting analysts' expectations. The railway equipment and systems provider delivered mixed results overall, beating EBITDA estimates but missing organic revenue projections. CEO Rafael Santana highlighted strong execution across the company's businesses, driving double-digit sales and adjusted earnings per share growth. The stock has risen 1.4% since reporting, currently trading at $261.22. Across the heavy transportation equipment sector, the 12 tracked stocks reported satisfactory Q1 results, with revenues and forward guidance broadly aligned with consensus estimates. However, share prices have declined 2.3% on average since earnings announcements. Douglas Dynamics delivered the sector's standout performance, with revenues of $137.8 million exceeding expectations by 3.4%.