Embedded Systems Engineer Intern

Department

R&D/Embedded Systems

Location

Johannesburg, SouthAfrica

Employment Type

Internship / GraduateInternship (On-Site)

Reports To

Embedded Systems Team Lead / R&D Manager

About Globaltrack

Globaltrack develops connected vehicle, telematics, tracking and IoT solutions that combine embedded hardware, firmware, communications and software to solve real-world mobility and asset-management challenges. Our embedded engineering team works close to the product: from electronics and firmware through testing, manufacturing support and field reliability.

Internship Overview

We are looking for a curious, practical and technically driven Embedded Systems Engineering Intern to join our R&D team. This is a hands-on engineering internship for someone who wants exposure to real embedded products rather than only classroom exercises.

You will work alongside experienced engineers on hardware, firmware, debugging and validation activities. The internship is structured to provide guided responsibility: you will contribute to real development tasks, document your work, test your changes and learn how embedded products move from prototype through manufacturing and into the field.

KeyResponsibilities

Firmware / EmbeddedSoftware

• Assist with developing, maintaining and testing embedded firmware in C/C++ on STM32 orsimilar ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers.

• Support implementation and testing of peripheral interfaces and drivers such as UART,SPI, I2C, ADC and CAN.

• Assist with integration of communications and positioning technologies such as GSM/LTE,GNSS/GPS and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).

• Work with RTOS-based firmware, state machines, timers, interrupts and task-based application logic under guidance from senior engineers.

• Debug firmware issues using serial logs, JTAG/SWD, breakpoints and other embedded debugging tools.

• Write clear,maintainable code and use Git-based version control, code reviews and engineering task tracking.

Hardware &Electronics

• Assist with schematic review, component selection, prototyping and PCB bring-up activities.

• Build, modify and test prototype circuits and wiring using soldering and rework tools.

• Use laboratory equipment such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, bench power supplies and logic analyzers to validate hardware behaviour.

• Support investigation of power, signal integrity, interface and component-level faults on prototype and production hardware.

• Assist with preparation and maintenance of BOMs, test notes and engineering documentation.

Product Development, Testing & Manufacturing Support

• Participate in device functional testing, firmware validation, regression testing and fault reproduction.

• Help create repeatable engineering and manufacturing test procedures for embedded devices.

• Support prototype and pilot builds and capture defects, observations, test evidence and corrective actions.

• Work with manufacturing and QA teams to understand Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Test (DFT) considerations.

• Assist with root-cause analysis of hardware or firmware failures found during testing or in the field.

• Maintain accurate technical records including test results, firmware versions, configuration changes and engineering notes.

Minimum Requirements

Education

• Currently studying toward, or recently completed, a BEng, BSc, BTech or equivalent qualification in Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics or a closely related field.

• Strong interest in embedded systems and willingness to work hands-on with both electronics and firmware.

Technical Foundation

• Basic-to-intermediate C or C++ programming ability.

• Understanding of microcontrollers, digital electronics and common embedded interfaces such as UART, SPI and I2C.

• Ability to read basic schematics and datasheets.

• Comfortable using a multimeter and basic electronics lab equipment; soldering experience is a nadvantage.

• Basic understanding of Git or another version-control system.

• Good problem-solving skills and a structured approach to testing and debugging.

Preferred /Advantageous Experience

• Academic, hobby or personal projects using STM32, ESP32, Arduino, Raspberry Pi Pico or another embedded platform.

• Exposure to FreeRTOS, Zephyr or another real-time operating system.

• Experience with CANbus, BLE, GSM/LTE, GPS/GNSS, sensors or IoT devices.

• Experience using an oscilloscope, logic analyzer, JTAG/SWD debugger or PCB design software such as Altium Designer or KiCad.

• Participation in robotics, electronics, Formula Student, maker, telemetry or similar engineering projects.

What We Look For

- Curiosity: You want to understand why something failed, not only make the symptom disappear.

- Practical engineering discipline: You test assumptions, record results and can explain what you changed.

- Ownership: You ask for help when needed, but follow tasks through to a verified result.

- Attention to detail: Embedded systems interact with real hardware, power, vehicles and communications, so small mistakes matter.

- Teamwork and communication: You can work with firmware, electronics, software, QA and manufacturing colleagues.

What You Will Learn

• How commercial embedded products are architected, developed, tested and maintained.

• Practical firmware debugging and hardware bring-up on real devices.

• How communications, GNSS, vehicle interfaces and sensors are integrated into connected products.

• Engineering practices around version control, documentation, code review, testing and release readiness.

• How R&D, QA and manufacturing work together to take an embedded device from prototype to reliable production.

What your CV needs to contain

Please include, where available, examples of technical projects you have built or contributed to.This can include university projects, Git repositories, PCB designs, firmware,robotics, IoT devices or other hands-on engineering work. We value demonstrated curiosity and practical problem-solving as much as formal work experience.

Globaltrack is anequal-opportunity employer.

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