Firmware Engineer Co-op

Bring more to life. 

Are you ready to accelerate your potential and make a real difference within life sciences, diagnostics and biotechnology?  

At Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, one of Danaher’s 15+ operating companies, our work saves lives—and we’re all united by a shared commitment to innovate for tangible impact.   

You’ll thrive in a culture of belonging where you and your unique viewpoint matter. And by harnessing Danaher’s system of continuous improvement, you help turn ideas into impact – innovating at the speed of life. 

At Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, we know time is the most critical facet in the laboratory today:  time to get life-saving therapies to patients faster; reclaiming time by automating tedious manual workflows; and saving time spent addressing erroneous or complex results. We are partners in time and accelerate answers to critical questions through the power of automation. We develop innovations for scientists by scientists, with many of our 3,300+ global colleagues coming from the laboratory. 

It’s all part of our time-tested approach to bringing meaningful innovations at the speed of life since 1935. And we’re just beginning. Working together, let’s put our time and talents together to advance human health for tomorrow. 

Learn about the Danaher Business System which makes everything possible. 

As an intern, you will join a highly collaborative R&D team developing and supporting analytical instruments that integrate electronics, automation, and software to deliver high‑confidence scientific insights.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to: 

Embedded Firmware Development

• Assist with the design, development, and debugging of embedded firmware using C/C++ and Python for automated laboratory instrumentation.
• Develop firmware for 32-bit microcontrollers and interface with peripherals and communication protocols including I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, ADCs, and timers.
• Work with real-time operating systems such as FreeRTOS or similar embedded platforms.

Firmware & System Integration

• Support integration of firmware with electrical and electromechanical subsystems used in prototype instrumentation.
• Develop, debug, and test embedded functionality using development environments such as Eclipse or VS Code.
• Use GitHub and established version-control practices to manage firmware development and collaborate with the engineering team.

Testing, Debugging & Verification

• Develop and execute firmware tests to characterize the functionality, performance, and reliability of embedded systems.
• Troubleshoot firmware and hardware interactions using structured problem-solving techniques and engineering test equipment.
• Analyze test results, identify root causes, and support implementation and verification of corrective actions.

Documentation & Engineering Support

• Create and maintain engineering documentation including firmware inspection records, test procedures, test reports, and verification results.
• Present findings and recommendations to engineering teams and participate in design reviews.
• Gain exposure to the product development process from requirements creation through implementation and verification testing.

The essential requirements of the job include:

• Undergraduate student entering the final year of an Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related bachelor's program.
• Experience programming in C/C++ and Python.
• Experience with 32-bit microcontrollers and common embedded peripherals or communication interfaces such as I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, ADCs, and timers.
• Familiarity with real-time operating systems such as FreeRTOS or similar.
• Experience using an integrated development environment such as Eclipse or VS Code.
• Experience with version control using GitHub or a similar version-control system.
• Demonstrated teamwork, communication skills, and ability to collaborate effectively.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using AI-assisted software development tools such as GitHub Copilot or Claude.
• Familiarity with product development processes spanning requirements creation, implementation, and verification testing.
• Knowledge of basic electronics and the ability to read and interpret electrical schematics.
• Experience configuring or working with automated build tools such as Jenkins.
• Basic understanding of PID control loops.

What You'll Gain

• Direct involvement in real R&D projects with measurable impact.
• Skill development in embedded firmware design, debugging, verification, and multidisciplinary instrumentation engineering.
• Mentorship from experienced engineers and opportunities to present technical work.
• Exposure to life-science automation systems that integrate firmware, electronics, motion, sensing, and software.

Details

• Duration: 20–24 weeks
• Schedule: Full-time
• Work Location: Beckman Coulter Life Sciences R&D organization

Join our winning team today. Together, we’ll accelerate the real-life impact of tomorrow’s science and technology. We partner with customers across the globe to help them solve their most complex challenges, architecting solutions that bring the power of science to life.

For more information, visit www.danaher.com.

Danaher Corporation and all Danaher Companies are committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other characteristics protected by law.

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We comply with federal and state disability laws and make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact:1-202-419-7762 or applyassistance@danaher.com.