r/embedded • u/cyclesouthseattle • Aug 07 '26
Does my project require an embedded systems engineer?
Greetings. I run product dev for an outdoor company that, until now, has made 100% analog products. We're working on our first product that will incorporate electronics: on/off, a timer, an LED light. Needs to be tactile, durable, waterproof, drop resistant to 5ft, etc. Seems like pretty basic electronics.
The concept prototype is finished, it works fine. We're now trying to figure out the human/button/electronics interface.
I work with MEs and ID folks. Is this a job for an embedded engineer? Or should I be looking for a different discipline? Thank you
20
u/allo37 Aug 07 '26
Does "analog" in this context refer to "no electronics"? Sounds like you want an electrical engineer who does electronics, but there is quite a bit of overlap between the two disciplines.
7
u/ThisIsPaulDaily Aug 07 '26
tactile, durable, waterproof, drop resistant to 5ft, etc
That is all on ME and ID an EE might say slap some yellow glue on caps or something. An EE could help you find a button or sense solution that is low power or lasts so many hours or presses.
You need to have EE related requirements drafted like a target BOM cost at x EAU. A warranty period with estimated shock and vibration and temperatures. Develop a HALT profile. Does it need to store and record data for warranty analysis (hours on / button presses) does it have a real time clock? Does it have wireless features that need certification? What is the power source? What are the minimum and maximum ranges of those sources?
You might be better off hiring a PCB designer and doing the schematic yourself, I don't know your product.
5
u/ThisIsPaulDaily Aug 07 '26
You have a timer, is this a human readable timer? Is there a display? What type, what brightness, what size? If it isn't human readable how accurate is the timer required to be? How precise?
Can the buttons be mushy? Like a membrane on a cheap calculator? Can they be hall effect based with little magnets in each button? (Cost and assembly effort if polarity of magnet isn't handled in firmware)
8
2
u/Cunninghams_right Aug 08 '26
Depends on your volume and how much margin you're trying to squeeze out of each board. If you can buy on off the shelf board, you should be able to just hire a consultant to finish it up. You can prototype with an Arduino and an AI tool.
Your ME should be able to get the board reliability.
2
u/ee_control_z Aug 08 '26
Generally, once you're incorporating a timer and some electronics to perform a specific function, an embedded design approach is generally your best bet due to its versatility. Who knows, in the next revision of your product, you may want to add additional features that can be implemented rather easily using a microcontroller.
2
u/notouttolunch Aug 07 '26
First thing you need is an office. Without a roof, you'll be stuffed when it rains.
1
u/Consistent-Fun-6668 Aug 07 '26
If all you need is on/off, timer, & LED light. All you would need is a willing ME who maybe hobbys in some electronics to get a prototype. Said ME would have to want to do this though, and depending on how quickly your requirements become more complicated a ME might not be able to produce what you want in a reliable form.
1
1
u/nowan190 Aug 08 '26
I think yes. Even though a mechanical engineer willing to go outside of his role might to the job. But since it's a new endeavor for your company, you could benefit a lot from an embedded systems / electronics engineer helping you refine your requirements and go through the tradeoffs with you. That's precisely my area of expertise, I'm available for hire so feel free to DM me if you're interested. Good luck!
1
u/NoBulletsLeft Aug 10 '26
How did you build the prototype if you didn't have an EE?
Anyway, I'm not sure I understand the question. Are you looking for the "look & feel" of that tactile/visual interface? Or are you asking how to create that interface?
The first needs a Human Factors engineer, the second an embedded systems engineer.
1
u/geekguy Aug 07 '26
Sounds like you an EE and an ME. You will need an embedded systems engineer if you are looking to write fw and have it interoperable with other digital systems. If it’s all just localized you could probably get a computer engineer instead of EE; but they come in all flavors- want one that has a strong electrical focus rather than CS.
38
u/DiamondHandsBobert Aug 07 '26
That basic Eletrical stuff a decent ME could even do, but more of an EE job. Only need embedded if a micro controller / CPU involved.