Aftermarket Automotive Protocol & Binary Systems Architect

Location: United States

Department: Firmware Development

Workplace: remote

Employment Type: full

Description

About Salvo Software

Salvo Software is driving the future of automotive technology by building innovative cloud and diagnostic solutions that power safer, smarter, and more connected vehicles. Our team specializes in solving complex challenges at the intersection of embedded systems and cloud services. We foster a collaborative, hands-on environment where engineers have a direct impact on the aftermarket industry. If you are excited about blending cutting-edge cloud development with the intricacies of vehicle reverse engineering, Salvo is the place for you.

Role Overview

We are looking for a hands-on engineer—a "Developer-Hacker"—who possesses expertise in both low-level vehicle systems, such as interpreting ECU binary data and CAN logs, and high-level software development, like writing cloud-based C# services. In this senior-level role, you will act as a systems architect, developing cloud features that interact with vehicle control modules, processing firmware binaries, and performing complex checksum validations. 

Key Responsibilities

• Binary Reverse Engineering: Analyze ECU/TCU/PCM firmware binaries, performing manual hex deconstruction and implementing custom checksum (CRC) calculations.
• Protocol Mastery: Troubleshoot and implement communication stacks for UDS (ISO 14229), J1939, and OEM-specific protocols across diverse vehicle platforms.
• Traffic Analysis: Analyze CAN logs and use sniffer tools such as Vehicle Spy, PCAN, or CANalyzer to diagnose complex communication and timing issues.
• Firmware Collaboration: Review C code and collaborate with embedded developers to assist with firmware-related problem-solving and secure bootloaders.

Requirements

• Experience: 7+ years of professional experience in automotive software engineering, with a heavy focus on the aftermarket or performance tuning sectors.

• OEM Expertise: Essential hands-on experience with proprietary diagnostic protocols and systems for Ford, GM, Stellantis, and Polaris.
• Protocol & Hardware Knowledge: Strong understanding of CAN bus communication, UDS, J1939, and OBD-II diagnostic standards. Proficiency with hardware interfaces like PCAN, Kvaser, or Intrepid Control Systems (Vehicle Spy).
• Binary Skills: Deep knowledge of ECU firmware formats (Intel Hex, Motorola S-Record), the ability to manually identify and calculate checksums/CRCs, and experience using disassembler programs such as OlyDBG or Ida Pro.
• Location & Availability: Must be based in the United States to ensure time-zone alignment for real-time collaboration and engineering ticket support.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent deep-level professional experience in automotive reverse engineering.