Embedded and Medical Device Software
I have been writing embedded software since the late 1980s. Most of the last 15 years have been in medical devices and other safety-critical or real-time systems. I know how to ship code that must not fail, that must pass regulatory review, and that must be understandable six years later when someone else inherits it.
cssi-pulse-guard is a recent example. It is a small but representative project that shows the kind of work I actually do: deterministic behavior, careful state management, safety-oriented architecture, and the ability to bring modern AI techniques into environments that normally reject them.
What I Deliver
- Embedded systems — bare-metal, RTOS, or Linux. Hard real-time, safety-critical, or high-reliability.
- Medical device software — IEC 62304 compliant architecture, risk-driven development, documentation that auditors actually accept.
- AI under constraints — autonomous agents, diagnostic systems, monitoring, or decision-support tools that run reliably on embedded hardware or in regulated environments.
- Fractional technical leadership — I can act as your interim embedded lead, architect, or regulatory-savvy technical advisor.
I am not looking for full-time employment. I am looking for embedded gigs, contract delivery work, or fractional roles where my combination of deep embedded discipline and current AI capability is useful.
Selected Work
cssi-pulse-guard — Real-time patient monitoring and pulse generation system with safety interlocks.
How to Work With Me
The easiest way to start is a short conversation. Tell me about the problem you are actually trying to solve. I will tell you quickly whether I am the right person and what the next reasonable step would be.
Or email me directly at john@common-sense.com with the subject line “Technical work”.