Allied Talent Partners (ATP), a
Three Cairns Group initiative, is a mission-driven, not-for-profit talent marketplace focused on solving the human capital bottlenecks slowing down sustainable development efforts in emerging economies, with an initial focus on Africa. ATP connects vetted, experienced, context-relevant professionals to high-impact opportunities in energy access and sustainable development – strengthening local capacity and fuelling economic vitality. We specialize in fixed-term, deliverable-driven engagements – from interim leadership and generalist projects to niche technical expertise – handling project scoping, talent vetting and matching, contracting, payroll, and compliance so that our clients can focus on impact.
High-Level Overview
Project:
A distributed e-mobility operator in West Africa requires an experienced Embedded Systems Engineer to integrate VCU devices (Vehicle Control Unit) into its electric motorbike fleet and enable reliable CAN bus communication capture.
The e-bikes consist of a battery, motor, and controller architecture, with the controller operating via CAN protocol. The organisation already possesses VCU hardware but lacks the in-house expertise to correctly interface with the system, access and interpret CAN messages, and establish a repeatable integration approach for its specific component configuration.
The mandate is strictly focused on practical integration and capability transfer. The selected engineer will:
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Physically integrate VCU devices onto the bikes,
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Interface with the CAN bus to read communication data,
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Enable structured data logging for analysis, and
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Train internal engineers to independently maintain and extend the solution
Role and Responsibilities
Role: Embedded Systems Engineer – CAN Bus Integration (VCU)
Direct Report: CEO
Candidates Required: 1
Key Deliverables:
VCU Hardware Integration
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Identify correct CAN access points within the bike’s controller system.
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Validate electrical compatibility and ensure non-disruptive connection to live CAN bus.
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Design and implement a safe, repeatable installation method for VCU devices.
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Produce wiring diagrams, installation procedures, and basic bill of materials for replication.
CAN Bus Interfacing & Data Capture
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Establish reliable read access to CAN messages from the controller.
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Detect and configure appropriate CAN parameters (e.g., baud rate, filtering).
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Capture and log CAN frames in a structured format suitable for later analysis.
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Decode and document relevant signals (e.g., motor usage, controller output, battery metrics).
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Provide documented mapping of message IDs to interpreted signals.
Knowledge Transfer & Capability Build; Train internal engineers in:
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Safe CAN bus interfacing
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VCU integration and configuration
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CAN message logging and interpretation
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Troubleshooting and debugging procedures
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Deliver practical documentation and step-by-step runbooks.
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Ensure internal engineers can independently replicate the integration on additional bikes within the same component set.
Requirements
Experience Required:
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Proven hands-on experience working with CAN bus systems in automotive or e-mobility contexts.
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Experience integrating microcontrollers (VCU) into live hardware environments.
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Experience reading, decoding, and troubleshooting CAN communication (including undocumented systems).
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Track record of mentoring or training junior engineers in embedded systems environments.
Technical Requirements:
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Strong understanding of CAN protocol fundamentals (IDs, frames, filtering, baud rates).
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Experience interfacing VCU with CAN (including use of external CAN transceivers if required).
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Embedded firmware development capability (C/C++ / ESP-IDF / Arduino frameworks).
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Ability to work in hardware-constrained, field-based environments.
Other Skills:
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Practical, hands-on problem solver.
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Structured and disciplined in documentation.
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Comfortable working with partially documented or undocumented systems.
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Clear communicator capable of transferring technical knowledge effectively.
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English, French advantageous
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On-site engagement in Senegal required for discovery, integration, and training phases.
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Ability to work closely with mechanics and engineering staff in a workshop setting.
Working Arrangement
Location: Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire or Remote
Language: English and French
Travel: When needed
Terms of agreement:
Start Date: Immediately
Contracting Period: TBD 3-6 months