Embedded Software Engineer

Below is a ready‑to‑send cover‑letter (and a short résumé bullet‑list you can copy‑paste into your CV) that highlights exactly the experience and skills Ekinops is looking for in the Photonic Transport Modular – Embedded‑Software Engineer role.
Feel free to tweak the personal details, add any project‑specific numbers you have, and adjust the tone to match your own voice.

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📄 Sample Cover Letter (English)

[Your Name]
[Street Address] • [City, ZIP] • [Phone] • [E‑mail] • LinkedIn: [URL]

[Date]

Hiring Committee – Ekinops
[Company Address – if known]

Dear Hiring Committee,

I am writing to apply for the **Embedded‑Software Engineer – Photonic Transport Modular** position (DWDM embedded SW team) advertised on your careers page. With **5+ years of professional experience developing C/C++ (C++17/20) firmware for high‑performance optical‑transport platforms, and a proven track‑record of delivering robust, CI‑enabled code in agile Scrum environments**, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to Ekinops’ next‑generation PTM‑DCI platform.

### Why I’m a strong fit

| Requirement | My experience & impact |
|-------------|------------------------|
| **Feature development in C/C++ (C++17/20)** | Designed and shipped **four major firmware releases** for a 100 Gbps DWDM line‑card, using modern C++ idioms (move semantics, constexpr, concepts) to reduce latency by 18 % and memory footprint by 22 %. |
| **Object‑oriented design & STL/Boost** | Refactored a legacy C codebase into a **clean, test‑driven OOP architecture** leveraging `std::variant`, `std::optional`, and Boost.Asio for asynchronous control‑plane messaging. |
| **Linux development (native/VM/WSL)** | Daily development on Ubuntu 22.04 (native) and cross‑compiled toolchains for ARM‑based SoCs; automated builds with **CMake + Ninja** and Docker‑based CI pipelines. |
| **Git/GitLab & CI/CD** | Maintained a **Git‑flow** repository with >200 contributors; set up GitLab CI jobs that run static analysis (Cppcheck, clang‑tidy) and unit‑test coverage (GoogleTest) on every merge request. |
| **Agile Scrum** | Served as **Scrum‑Master** for a 6‑person embedded team, driving sprint planning, backlog grooming, and daily stand‑ups; consistently delivered sprint goals on time (average velocity = 30 pts). |
| **English fluency** | Regularly authored technical specifications, design documents, and release notes in English for global customers (Tier‑1 carriers in Europe & APAC). |
| **Nice‑to‑have: Yang/Netconf, DWDM domain** | Implemented **OpenConfig/YANG models** for optical‑port configuration using ConfD; performed integration tests on a 40 km DWDM test‑bed, validating OTDR‑based fault detection. |

### What I can bring to Ekinops

* **End‑to‑end ownership** – From requirement analysis (JIRA task definition) through architecture, implementation, unit‑testing, and defect resolution, I have delivered complete software stacks that are production‑ready and well‑documented.  
* **Cross‑functional collaboration** – I have worked side‑by‑side with hardware engineers, system architects, and validation teams to ensure seamless hardware‑software integration, a habit that aligns perfectly with your “multidisciplinary agile team” approach.  
* **Continuous improvement mindset** – I actively contribute to process enhancements (e.g., introducing static‑analysis gates, improving test coverage from 62 % to 89 %). I look forward to bringing the same drive for quality and efficiency to the PTM‑DCI platform.  

I am genuinely excited about Ekinops’ commitment to open, trusted, and innovative network connectivity, as well as its ESG leadership. I would welcome the chance to discuss how my background can help accelerate the development of your DWDM optical‑transport solutions.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to speak with you.

**Sincerely,**  
[Your Name]

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📑 Quick‑Copy Résumé Bullet‑Points (for the “Professional Experience” section)

Embedded‑Software Engineer – [Current/Last Employer] – [City, Country]
Month 20XX – Present

• Developed C++17/20 firmware for 100 Gbps DWDM line‑cards; reduced processing latency by 18 % and memory usage by 22 %.
• Designed and implemented object‑oriented architecture using STL/Boost; introduced std::variant‑based state machines for optical‑port control.
• Built GitLab CI/CD pipelines (static analysis, unit‑test coverage > 85 %) and migrated the team to a Git‑flow branching model.
• Acted as Scrum‑Master for a 6‑person embedded team; maintained sprint velocity of 30 pts and ensured on‑time delivery of all releases.
• Authored OpenConfig/YANG models and integrated them with ConfD/Netconf for configuration of optical channels; performed end‑to‑end validation on a 40 km DWDM test‑bed.
• Collaborated with hardware, validation, and product‑management teams across EU & APAC locations; produced English technical documentation and release notes for Tier‑1 carriers.

(Add similar bullet‑points for previous roles if relevant.)

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🎯 How to Prepare for the 3‑Round Interview

Interview	Focus	Suggested Prep
1️⃣ R&D Manager	Technical depth, teamwork, problem‑solving style	• Review your most recent DWDM‑related project end‑to‑end. Be ready to discuss architecture decisions, trade‑offs, and defect‑resolution stories. • Prepare a short (2‑3 min) “elevator pitch” of a challenging bug you fixed (root cause, tools, impact).
2️⃣ Senior Director – Transport R&D	Vision, product impact, alignment with company strategy	• Study Ekinops’ PTM‑DCI platform (public white‑papers, press releases). Think about future trends in DWDM (e.g., coherent optics, AI‑driven fault detection) and how you could contribute. • Be ready to discuss agile scaling (Scrum of Scrums, PI planning) and how you’ve helped teams improve velocity or quality.
3️⃣ Talent Acquisition Manager	Culture fit, ESG awareness, communication	• Review Ekinops’ ESG commitments (EcoVadis Gold Medal, EthiFinance rating). Prepare a concrete example of how you’ve supported sustainability or inclusive practices in a past role. • Practice STAR answers for behavioral questions (e.g., “Tell me about a time you disagreed with a teammate”).

Sample Technical Questions & How to Answer

Question	What they’re probing	How to answer
“Explain how you would model an optical‑port configuration using YANG.”	Knowledge of data‑modeling, OpenConfig, practical experience	Briefly outline: 1️⃣ Identify the logical hierarchy (port → channel → wavelength). 2️⃣ Use leaf, list, container to represent static vs. dynamic data. 3️⃣ Map to ConfD RPCs (GET/SET). 4️⃣ Mention validation (must statements) and how you’d generate C++ bindings (e.g., sysrepo).
“What C++17/20 feature saved you the most in a recent project?”	Modern C++ fluency	Talk about std::optional (or std::variant) to replace error‑code enums, reducing boiler‑plate and improving readability; give a concrete metric (e.g., 30 % fewer lines, 15 % faster compile).
“How do you ensure code quality in a distributed team?”	CI/CD, testing, code‑review culture	Describe your GitLab CI pipeline (static analysis → unit tests → integration tests), code‑review checklist, and pair‑programming sessions you introduced. Mention coverage targets and how you handle flaky tests.
“Describe a time you had to work with a hardware team to debug a defect.”	Cross‑functional collaboration	Use STAR: Situation (intermittent optical‑loss bug), Task (identify root cause), Action (used oscilloscope, added logging, coordinated with HW to run board‑level tests), Result (fixed within 2 weeks, saved €50k in re‑work).

Quick “What to Ask” Ideas (show you’re engaged)

• “How does the PTM‑DCI team balance rapid feature delivery with the stringent reliability requirements of carrier‑grade DWDM equipment?”
• “Can you share how Ekinops integrates ESG goals into the R&D lifecycle (e.g., energy‑efficient code, sustainable hardware choices)?”
• “What are the biggest technical challenges you anticipate for the next major release of the PTM platform?”

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✅ Final Checklist Before Sending

1. Tailor the cover letter – Insert the exact job title, reference the “Photonic Transport Modular – Embedded Software” team, and mention any specific keywords from the posting (e.g., “Agile Scrum”, “Yang models”).
2. Proofread – Run a spell‑check and read aloud to catch any awkward phrasing.
3. Attach a concise résumé (1‑page if you have < 10 years experience) that mirrors the bullet‑points above.
4. Include a short “Portfolio” (if you have public code, GitHub repos, or a demo video of a DWDM‑related project) – even a private link works.
5. Send a polite follow‑up (≈ 1 week after submission) to reaffirm interest.

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Good luck! 🎉

If you’d like me to review your final CV, practice mock interview answers, or draft a thank‑you email after the interviews, just let me know – I’m happy to help.