How to Pick a Real-Time Embedded Software Consultant

by Robert Japenga

The purpose of this article is to provide you with a checklist for picking a consultant for your next real-time embedded software systems project. Since you have gotten this far, we’ll assume that you are already interested in finding a consultant and so we’ll skip to the basics. We tried to phrase all of the questions such that they require only Yes or No answers.

What is Their Skill Mix?

• Does the consultant have at least 15 years of experience designing real-time embedded systems?
• Is the consultant thoroughly familiar with real-time operating systems?
• Does the consultant have a good working knowledge of electronics?
• Does the consultant know how to read schematics?
• Does the consultant know how to use an oscilloscope?
• Does the consultant know how to debug hardware as well as software?
• Is the consultant proficient in object oriented design?
• Does the consultant know how to ROM object oriented designs?
• Does the consultant have good communications skills as well as good technical skills?

How does their Proposal Read?

• Does the consultant’s proposal provide a detailed preliminary specification?
• Does the consultant’s proposal provide a detailed statement of work?
• Does the consultant’s proposal provide a preliminary test plan?
• Does the consultant’s proposal provide a fixed price?
• Does the consultant’s proposal identify risks and provide a risk management plan?
• Does the consultant’s proposal provide a schedule that is acceptable to you?
• Does the consultant’s proposal provide references?
• Does the consultant’s proposal read professionally?
• Does the consultant’s proposal make clear all of the intellectual property issues?
• Does the consultant’s proposal read like a legal contract?

References

• Does the consultant have references in the specific technology areas where you are looking?
• Does the consultant have references with whom they have worked for at least 5 years?
• Are the references enthusiastic about the consultant?
• Have you asked the reference about the consultant’s greatest strengths?
• Have you asked the reference about the consultant’s greatest weakness?
• Have you asked the reference about the consultant’s greatest success?
• Have you asked the reference about the consultant’s greatest failure?
• Does the reference believe that the consultant has met schedule on past projects?
• Does the reference believe that the consultant brings integrity to its projects?
• Does the reference believe that the consultant brings creativity to its projects?
• Does the reference believe that the consultant keeps the client’s interests in mind in all decisions?
• Have you asked the reference about how available the consultant was to meet their overflow software development needs?

Can the Consultant Provide Long Term Availability?

• Has the consultant been working with clients like you for at least 10 years?
• Is the consultant spread too thin to meet your long term needs?
• Does the company present a stable image for the long term?

What are the Employees of the Consultant like?

• Is it clear which employees will be working on your project?
• Does the consulting company retain its employees over the long term?
• Does the consulting company have a good technical mix of employees to handle your project?
• Will there be more than one employee working on your project?

We hope that this checklist will clarify the values that we consider important in searching for quality real-time embedded consultants and that it will help you successfully out-source your next real-time embedded software project.