Heavy Duty Diesel Remote Diagnostic Tool - BC-957

Project type: Research
Desired discipline(s): Engineering - computer / electrical, Engineering, Computer science, Mathematical Sciences
Company: WJ Technologies LTD
Project Length: 6 months to 1 year
Preferred start date: As soon as possible.
Language requirement: English
Location(s): Vernon, BC, Canada
No. of positions: 1 - 2
Desired education level: Master's
Open to applicants registered at an institution outside of Canada: Yes

About the company: 

WJ Technologies is a Canadian company dedicated to serving the heavy duty diesel equipment industry and the aluminum truck accessory market. We offer a number of diagnostic and tuning services to the North American market as well as offer pick up truck accessories across the Canadian Market.

Describe the project.: 

This project offers research students a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of embedded systems, cybersecurity, and automotive diagnostics. The goal is to develop an over-the-air (OTA) remote diagnostic platform capable of performing Level 1 and Level 2 support for heavy-duty diesel engines. By enabling remote access to engine data and fault codes, the system will reduce vehicle downtime and improve fleet maintenance practices.

Students can contribute to one or more key research areas:
• Protocol Integration: Reverse engineering and mapping of diagnostic messages into a usable API.
• Remote API Development: Designing secure interfaces to access vehicle data over the internet.
• Security Analysis: Investigating the risks and safeguards required for remotely controlling diagnostic sessions.

Methodologies will include packet analysis, embedded programming (e.g., Linux or microcontroller-based systems), secure API design, and hands-on testing with real diagnostic hardware and simulation tools. The project emphasizes both innovation and real-world application, offering students the chance to work on a commercially oriented product while gaining deep technical experience.

Ideal candidates have interests in automotive systems, cybersecurity, embedded development, or networking.

Required expertise/skills: 

• Embedded Systems: Familiarity with microcontroller programming (e.g., STM32, ESP32) or embedded Linux platforms (e.g., Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone).
• Networking & Protocols: Understanding of TCP/IP, serial communication (RS-232/RS-485), and CAN bus standards (J1708/J1939). Experience analyzing packet captures (Wireshark) is an asset.
• Programming Skills: Proficiency in languages such as C, C++, Rust for low-level device control and data processing.
• API & Software Development: Experience designing RESTful APIs or working with message brokers (MQTT, Kafka) for remote communication.
• Cybersecurity Awareness: Knowledge of authentication, encryption (TLS), and secure OTA communication practices.
• Problem Solving & Reverse Engineering: Ability to analyze undocumented systems, identify patterns, and create structured interfaces from raw data.