Embedded systems are often operating under hard real-time constraints, for example in automotive applications. For such systems, robustness and reliability are crucial, which calls for rigorous system design and methodologies for validation. In this paper we advocate a design methodology for robust, realtime systems, based on Timber; a pure reactive system model that allows for formal reasoning about various system properties. We outline how system specifications in Timber can be "compiled" into efficient standalone executables for general light-weight microcontroller platforms. Methods for resource analysis and implications to system dimensioning and validation are further discussed.