Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Innoflight LLC • San Diego, CA

1d • $158,000 - $210,000 • Onsite

About The Position

As a Senior Embedded Software Engineer, you will design and develop advanced embedded software solutions that power satellite avionics and payload data processing systems. You'll work at the intersection of software, hardware, and FPGA engineering to create rugged, reliable, and Low-Size, Weight, and Power (Low-SWaP) products for demanding aerospace applications. From low-level drivers and real-time operating systems to secure communications and multi-core processing, you'll solve complex technical challenges while mentoring junior engineers and helping advance software development practices across the team.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 9 or more years of experience developing embedded software.
• Advanced proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems and low-level driver development.
• Deep experience with embedded Linux systems, kernel configuration, and system bootloaders.
• Strong understanding of RTOS development and real-time system constraints.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret schematics and hardware documentation for embedded software and driver development.
• Proficiency with networking and communications protocols, including secure communication standards.
• Familiarity with cryptographic principles and their application in embedded systems.
• Experience with software integration, debugging, and system-level validation.
• Excellent problem-solving, documentation, and technical communication skills.
• Proven ability to mentor and support junior engineers in a collaborative engineering environment.
• Ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with parallel-processing frameworks such as OpenCL or CUDA is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Designs Embedded Software: Develops advanced embedded software for multi-core processors integrated with FPGAs, supporting satellite avionics, payload processing, system monitoring, and power management applications.
• Develops Low-Level Software: Designs and implements C/C++ software, device drivers, and system-level applications for ARM Cortex and RISC-V processor architectures.
• Builds Embedded Linux Systems: Configures and customizes Linux kernels, system settings, and bootloaders such as U-Boot and GRUB to support specialized aerospace hardware platforms.
• Implements Real-Time Solutions: Develops software for RTOS-based systems while addressing real-time constraints, performance requirements, and mission-critical system behaviors.
• Integrates Communications Interfaces: Develops and integrates software supporting SPI, I2C, UART, GPIO, PCI, PCIe, Ethernet, and SpaceWire interfaces across complex embedded platforms.
• Secures Embedded Systems: Implements networking and security protocols including IP, TLS, and IPsec while applying cryptographic technologies such as AES, RSA, ECDSA, and ECDH to protect mission-critical communications.
• Leads Software Development: Leads the development, integration, and testing of reusable, high-quality embedded software modules that can support multiple products and programs.
• Translates System Requirements: Converts complex system and customer requirements into robust software architectures and designs that meet technical, performance, and reliability objectives.
• Integrates Hardware & Software: Works closely with Hardware and FPGA Engineering teams to integrate, debug, and validate software on target hardware platforms.
• Manages Software Releases: Tracks features, defects, and releases through formal software configuration management and release processes to maintain product traceability and quality.
• Drives Continuous Improvement: Contributes to development standards, engineering best practices, and team workflows that improve software quality, efficiency, and maintainability.
• Mentors Engineering Talent: Provides technical mentorship to junior engineers through design reviews, code walkthroughs, troubleshooting support, and day-to-day technical guidance.

Benefits

• Profit-Sharing Bonus
• Cash Performance Bonus
• 401(k) with 3% company match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, HSA & life insurance
• 10 paid holidays
• 120 hours PTO (starting in year one)
• Access to ancillary benefits such as critical illness, accident, disability, legal and pet insurance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior