Senior Satellite Embedded Engineer
About The Position
HawkEye 360 (HE360) is seeking a versatile, detail-oriented Satellite Embedded Engineer to join the Space team in Herndon, Virginia. As a Senior Satellite Embedded Engineer , you will play a pivotal role in developing the software that powers our spacecraft and payloads. You will work hands-on with real flight hardware, creating flight software from the ground up — from low-level driver development to integrated spacecraft functionality. Reporting to the Firmware Systems Lead, you will contribute to the architecture, implementation, testing, and optimization of software that will fly on-orbit and enable HE360's mission.This role is ideal for an engineer who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys solving complex technical problems, and wants to directly influence mission success. As the Senior Satellite Embedded Engineer, your main responsibilities will be: Design and implement flight software in C for critical spacecraft functions including communications, telemetry, command handling, payload tasking, and autonomous fault protection. Develop and integrate low-level embedded drivers, including subcontractor-supplied drivers, across RTOS and embedded Linux systems. Conduct unit testing, integrated software testing, and hardware-in-the-loop verification to ensure reliability before launch. Support hardware bring-up and system integration, debugging interactions between software, processors, sensors, radios, and payload electronics. Build and maintain Python and C tools for ground support equipment, automated testing workflows, and data processing. Analyze on-orbit and ground test data to diagnose issues, validate performance, and drive continuous system improvements. Optimize software for Low-SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) embedded environments, focusing on performance, efficiency, and resource utilization. Collaborate closely with systems, RF, hardware, and operations teams to ensure seamless multi-disciplinary integration. Participate in rapid development cycles, supporting design reviews, code reviews, and iterative hardware/software testing.
Requirements
- Proven ability to solve complex technical problems with high attention to detail and minimal oversight.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in cross-functional engineering teams.
- B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field; or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years of professional software engineering experience, preferably in embedded systems.
- Proficiency in C, Python, Bash, and version control (Git).
- Experience with Linux and RTOS-based embedded development, including debugging and performance tuning.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with embedded communication interfaces: CAN, SPI, I²C, RS-422, or similar.
- Familiarity with GitLab CI or similar Continuous Integration tooling.
- Experience with bare-metal microcontrollers or Zephyr RTOS.
- Understanding of Yocto/OpenEmbedded for ARM-based embedded Linux systems.
- Hands-on experience with Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+, Zynq-7000, or similar SoC platforms.
- Exposure to RF systems, software-defined radios, and payload-level signal-processing chains.
- Familiarity with spacecraft command and telemetry systems, mission operations, or satellite bus architectures.
- Comfort using lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and related instrumentation.
Responsibilities
- Design and implement flight software in C for critical spacecraft functions including communications, telemetry, command handling, payload tasking, and autonomous fault protection.
- Develop and integrate low-level embedded drivers, including subcontractor-supplied drivers, across RTOS and embedded Linux systems.
- Conduct unit testing, integrated software testing, and hardware-in-the-loop verification to ensure reliability before launch.
- Support hardware bring-up and system integration, debugging interactions between software, processors, sensors, radios, and payload electronics.
- Build and maintain Python and C tools for ground support equipment, automated testing workflows, and data processing.
- Analyze on-orbit and ground test data to diagnose issues, validate performance, and drive continuous system improvements.
- Optimize software for Low-SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) embedded environments, focusing on performance, efficiency, and resource utilization.
- Collaborate closely with systems, RF, hardware, and operations teams to ensure seamless multi-disciplinary integration.
- Participate in rapid development cycles, supporting design reviews, code reviews, and iterative hardware/software testing.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
251-500 employees
