Staff Embedded Software Engineer

About the Role

As a Staff Embedded Software Engineer, you will work across our full product line, from robotic ground telescopes to on-orbit compute platforms. You will design and maintain embedded Linux systems, bring up complex peripherals, build rock-solid drivers, and architect software that will run for decades in remote and harsh environments.

This role is deeply hands-on: you will read schematics, work shoulder-to-shoulder with electrical and mechanical teams, debug unusual edge cases, and own Yocto-based platforms down to the metal. You will report to the Embedded Engineering Lead.

What You'll Do

• Architect, implement, and document embedded Linux systems composed of multiple daemons, services, and hardware interfaces designed for extreme reliability in remote and space environments.
• Own the BSP and driver stack across PCIe, SPI, I2C, UART, MIPI CSI-2, GPIO, and other hardware interfaces.
• Bring up high-speed peripherals (PCIe endpoints, MIPI cameras, high-bandwidth data links) and ensure their long-term robustness.
• Maintain build system health: keep Yocto builds unblocked, reproducible, and hardened through strict CI/CD testing gates.
• Design for resilience: create systems that can run autonomously for years with minimal human intervention.
• Collaborate on automated testing: help the test team build lab infrastructure that enables frictionless writing and execution of hardware-in-the-loop tests.
• Participate in product design reviews to ensure manufacturability, serviceability, and field reliability.

What You'll Bring

• 5+ years in embedded software engineering or systems-level development.
• Strong proficiency in C and modern C++-and good judgment about when not to overuse templates.
• Solid understanding of DC power systems, motor drivers, and common hardware interfaces (I2C, SPI, CAN, Ethernet, MIPI, PCIe).
• Experience bringing up high-speed interfaces, especially PCIe and MIPI CSI-2 (D-PHY 1.4+).
• Deep familiarity with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, multimeters, and power debugging tools.
• Ability to read and interpret schematics, understand board-level considerations, and debug at the electrical-software boundary.
• Strong debugging intuition-and the humility to know that debugging is 90% of the job.
• Experience in fast-paced prototyping environments and a bias toward quick iteration.
• Strong product sense: you prioritize manufacturing reliability, robustness, and long-term serviceability.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Zephyr RTOS, embedded networking stacks, or sensor fusion.
• Experience with Qualcomm SoCs and their BSP/driver ecosystems.
• Experience with 3 phase motor drivers and tuning parameters park/clark vector control.
• Background in vision processing, image pipelines, or camera-focused algorithms.
• Contributions to open-source embedded or Linux kernel projects.
• Passion for astronomy, physics, and scientific exploration.

What We Offer

• Competitive Compensation - A salary package aligned with industry standards and your experience.
• Equity Opportunities - Take part in our success with stock options.

• Flexible Work Environment - Enjoy working from our office or in a hybrid work setup with the flexibility to work remotely part of the week.
• We require a minimum of 3 days per week in our office to support collaboration and team culture.
• (LA Office only)

• Unlimited PTO (exempt only) - Take the time you need with our flexible, trust-based vacation policy, including paid holidays. We encourage everyone to rest, recharge, and take care of themselves.
• Health & Wellness - Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% of the premium paid by the employer for employees.
• Cutting-Edge Tools - Get access to the latest hardware and software you need to do your best work.
• Mission-Driven Culture - Be part of a team working on meaningful challenges with real-world impact.
• Inclusive Team - We foster a supportive and diverse workplace where all voices are valued.