Founding Embedded Software Engineer - Build the Flight Software Behind a New Class of Interceptor SystemsHawthorne, California | On-siteJoin a recently funded seed-stage defense technology startup developing a new generation of low-cost interceptor systems for rapidly evolving airborne threats. The company has already built and demonstrated working flight hardware with military users and is now expanding its core engineering team as it moves from early intercept demonstrations toward deployable systems and higher-rate production. As a Founding Embedded Software Engineer, you will own a significant portion of the software running directly on the vehicle. You will develop real-time flight software, integrate sensors and hardware, translate GNC algorithms into reliable embedded implementations, and help evolve the existing software stack into a production-ready system capable of operating across increasingly demanding missions and environments.Job DutiesOwn and advance embedded software across guidance, navigation, flight control, sensing, and vehicle systemsDevelop production-quality C/C++ for bare-metal, RTOS, and other resource-constrained embedded environmentsTranslate GNC algorithms and mathematical models into reliable real-time flight softwareOptimize software for deterministic execution, low latency, memory efficiency, and limited onboard computeIntegrate IMUs, GNSS, magnetometers, RF systems, optical sensors, and other vehicle sensors into the flight-software architectureDevelop drivers, interfaces, and data pipelines connecting sensors, actuators, avionics, and flight computersSupport the development and integration of new sensing and guidance approachesPerform board bring-up, hardware/software integration, and low-level debuggingDevelop robust telemetry, logging, fault handling, and onboard diagnostic capabilitiesProfile and optimize performance-critical code under tight compute and power constraintsBuild tools for software testing, hardware-in-the-loop testing, simulation, and flight-data analysisSupport system integration, ground testing, range operations, and flight testingAnalyze onboard logs and flight data to identify failures, performance limitations, and opportunities for improvementWork closely with GNC, electrical, mechanical, propulsion, and test engineers to define interfaces and system requirementsHelp establish the embedded software architecture, development standards, and technical practices that future engineers will build uponQualifications3+ years of hands-on embedded software development experienceStrong proficiency in C or C++ for embedded systemsExperience developing software for microcontrollers, embedded processors, or other resource-constrained compute platformsExperience working in bare-metal, RTOS, or other real-time environmentsStrong understanding of timing, interrupts, concurrency, memory management, and deterministic software behaviorHands-on experience integrating sensors, actuators, or other hardware into embedded systemsAbility to debug across the hardware/software boundary using laboratory tools and onboard telemetryExperience profiling and optimizing performance-critical embedded codeWorking understanding of control systems, numerical methods, state estimation, or sensor fusionAbility to collaborate closely with algorithm developers and translate mathematical concepts into reliable softwareStrong technical judgment and comfort making decisions in an early-stage environmentAbility to independently own software from initial implementation through hardware integration and flight testingBachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical disciplineAbility to work on-site in Hawthorne, CaliforniaPreferred ExperienceEmbedded flight software for UAS, missiles, interceptors, spacecraft, rockets, autonomous vehicles, or roboticsExperience working with PX4, ArduPilot, Betaflight, or similar flight-control architecturesFamiliarity with GNC algorithms and real-time flight-control implementationSensor-fusion and state-estimation experienceHardware-in-the-loop or software-in-the-loop testingExperience with custom flight computers or avionics hardwareFamiliarity with CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet, or similar embedded communication protocolsExperience operating in GPS-denied or degraded-navigation environmentsRust or Zig development experiencePrevious experience in a small technical team where engineers owned major portions of a product or vehicleWhy Join UsTake founding-level ownership of the embedded flight-software stackBuild on a vehicle platform that has already completed successful real-world demonstrationsWork directly across embedded software, GNC, avionics, sensing, hardware integration, and flight testingSee software move quickly from your development environment onto real flight hardwareHelp establish the software architecture and engineering standards as the team growsWork on systems designed around scalable production rather than one-off prototypesFounding-stage equityPerformance-based bonuses for exceptional contributionsMedical, dental, and vision coverageCompany-provided meals during working days and launch activitiesPaid time off and company holidaysCompensation Details$120,000 - $170,000#LI-AV
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