Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Location: Irvine, CA (100% On-Site / Lab-Based)

Salary: $150K-$250K / year (Negotiable based on experience) + Benefits & Equity

About the Role

Our client is building safety-critical flight systems that must operate perfectly every single time. They are looking for a Senior Embedded Systems & Controls Software Engineer to design and own the "brain" of the system—the supervisory logic, state machines, and safety sequencing that control how multiple hardware subsystems interact.

This is an on-site, lab-heavy role in Irvine, CA, because you will be working directly with physical hardware, flight controllers, and testing rigs.

What this role is NOT: This is not a low-level silicon driver writing role, nor is it an inner-loop math algorithm role. You are focusing on the system-level behavior, architecture, and safety logic of the entire machine.

What You'll Do

• System Control & Logic: Design and build the main state machines and software logic that handle system power-up, everyday flight operations, and emergency fault recoveries.
• Embedded Coding: Write clean, reliable code in C/C++ or use MATLAB/Simulink for safety-critical microcontrollers.
• Hardware Integration & Bring-Up: Work hands-on in the lab to test your code on real hardware, debug communication issues, and ensure everything runs predictably.
• Network Communication: Set up and manage communication protocols between different parts of the system using CAN, SPI, and Ethernet.

What We Are Looking For

• Experience: 5+ years of professional experience writing embedded software for real-time, physical hardware systems.
• Core Skills: Strong skills in embedded C/C++ and model-based design workflows using MATLAB and Simulink.
• Hardware Comfort: You enjoy being in the lab, working closely with electrical engineers, and using scopes or logic analyzers to debug code on real boards.
• Communication Buses: Solid understanding of messaging and fault handling over CAN, SPI, or similar networks.
• Industry Background: Experience with electric vehicles, robotics, aviation, or safety-critical systems (like ISO 26262 or DO-178C standards) is a huge plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary 160K-250K (negotiable based on your depth of experience).
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) and company equity.
• The opportunity to have true architectural ownership over a cutting-edge aerospace project.