The Role
Develop and maintain embedded software for custom avionics hardware supporting spacecraft flight and ground testing. Responsibilities include low-level processor functions, peripheral and communication interfaces, closed-loop controls, fault detection, hardware integration, prototyping, and rigorous production code. Collaborate with avionics, GNC, propulsion, and other engineering teams while troubleshooting embedded systems using hardware and source-level debugging tools.
Summary Generated by Built In
As an Embedded Software Engineer your core responsibility will be to write code that runs on custom avionics hardware for executing flight and ground test functions. You will work with avionics hardware engineers, GNC engineers, propulsion engineers, and others to develop performant and maintainable solutions. You will have the opportunity to contribute to many aspects of spacecraft development, including architecting new systems, doing quick prototypes, doing rigorous flight projects, and controlling flight hardware during ground tests.
Responsibilities
- Implement and improve low-level processor functions such as controls of peripherals, and setup of communication interfaces.
- Implement and improve functions such as closed loop control of physical processes, and detection/response algorithms for failures such as broken sensors or radiation upsets.
- Provide technical input on new system developments from an embedded software perspective.
- Write scrappy code to support development testing of avionics and propulsion devices.
- Write rigorous, reviewed, and tested code to support manufacturing and flight.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or scientific discipline; OR 2+ years of professional experience building software in lieu of a degree
- 1+ years' writing C/C++ code for an embedded system or vehicle of some kind (robot, car, drone, or spacecraft)
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Experience using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, hardware debuggers, and source-level debuggers to troubleshoot problems at all layers of the stack.
- 2+ years of demonstrated knowledge of and experience with communication protocols including I2C, CAN, SPI, UART, etc.
- 2+ years of demonstrated knowledge of microprocessors and microcontrollers, with an understanding of components such as caches, buses, memory controllers, and DMA.
- 2+ years of demonstrated experience developing low-level drivers for camera modules (e.g., MIPI CSI-2, USB, SPI, I2C).
- Understanding of sensor communication protocols and interfacing with custom or commercial image sensors.
- Experience interfacing with motor drivers, power electronics, and sensor feedback systems, including encoders and current sensors.
Additional Information:
Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.
Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
About
Impulse Space, the in-space transportation company founded by Tom Mueller, is opening access beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with its fleet of in-space transportation vehicles. The high-energy Helios vehicle unlocks orbits beyond LEO with its powerful Deneb engine, dropping off payloads in MEO, GEO, heliocentric, lunar, and other planetary orbits. The flight-proven Mira vehicle uses a nontoxic, high-impulse chemical propulsion system to offer orbital transport, constellation deployment, and precision reentry services to customers throughout LEO. Led by a team that delivered the most reliable rockets in history, Impulse provides economical and efficient in-space transportation by reliably and rapidly getting customers where they want to go.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics, or a scientific discipline, or 2+ years of professional software development experience in lieu of a degree
- At least 1 year of experience writing C or C++ code for an embedded system or vehicle
- U.S. Person status or eligibility to obtain an applicable U.S. export license under ITAR/EAR regulations
- Experience using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, hardware debuggers, and source-level debuggers
- At least 2 years of experience with I2C, CAN, SPI, UART, or similar communication protocols
- At least 2 years of knowledge of microprocessors and microcontrollers, including caches, buses, memory controllers, and DMA
- At least 2 years of experience developing low-level camera-module drivers, including MIPI CSI-2, USB, SPI, or I2C
- Understanding of sensor communication protocols and custom or commercial image sensors
- Experience interfacing with motor drivers, power electronics, encoders, current sensors, and sensor feedback systems
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The Company
What We Do
Impulse enables low-cost and nimble last-mile space payload delivery - access any orbit, reach other worlds.
