Embedded Systems Engineer: Real‑Time & FPGA Expert

Open Cosmos; Harwell; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Open Cosmos is seeking an Embedded Systems Engineer to design and develop real-time embedded software and firmware powering critical hardware across ground and space systems. You will work on embedded C/C++ in RTOS environments, FPGA/Verilog solutions, and robust communication interfaces.

You will collaborate with systems, hardware, RF, and software teams to deliver integrated solutions while focusing on deterministic control loops, fault-tolerance, and high reliability in aerospace contexts.

Qualifications

• Embedded systems operating within real-time or constrained environments.
• Proficiency in embedded C/C++ and RTOS-based development.
• Strong capability in FPGA/firmware development using VHDL/Verilog.
• Low-level communication interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART, CAN or Ethernet.
• Debugging and verification using JTAG, logic analyzers or HIL environments.
• High‑reliability and fault‑tolerant embedded system design principles.
• Collaborative work with multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Awareness of aerospace/defence/highly demanding environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop embedded software and firmware for real-time control and telemetry systems.
• Design FPGA/firmware solutions using VHDL/Verilog for high-speed hardware control.
• Build and optimise embedded C/C++ applications within RTOS environments.
• Implement deterministic control loops and low-level hardware interfaces.
• Develop robust communication protocols across digital and RF subsystems.
• Design fault-tolerant and resilient system architectures for high-reliability environments.
• Support hardware-in-the-loop testing, integration, debugging, and verification activities.
• Optimise performance, power consumption, and memory usage in constrained embedded systems.
• Contribute to secure remote management and monitoring capabilities for deployed systems.
• Collaborate with systems, hardware, RF, and software teams to deliver integrated solutions.

Skills

Embedded systems

RTOS development

C/C++

FPGA/HDL

Low-level interfaces

Debugging with JTAG

System integration

Cross-functional collaboration

High-reliability design

Tools

JTAG

Logic analyzers

HIL environments

Job description

Open Cosmos is seeking an Embedded Systems Engineer to design and develop real-time embedded software and firmware powering critical hardware across ground and space systems. You will work on embedded C/C++ in RTOS environments, FPGA/Verilog solutions, and robust communication interfaces.

You will collaborate with systems, hardware, RF, and software teams to deliver integrated solutions while focusing on deterministic control loops, fault-tolerance, and high reliability in aerospace contexts.