Embedded Software Engineer — Space-Grade, Hybrid & Equity

Observable Space; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Compensation

Equity Opportunities

Flexible Work Environment (LA Office)

Unlimited PTO

Health & Wellness Coverage

Cutting-Edge Tools

Mission-Driven Culture

Inclusive Team

Job summary

Observable Space is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to join our embedded team across our product line, from robotic ground telescopes to on-orbit compute platforms. You’ll build and maintain embedded Linux systems and low-level firmware, bring up peripherals, and contribute to bench work including prototype assembly.

You’ll report to the Embedded Engineering Lead and collaborate with electrical and mechanical teams to debug at the hardware-software boundary.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in embedded software engineering or related internship/academic background.
• Proficiency in C/C++.
• Solid understanding of DC power systems, motor drivers, and hardware interfaces (I2C, SPI, CAN, Ethernet, MIPI, PCIe).
• Ability to read schematics, understand board-level considerations, and debug at the electrical–software boundary.
• Familiarity with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, multimeters, and power debugging tools.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Support the development, testing, and debugging of embedded Linux systems and low-level firmware—from daemons and drivers to bootloaders and control loops.
• Assist in developing and maintaining drivers across interfaces such as PCIe, SPI, I2C, UART, MIPI CSI-2, and GPIO.
• Help bring up peripherals (cameras, sensors, communication links) at both software and hardware levels, including first article prototypes and test rigs.
• Help own component test characterization campaigns, from setting up test rigs to running the tests and pulling results together.
• Participate in longevity testing campaigns and analyze test data to catch issues before they matter.
• Participate in design reviews, code reviews, and team discussions to build product and reliability instincts.

Skills

C/C++

Embedded systems

Driver development

Schematics reading

Oscilloscopes

Debugging

Prototyping

Tools

Zephyr RTOS

Qualcomm SoCs BSP

Job description

Observable Space is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to join our embedded team across our product line, from robotic ground telescopes to on-orbit compute platforms. You’ll build and maintain embedded Linux systems and low-level firmware, bring up peripherals, and contribute to bench work including prototype assembly.

You’ll report to the Embedded Engineering Lead and collaborate with electrical and mechanical teams to debug at the hardware-software boundary.