Founding Embedded Engineer

Orbital Robotics; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Orbital Robotics is seeking engineers who have deployed embedded software for safety-critical robotic systems at scale. You will architect, implement, test, and deploy real-time C/C++ software from bare-metal bring-up to production hardware on test rigs and full-scale robots.

Responsibilities include driver development, high-speed comms, RTOS optimization, and safety-focused architectures to withstand hardware degradation and disturbances. ITAR compliance is required for U.S. persons.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, physics, robotics, or related engineering discipline.
• 3+ years of full-time embedded systems experience.
• Software development experience in C, C++ and Linux.
• ITAR requirements: must be a U.S. person (citizen, permanent resident, or designated asylee/refugee).

Responsibilities

• Architect, implement, test, and deploy real-time embedded C/C++ software from bare-metal bring-up to production hardware.
• Develop device drivers and high-speed communication protocols to tightly integrate actuators, motor controllers, and complex sensor payloads.
• Optimize low-level firmware and RTOS to guarantee the strict timing and latencies required for high-bandwidth robotic control, dynamic movement, and manipulation.
• Design fault-tolerant software architectures and safety systems that gracefully handle hardware degradation, thermal limits, and unexpected physical disturbances.
• Integrate and debug embedded systems directly on full-scale robots and hardware-in-the-loop test frameworks.

Skills

Embedded systems

C programming

C++ programming

Linux

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, physics, robotics, or related field

Tools

RTOS

Linux kernel

Job description

Orbital Robotics is looking for engineers who have deployed embedded software for safety critical systems at scale. While we are deploying spacecraft with robotic arms to space, any engineer experienced with robotic systems, autonomous vehicles, or avionics will be a great fit.

Responsibilities

• Architect, implement, test, and deploy real-time embedded C/C++ software from bare-metal bring-up to production hardware.

• Develop device drivers and high-speed communication protocols to tightly integrate actuators, motor controllers, and complex sensor payloads.

• Optimize low-level firmware and RTOS to guarantee the strict timing and latencies required for high-bandwidth robotic control, dynamic movement, and manipulation.

• Design fault-tolerant software architectures and safety systems that gracefully handle hardware degradation, thermal limits, and unexpected physical disturbances.

• Integrate and debug embedded systems directly on full-scale robots and hardware-in-the-loop test frameworks.

Qualifications

• Due to ITAR regulations, must be a U.S. person (citizen, permanent resident, or designated asylee/refugee).

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, physics, robotics, or related engineering discipline.

• Software development experience in C, C++ and Linux.

• 3+ years of full-time, working experience in embedded systems.

Desired Experience

Firmware & Embedded Systems

• Bare-Metal & RTOS: Experience implementing low-level software on bare-metal systems and RTOS.

• Motor Control: Experience with brushless motor controllers and FOC algorithm implementation.

Safety-Critical & Real-Time Systems

• Safety-Critical Software: Experience deploying for safety critical systems including aircraft avionics or autonomous vehicles.

• Real-Time Processors: Experience targeting high-reliability, real-time processors used in automotive powertrain, aerospace avionics, or robotic actuation.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.