Lead Embedded Software Engineer

Generalmatter; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

General Matter in Los Angeles seeks a Lead Embedded Software Engineer to guide embedded software that powers our systems, owning critical architecture and mentoring a small team. You will stay hands-on to drive robust, production-ready code and collaborate across disciplines.

You will set engineering standards and work with hardware, electrical, and controls teams to translate requirements into reliable firmware (C/C++, Rust) and validated deployment pipelines.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience defining architecture, system design, and functional requirements.
• 1+ year experience managing a team.
• Proven track record defining system architecture and translating requirements into technical solutions.
• Strong fundamentals and ability to apply engineering principles to multidisciplinary systems.
• Ability to perform trade studies using first principles.
• Development experience in C, C++, Golang, Python, or Rust.
• Embedded or low-level systems development experience.
• BS degree in computer science, engineering, math, or another STEM discipline.

Responsibilities

• Architect and develop safety-critical embedded software powering General Matter's industrial systems with reliability and precision.
• Manage and mentor a small team of engineers while remaining hands-on in execution and problem solving.
• Build low-level firmware in C/C++ and Rust to control actuators, process sensor data, and implement fault-tolerant control logic.
• Design robust control architectures, state machines, and data acquisition systems for mission-critical hardware.
• Own software from development through deployment by creating automated build, test, and validation infrastructure.
• Collaborate with hardware, electrical, and controls engineers to bring up new systems and troubleshoot challenges.
• Perform safety analyses and validate control logic for deterministic behavior and functional safety.
• Debug real-world embedded systems with lab instruments.
• Contribute to integrated system testing, commissioning, and continuous improvement of embedded software.

Skills

Technical leadership

Team management

C/C++/Rust

Embedded systems

Golang

Python

Education

BS degree in CS/Engineering/Math

Job description

About the Company

General Matter enriches uranium.

We are designing, building, and operating the world’s lowest-cost enrichment services, here in the US.

In the process, we are restoring America’s ability to produce nuclear fuel to power AI, advanced manufacturing and critical industries our country relies on to remain competitive.

Fuel drives the cost of advanced reactor electricity production, and enrichment drives the cost of the fuel that advanced reactors consume. Reliable, low-cost enrichment is the catalyst for the nuclear Renaissance now under way.

Our mission is to make nuclear not only the cleanest and safest source of baseload power, but also the most affordable. We believe abundant nuclear energy will lead to a post-scarcity society.

We were incubated inside Founders Fund, like Anduril and Palantir before us, and are backed by over a dozen of the world's top venture capital firms.

Our lean, world-class team of engineers and operators is applying a first-principles approach to solving the problem of nuclear fuel production.

We are a mission-driven company with a culture of urgency, accountability, and transparency.

Help us build a high-energy society by making the cleanest, safest form of baseload energy the most affordable.

About This Role

As a General Matter Lead Embedded Software Engineer, you will serve as a technical leader for the embedded software that directly controls our systems while managing and mentoring a small team of engineers. You will own critical software architecture and technical decisions, remain deeply hands-on in development, and help guide the growth and execution of your direct reports. Your code will command actuators, process high-speed signals, and operate in applications where safety, reliability, and precision are essential.

You will set technical direction, establish engineering standards and best practices, and lead the design and development of complex embedded software across the system. You will also provide day-to-day technical mentorship, feedback, and support to a small number of direct reports. You will work closely with electrical engineers, software engineers, chemical engineers, manufacturing engineers, nuclear engineers, materials scientists, and physicists to translate system requirements into robust, production-ready software.

If you're motivated by solving difficult technical problems, setting the technical bar for embedded systems, and helping develop a small team while staying close to the work, this is the role for you.

Responsibilities

• Architect and develop safety-critical embedded software that powers General Matter's industrial systems with reliability and precision.
• Manage, mentor, and develop a small team of engineers while remaining hands-on in technical execution and day-to-day problem solving.
• Build low-level firmware in C/C++, and Rust to control electromechanical actuators, process high-speed sensor data, and execute fault-tolerant control logic.
• Design robust control architectures, state machines, and data acquisition systems for mission-critical hardware.
• Own software from development through deployment by creating automated build, test, and validation infrastructure.
• Partner closely with hardware, electrical, and controls engineers to bring up new systems, integrate firmware with hardware, and troubleshoot complex electromechanical challenges.
• Perform safety analyses and validate control logic to ensure deterministic behavior and functional safety under both normal and fault conditions.
• Debug real-world embedded systems using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, and other laboratory instrumentation
• Contribute to integrated system testing, commissioning, and continuous improvement of embedded software running on production equipment.

Basic Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience inatechnical leadershipposition definingarchitecture, system design,and functional requirements.
• 1+ year experience managing a team.
• Demonstrated experiencedefining system architecture and translating functional requirements into technical solutions.
• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals and the ability to apply them to complex, multidisciplinary systems.
• Ability to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations using first principles and engineering fundamentals, even with incomplete information.
• Development experience inC, C++, Golang, Python, or Rust.
• Experience withembedded or low-level systems development.
• BS degree in computer science, engineering, math, or another STEM discipline.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Hands-on experience with control systems, actuators, or other software directly interfacing with physical systems.
• Data acquisition system setup, maintenance, and development.
• Electrical hardware troubleshooting and assistance with PCBA bring-up.
• Digital Signal Processing.
• Low-level communication protocol debugging
• Experience mentoring engineers or providing technical leadership across a team.
• Experience taking complex systems fromarchitecture through integration, validation, and deployment.
• Experience in a fast-paced engineering environment or highly technical role requiring a resourceful, entrepreneurial approach to completing tasks within tight timeframes or budget constraints.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary.

Equal Opportunity Employer

General Matter is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with General Matter 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.

Compensation and Benefits

The base salary range for this role is $165,000 to $260,000 annually.

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. Please note that the stated salary range is an estimate and may be adjusted based on market conditions, business needs, or other factors. 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.