Lead Embedded Systems Software Engineer

E-Space

Saratoga (CA)

On-site

USD 150,000 - 225,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Sustainability at our core

Competitive salaries

Health and wellness care options

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Continuous learning and development

Flexible work options

Team events

Job summary

E-Space in Santa Clara, CA is hiring a Lead Embedded Software Engineer to drive firmware from requirements to production. You will design system software, write production code in C/C++ (and Rust where appropriate), and lead a small team of embedded engineers delivering on schedule.

Responsibilities include shaping architecture, delivering firmware, and ensuring high-quality tests and CI/CD. The role requires hands-on leadership and deep experience with RTOS, MCU families, and sensor interfaces.

Qualifications

Proven embedded firmware leadership experience.
Strong C/C++ in resource-constrained systems.
Experience with Zephyr RTOS on MCU families.
Experience with BLE/Thread/Wi‑Fi and MQTT/CoAP.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.

Responsibilities

Own system software architecture from requirements to production.
Deliver firmware from requirements through release and manage schedules.
Lead a small team of embedded engineers.
Write and review production firmware in C/C++ and Rust.
Develop automated tests and CI/CD pipelines.
Maintain HIL and SIL frameworks.

Skills

C/C++

Rust

Zephyr RTOS

STM32

Nordic nRF

ESP32

BLE/Thread/WiFi

Embedded testing

Team leadership

HIL/SIL testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

West

CMake

JTAG/SWD

Logic analyzers

Oscilloscopes

Git

CI/CD

Job description

Ready to make connectivity from space universally accessible, secure and actionable? Then you’ve come to the right place!

E-Space is bridging Earth and space to enable hyper-scaled deployments of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and services. We are building a highly-advanced low Earth orbit (LEO) space system that will fundamentally change the design, economics, manufacturing and service deliveryassociated with traditional satellite and terrestrial IoT systems.

We’re intentional, we’re unapologetically curious and we’re 100% committed to innovate space-based communications and deliver actionable intelligence that will expand global economies, protect space and our planet and enhance our overall quality of life.

We are hiring a Lead Embedded Software Engineer to drive firmware from product requirements to working, tested, and production-ready code. You will design the system software, write production code, and lead a team of embedded engineers who ship reliable, high-performance products on schedule.

This is a hands‑on lead role for someone who writes code every day, guides the team, reviews designs, and sets technical direction. You take responsibility while making decisions with limited information, and you make sure goals are completed.

Your mission

Build firmware that is reliable, safe, and scalable. Improve field performance, resource use, and power use with every release. Turn product goals into clear architecture, clear priorities, and working software. You make decisions fast, you advertise and realign teams quickly, and you instill it at every level of the team. Build a culture that doesn't leave for tomorrow what can be done today, and grow a team that delivers on time, on spec.

What you will own

System architecture. Turn product requirements into system-level software architecture. Define interfaces, data flows, and module boundaries across the stack. Make key technical decisions quickly and document them for the team.
Firmware delivery. Own firmware from requirements through production release. Set the schedule, hold the team to it, and keep quality and cross-functional alignment on track. Find risks early and solve them before they block the team.
Measurable results. Own clear, tracked targets for the firmware. Reduce field crash rates and the time to fix field issues. Release on the planned date and keep HIL and SIL pass rates high at each milestone. Keep test coverage high and critical static analysis findings at zero at release. Control flash and RAM footprint, boot time, battery life, and sensor-to-cloud latency. Raise the over-the-air update success rate.
Hands‑on development. Write, review, and maintain production firmware in C/C++, and Rust where it fits. Build drivers, middleware, and application logic for sensor-rich platforms. Work with Zephyr RTOS on STM32, Nordic nRF, and ESP32. Implement BLE, Thread, and Wi‑Fi stacks, and design edge-to-cloud communication.
Test and quality. Write automated unit and integration tests alongside feature code. Build and maintain HIL and SIL frameworks. Set team standards for test coverage, static analysis, and CI/CD.
Team leadership. Lead a small team of embedded engineers. Set clear goals, remove blockers fast, and handle day-to-day risks. Mentor through design reviews, pair programming, and direct feedback. Help interview candidates and set the team's technical bar.
Daily operating discipline. Run short, focused daily reviews of firmware progress. Assign actions with clear owners and deadlines, surface stalled work, and make blocker decisions the same day.
Lasting corrective action. Contain field and production issues fast. Find root causes and verify that fixes prevent recurrence.

How you lead

Bias for action. You move fast from problem to decision. You test small changes quickly and know when a decision needs deeper validation. You act with urgency and never sacrifice performance or quality.
Extreme ownership. You own the firmware outcome from design to release. When a dependency blocks delivery, you engage the right people, communicate the impact, and drive a recovery plan.
Relentless follow-through. You define what "done" means before work begins. You inspect progress, surface stalled work, and close the loop. A task is done when the result is verified, including tests.
High standards and direct communication. You explain complex technical decisions in plain terms. You raise problems early and candidly, and you hold the team to a high bar on correctness, scalability, and long-term performance.
Hands‑on presence. You work at the bench and write code every day. You use debuggers, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes to find the real cause of problems, and you teach your engineers to do the same.

What you bring

Embedded software development in production systems.
Strong C/C++ skills in resource-constrained environments, both bare-metal and RTOS.
Hands‑on experience with Zephyr RTOS, including West and CMake, and deep knowledge of at least one MCU family: STM32, Nordic nRF, or ESP32.
Experience integrating and characterizing inertial sensors such as IMUs, accelerometers, and gyroscopes.
Solid understanding of BLE, Thread, and Wi‑Fi stacks, and of backend communication such as MQTT, CoAP, or HTTP/REST.
Strong skills in automated embedded testing, including unit tests, mocking, HIL, and SIL.
Proficiency with JTAG, SWD, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes, and solid Git workflows including branching, code review, and CI/CD.
Strong structured problem‑solving skills, including root‑cause analysis and systematic debugging.
A track record of leading a technical team while staying hands‑on, and of shipping on deadline.
Clear communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
A degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

A plus, but not required

Rust in embedded contexts, TinyML or edge ML experience (TFLite Micro, Edge Impulse, ONNX Runtime), consumer space background, model optimization (quantization, pruning), and contributions to open‑source embedded or RTOS projects.

What success looks like

Your team knows what it builds, who owns each piece, and when it ships. Problems surface early and get decisive action. Firmware ships on schedule and works in the field. Tests catch bugs before they reach hardware. Your engineers grow, and the team keeps getting faster at making sound decisions.

$150,000 - $225,000 a year

This is a full time, exempt position, based out of our Santa Clara, CA location. The target base pay for this position in Santa Clara, California is $150,000 - $225,000 annually. The total compensation package will be determined by various factors such as your relevant job-related knowledge, skills, and experience and location.

We are redefining how satellites are designed, manufactured and used—so we’re looking for candidates with passion, deep knowledge and direct experience on LEO satellite component development, design and in‑orbit activities. If that’s your experience – then we’ll be immediately wow‑ed.

E‑Space is not currently able to provide employment sponsorship for candidates who do not hold work authorization for the location of this role.

Why E‑Space is right for you:

As a member of our team, you will play a crucial role in driving our success. Our team members have a strong sense of dedication and responsibility; this includes a strong commitment to our mission to create an entirely new suite of global capabilities to improve lives, business efficiencies and build a smarter planet. This means that there will be times when extra hours, including nights and weekends, may be needed to meet critical deadlines and mission goals. In return, we offer a dynamic work environment with opportunities for professional growth and development and the chance to make a meaningful impact in a high-growth industry.

We want you to make the most of your journey at E‑Space. That’s why we support and invest in the physical, emotional and financial well‑being of our team members and their families. Some of what you can expect when working at E‑Space: