Principal Embedded Systems Lead — Spacecraft & Flight HW

EVONA; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

EVONA is partnering with a venture-backed space technology company developing next-generation spacecraft and payload systems. We’re looking for a Principal Embedded Systems Engineer who can operate across hardware and software and take genuine ownership of embedded systems from initial architecture through integration, testing, and flight readiness.

This role emphasizes cross-domain work, including processor selection, embedded electronics, firmware, real-time software, sensors, actuators, and

Qualifications

• 7+ years of embedded systems experience in space, aerospace, defense, robotics, autonomous systems, or similarly complex hardware.
• Strong C/C++ and real-time embedded software experience.
• Experience selecting and working with processors, microcontrollers, FPGAs, memory, and embedded interfaces.
• Hands-on board bring-up, debugging, firmware development, and hardware/software integration.
• Experience interfacing directly with sensors, actuators, motors, cameras, or other electronic hardware.
• Strong understanding of deterministic timing, interrupts, synchronization, concurrency, and RTOS environments.
• Experience with interfaces such as CAN, SpaceWire, Ethernet, RS-422/485, SPI, I2C, UART, or LVDS.
• Comfortable using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG, protocol analyzers, and other lab equipment.
• Ability to take technical ownership across architecture, development, HIL/SIL testing, verification, and system integration.

Responsibilities

• Own embedded systems from architecture through integration, testing, and flight readiness.
• Hands-on board bring-up, debugging, firmware development, and HW/SW integration.
• Interface with sensors, actuators, motors, cameras, and other hardware; ensure robust system performance.
• Coordinate across RTOS, timing, interrupts, and concurrency in complex hardware environments.
• Lead or contribute to HIL/SIL testing and spacecraft-level integration.

Skills

Embedded systems (space/defense)

C/C++

RTOS

Board bring-up

Hardware/software integration

Sensor/actuator interfacing

Deterministic timing

Debugging

Lab equipment (oscilloscopes, JTAG)

System architecture

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

JTAG

Protocol analyzers

Job description

EVONA is partnering with a venture-backed space technology company developing next-generation spacecraft and payload systems. We’re looking for a Principal Embedded Systems Engineer who can operate across hardware and software and take genuine ownership of embedded systems from initial architecture through integration, testing, and flight readiness.

This role emphasizes cross-domain work, including processor selection, embedded electronics, firmware, real-time software, sensors, actuators, and