Principal / Senior Embedded Flight Software Engineer

Pulse Space; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Pulse Space in Seattle is seeking a Principal / Senior Embedded Flight Software Engineer to own the flight software across spacecraft and payload processors. You will work in C/C++ and Rust on embedded Linux, RTOS, or bare metal, writing boot code, drivers, control loops, fault management, and telemetry.

You will shape the toolchain, CI pipeline, and help hire and lead engineers as the team grows. Spaceflight heritage preferred; BS/MS in related field; 8+ years (senior) or 12+ years (principal).

Qualifications

• Shipped embedded software on real hardware, spaceflight heritage preferred.
• Proficient in C/C++ and Rust on embedded targets; experience with embedded Linux/RTOS/bare metal.
• Strong understanding of real-time constraints at register level (interrupts, DMA, cache).
• Able to set up cross-compilation toolchains, CI pipelines, and automated tests, not just use them.
• Clear technical writing and ability to define ICDs, test procedures, and design rationale.
• BS or MS in CS/CE/EE or Aerospace Engineering; 8+ years for senior, 12+ years for principal.

Responsibilities

• Bring up flight processors from bare board to running OS (bootloader, BSP, first serial output).
• Translate control algorithms from Simulink prototypes to flight code.
• Build and maintain command and telemetry stack for ground commands and housekeeping data.
• Develop fault management layer for sensor faults, temperature limits, and watchdogs.
• Create and maintain development infrastructure: cross-compilation toolchain, CI, hardware-in-the-loop test harnesses.
• Investigate and fix bugs that involve processors, FPGAs, and sensors working together.

Skills

Embedded software

C/C++

Rust

RTOS

Bare metal

Embedded Linux

Cross-compilation

CI pipelines

Unit testing

Debugging

Education

BS in CS/CE/EE or Aerospace

MS in CS/CE/EE or Aerospace

Tools

Bootloader

BSP

CI tooling

HIL test harness

Job description

Principal / Senior Embedded Flight Software Engineer

Spacecraft & Payload Systems

Seattle, WA Full-Time Engineering / Software

Pulse develops laser-based systems for space. You will be one of the owners of the flight software across our spacecraft and payload processors. C/C++ and/or Rust, embedded Linux, RTOS, bare metal when it calls for it. The stack is early and the big decisions are still being made. Today that means you write boot code, device drivers, control loops, fault management, and command/telemetry. You also help shape the toolchain and infrastructure. As the team grows, you will assist in hiring and lead the software engineers who join us.

In this role, you will

• Bring up flight processors from bare board to running OS. Bootloader, BSP, first serial output. Whether the target runs embedded Linux or an RTOS depends on the application
• Take control algorithms from Simulink prototypes to flight code
• Build and maintain the command and telemetry stack. Ground commands in, housekeeping data down, handling for lost packets, corrupted frames, and link interruptions
• Build and maintain the fault management layer. Define what the spacecraft does when a sensor goes silent, a temperature exceeds limits, or a watchdog fires
• Build and maintain the development infrastructure. Cross-compilation toolchain, CI pipeline, hardware-in-the-loop test harnesses
• Chase down the bugs that only show up when the processor, the FPGA, and the sensors are all talking at once

What you bring

• You’ve shipped embedded software on real hardware. More than once. Spaceflight heritage strongly preferred
• C/C++ and Rust on embedded targets. Strong in at least one, motivated to work in both. Bare metal, RTOS, and embedded Linux
• You understand real-time constraints at the register level. Interrupt priorities, DMA, cache coherence, missed deadlines
• You can set up cross-compilation toolchains, CI pipelines, and automated test, not just use them
• You write clearly. Other engineers build to your ICDs, test procedures, and design rationale
• BS or MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Aerospace Engineering 8+ years for senior, 12+ for principal

What will set you apart

• You’ve selected a flight computer, RTOS, or toolchain for a new program and lived with the consequences
• You’ve dealt with radiation effects, single-event upsets, and code you cannot easily patch
• You’ve helped grow an embedded software team, not just worked on one