Senior Embedded Software Engineer

NextPlay Jobs; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

NextPlay Jobs in Palo Alto, CA is seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to lead the development of flight-critical embedded software for an eVTOL aircraft. You will drive the full lifecycle from requirements through production, collaborating with cross-functional teams across electrical, systems, and flight-test disciplines.

The role emphasizes hands-on development in C/C++ on microcontroller platforms, hardware/software integration, and DO-178C compliance, with opportunities to build

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of professional embedded software or firmware development experience.
• Strong C/C++ programming experience.
• Experience developing software for microcontrollers and embedded hardware.
• Hands-on experience with SPI, I2C, CAN/CAN FD, and UART.
• Experience with DO-178C and safety-critical software development.
• Ability to troubleshoot hardware/software integration issues.
• Experience reading electrical schematics.
• Experience taking an embedded product or system from development through production.
• Python experience for testing, automation, or engineering tools.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work across engineering disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain safety-critical embedded software for aircraft systems.
• Develop embedded software primarily in C/C++ on microcontroller-based platforms.
• Translate system-level requirements into software requirements, architecture, and implementation.
• Develop and integrate low-level drivers and communication interfaces, including SPI, I2C, CAN/CAN FD, and UART.
• Perform hardware/software integration, debugging, and troubleshooting in a lab environment.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics to support system integration and issue resolution.
• Develop automated testing and engineering tools using Python.
• Support software verification, validation, documentation, and certification activities.
• Collaborate closely with electrical, systems, controls, manufacturing, and flight-test teams.
• Support software throughout the product lifecycle, including integration and aircraft production.

Skills

C/C++ programming

Embedded software

Microcontroller development

Hardware/software integration

Python scripting

DO-178C familiarity

Reading schematics

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering / Computer Engineering

Tools

Python

Job description

**MUST BE A US CITIZEN OR A GREEN CARD HOLDER**

About the Opportunity

We are partnering with an innovative aerospace company developing next-generation electric aircraft technology to hire a Senior Embedded Software Engineer.

This is a hands-on engineering role focused on the development of flight-critical embedded software for an eVTOL aircraft. The engineer will work across the full development lifecycle - from requirements and architecture through implementation, testing, hardware integration, and aircraft production.

This is an opportunity to work closely with electrical, systems, controls, and flight-test teams while directly influencing software that will operate on the aircraft.

What You'll Do

• Design, develop, test, and maintain safety-critical embedded software for aircraft systems
• Develop embedded software primarily in C/C++ on microcontroller-based platforms
• Translate system-level requirements into software requirements, architecture, and implementation
• Develop and integrate low-level drivers and communication interfaces, including SPI, I2C, CAN/CAN FD, and UART
• Perform hardware/software integration, debugging, and troubleshooting in a lab environment
• Read and interpret electrical schematics to support system integration and issue resolution
• Develop automated testing and engineering tools using Python
• Support software verification, validation, documentation, and certification activities
• Collaborate closely with electrical, systems, controls, manufacturing, and flight-test teams
• Support software throughout the product lifecycle, including integration and aircraft production

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 5+ years of professional embedded software or firmware development experience
• Strong C/C++ programming experience
• Experience developing software for microcontrollers and embedded hardware
• Hands-on experience with communication protocols such as SPI, I2C, CAN, CAN FD, and/or UART
• Experience with DO-178C and safety-critical software development
• Ability to troubleshoot hardware/software integration issues
• Experience reading electrical schematics
• Experience taking an embedded product or system from development through production
• Python experience for testing, automation, or engineering tools
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively across engineering disciplines

Preferred Experience

• Aerospace, avionics, eVTOL, UAV, or other safety-critical systems experience
• FAA certification or defense airworthiness experience
• Battery management systems or lithium battery technology
• BLDC motor controllers or electric propulsion systems
• Aircraft manufacturing or production experience

This is an onsite opportunity in Palo Alto, CA for an engineer who wants to work close to the hardware, aircraft, and broader engineering team while helping bring next-generation flight technology into production.