Senior Embedded Software Engineer (Avionics)

Inversion Space Company; California; On-site; USD 139,000 - 201,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion is seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to own the development and testing of high-reliability flight software for Arc avionics, delivering ultra-low latency under extreme reentry conditions from hardware to software boundary integration.

You will design and optimize C/C++ code for microcontrollers, develop device drivers for SPI/I2C/UART/CAN/Ethernet/RS-422, and lead SIL/HIL validation while mentoring junior engineers and coordinating with autonomy teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, CS, EE or equivalent.
• 5+ years of embedded C/C++ in real-time systems.
• Experience with bare-metal MCUs and RTOS like FreeRTOS/RTEMS/VxWorks.
• Read electrical schematics and debug hardware using lab instruments.
• Experience implementing hardware peripheral drivers and serial protocols.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to obtain/maintain U.S. government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain high-reliability, real-time embedded software in C/C++ for Arc flight computers, microcontrollers, and actuators.
• Architect and implement low-level device drivers for SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, Ethernet, and RS-422.
• Own embedded software modules end-to-end from requirements through testing and flight operations.
• Bring up new avionics hardware platforms, debugging boundary issues using JTAG, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and packet sniffers.
• Integrate and validate embedded code using SIL and HIL test environments.
• Perform rigorous code reviews and mentor junior embedded engineers.
• Collaborate with Flight Software and Simulation teams to align autonomy, telemetry, and GNC.

Skills

Embedded C/C++

Real-time systems

Low-level software

RTOS experience

Bare-metal MCUs

Debugging hardware

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Equivalent technical experience

Tools

JTAG

Logic analyzers

Oscilloscopes

Packet sniffers

RTOS: FreeRTOS/RTEMS/VxWorks

Job description

Advanced Reentry Technologies

Who We Are:

Inversion is an aerospace and defense company pioneering advanced reentry technology to enable next-generation capabilities from space. By combining high-performance materials, precision aerodynamics, and mission-driven autonomy, Inversion is transforming reentry into an operational capability for an entirely new class of missions.

The company’s highly maneuverable reentry spacecraft, Arc, is designed for rapid global cargo delivery, hypersonic testing, and other national security missions that require precise, controlled flight through the atmosphere. Arc creates an entirely new transportation domain, unlocking unprecedented speed and global reach.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Inversion designs, manufactures, and integrates its spacecraft under one roof, enabling the company to move rapidly from concept to flight. The company is backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, with customers across the U.S. government and commercial space industry.

Position Overview

As a Senior Embedded Software Engineer at Inversion you will own the development, testing, and deployment of highly reliable, low-latency flight software that runs on Arc’s vehicle avionics hardware. You will design and implement safety-critical code for microcontrollers, power distribution units, flight computers, and communication systems. Operating with high autonomy, you will bridge the gap between hardware and software, debugging boundary-level issues, establishing embedded coding standards, and ensuring our flight processors execute flawlessly through extreme reentry environments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and maintain high-reliability, real-time embedded software in C/C++ for Arc flight computers, microcontrollers, and actuators.
• Architect and implement low-level device drivers for communication protocols including SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, Ethernet, and RS-422.
• Own embedded software modules end-to-end, from early requirements definition through testing, qualification, and vehicle-level flight operations.
• Bring up new avionics hardware platforms, debugging complex hardware-software boundary issues using JTAG, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and packet sniffers.
• Integrate and validate embedded code using software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test environments.
• Perform rigorous code reviews, establish technical standards, and mentor junior embedded engineers on the team.
• Collaborate closely with the core Flight Software and Simulation teams to align vehicle autonomy, telemetry architectures, and GNC algorithm execution.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering , Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent technical experience.
• Typically 5+ years of professional experience developing low-level embedded C/C++ software for real-time systems.
• Hands-on experience with bare-metal microcontrollers and Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) like FreeRTOS , RTEMS, or VxWorks.
• Proven capability to read electrical schematics, understand datasheet registers, and debug physical hardware using laboratory instruments.
• Experience implementing standard hardware peripheral drivers and serial communication protocols.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills .
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience developing software for safety-critical or high-reliability applications (e.g., aerospace, automotive, or medical devices).
• Familiarity with modern software development practices, including Git, unit test frameworks, static analysis tools, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Proficiency in Python for test automation, data analysis, and hardware scripting.Experience developing embedded software on Linux-based systems.
• Experience developing FPGA designs and digital logic using VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog .
• Experience developing custom Board Support Packages (BSPs), bootloader configurations, device startup code, and hardware abstraction layers (HAL).
• Experience participating in electrical schematic reviews and collaborating closely with hardware engineers to guide board-level design.
• Experience leading PCB bring-up, design verification testing (DVT), hardware qualification, and transition to production.
• Prior experience in a fast-paced aerospace startup or small hardware integration team.

Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in office presence.

The California annual base salary for this role is currently $139,000 - $201,000. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.

ITAR Compliance:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here .

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Inversion provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or disability.

Inversion collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws. If you are a US Job Applicant see the CCPA Privacy Policy Notice for further details.