Senior Embedded Systems Engineer — Linux, Security & OTA

Northwood Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood Space is seeking an experienced embedded systems architect to design and implement a scalable ground-station platform. You will define requirements, build a secure, real-time software stack, and collaborate with hardware and FPGA engineers to deliver robust systems.

The role emphasizes developing a custom Linux OS for embedded devices, OTA updates, and security-first architecture, with opportunities to shape next‑gen ground‑station infrastructure.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional experience in embedded systems.
• Experience architecting embedded systems.
• Experience with security and key management.
• Experience with standard bus interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART, USB).
• Experience with embedded Linux environments (Yocto, Petalinux, etc.).
• Familiarity with laboratory tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters.

Responsibilities

• Custom Linux operating system for embedded device.
• Over-the-air update system.
• Security requirements and architecture.
• Fix bugs and troubleshoot issues from internal/external customers.
• Framework of user-space applications.
• Collaboration with FPGA and hardware engineers on system architecture.

Skills

Embedded systems architecture

Security & key management

Embedded Linux environments

Real-time systems

Hardware-software collaboration

Tools

Yocto

Petalinux

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Multimeters

Job description

Northwood Space is seeking an experienced embedded systems architect to design and implement a scalable ground-station platform. You will define requirements, build a secure, real-time software stack, and collaborate with hardware and FPGA engineers to deliver robust systems.

The role emphasizes developing a custom Linux OS for embedded devices, OTA updates, and security-first architecture, with opportunities to shape next‑gen ground‑station infrastructure.