Senior Principal Embedded Software Engineer

Integrated Solutions for Systems, Inc. (IS4S); Fort Walton Beach (FL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision care

Employee ownership

401(k) retirement plan

Tuition Assistance

Professional development

Job summary

Integrated Solutions for Systems, Inc. (IS4S) seeks a Senior Principal Embedded Software Engineer to lead flight software design for next‑gen missiles and UAS. You will own architecture for GNC, sensor fusion, and real-time code, collaborating with DoD programs and hardware teams for safety, security, and certification readiness.

You will drive architectural definitions, mentor engineers, and ensure robust, secure software across RTOS environments and MIL-STD protocol stacks.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of embedded software experience, with DoD aerospace or missile defense exposure.
• Expert-level C/C++ for resource-constrained embedded systems.
• Deep knowledge of microprocessor architectures (ARM, PowerPC, RISC-V) and memory management.
• Experience with cross-compilers, version control, and automated builds.
• Awareness of DO-178C and RMF security requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural definition of embedded software for weapon systems and autonomous platforms.
• Develop low-level drivers, middleware, and application software for diverse MCUs, DSPs, and FPGAs.
• Architect RTOS-based solutions with deterministic behavior and thread safety.
• Collaborate with hardware teams for HITL testing and hardware bring-up.
• Implement and optimize flight control laws and EKF/GPS/INS algorithms.
• Drive SDLC milestones per DoD (PDR/CDR/TRR); mentor junior engineers in secure coding.
• Develop communication stacks for MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, CAN Bus, MAVLink.

Skills

C/C++

Embedded systems

RTOS

GNC algorithms

HITL testing

Secure coding

DoD programs

Git

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/CE/EE

Master's degree preferred

Tools

GCC/LLVM

Git

CMake

Jenkins

RTOS (VxWorks/FreeRTOS/Green Hills)

Job description

Senior Principal Embedded Software Engineer (Missiles & UAS)

Position Overview

IS4S is seeking an experienced Senior Principal Embedded Software Engineer to lead the design and implementation of flight software for next-generation missile systems and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). This is a leadership-heavy technical role requiring an expert in C/C++ and low-level embedded development. You will be responsible for the software architecture that drives Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) algorithms, sensor fusion, and mission logic in highly constrained, real-time environments.

The ideal candidate has a proven track record of delivering flight-certified code and navigating the complexities of DoD acquisition programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Software Architecture & Design: Lead the architectural definition of embedded software for complex weapon systems and autonomous platforms, ensuring modularity, scalability, and strict real-time performance.
• Embedded Development: Develop low-level drivers, middleware, and application-layer software in C and C++ for various microcontrollers, DSPs, and FPGAs (SoC).
• RTOS Management: Architect software solutions utilizing Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) such as VxWorks, FreeRTOS, or Green Hills Integrity, focusing on deterministic behavior and thread safety.
• Hardware-Software Integration: Collaborate closely with electrical and systems engineers to bring up new hardware, perform hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing, and debug complex timing issues using logic analyzers and JTAG debuggers.
• Flight Control & GNC Support: Implement and optimize flight control laws and navigation algorithms (EKF, GPS/INS) developed by the GNC team for efficient execution on embedded targets.
• Technical Leadership: Drive the software development lifecycle (SDLC) through formal DoD milestones (PDR, CDR, TRR). Lead code reviews and mentor junior developers in embedded best practices and secure coding standards.
• Protocol Implementation: Develop and maintain communication stacks for military-standard protocols, including MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, CAN bus, and Mavlink.

Technical Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering; Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience: 15+ years of professional experience in embedded software engineering, with a significant portion dedicated to DoD aerospace or missile defense programs.
• C/C++ Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in C and C++ (including C++11/14/17 standards) specifically tailored for resource-constrained embedded systems.
• Low-Level Expertise: Deep understanding of microprocessor architectures (ARM, PowerPC, RISC-V), memory management, interrupt handling, and DMA.
• Toolchain Proficiency: Expert experience with cross-compilers (GCC, LLVM), version control (Git), and automated build systems (CMake, Jenkins).
• Cybersecurity & Safety: Familiarity with software airworthiness certification (e.g., DO-178C) and Risk Management Framework (RMF) requirements for secure software.
• Security: Active DoD Secret Security Clearance required; Top Secret preferred.

Benefits Summary

• Competitive salary with comprehensive health and wellness benefits
• Dynamic and collaborative work environment
• Employee ownership
• Medical, dental, and vision care plans
• Paid time-off and parental leave programs
• Group term life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Tuition Assistance, Training, and education development offerings