Space Embedded Engineer - Edge Compute & Optics

Linuxconfig; Los Angeles, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Compensation

Equity Opportunities

Flexible Work Environment

Unlimited PTO

Health & Wellness

Cutting-Edge Tools

Mission-Driven Culture

Inclusive Team

Job summary

Observable Space in Los Angeles is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to help build and maintain embedded Linux systems and low-level firmware across our full product line, from robotic ground telescopes to on‑orbit compute platforms.

You will read schematics, debug drivers, and collaborate with electrical and hardware teams to bring up peripherals, validate test rigs, and iterate quickly in a fast-paced prototyping environment focused on manufacturing reliability and long-term serviceability.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in embedded software engineering, systems-level development, or a related internship/academic background.
• Proficiency in C/C++.
• Solid understanding of DC power systems, motor drivers, and common hardware interfaces (I2C, SPI, CAN, Ethernet, MIPI, PCIe).
• Ability to read and interpret schematics, understand board-level considerations, and debug at the electrical–software boundary.
• Familiarity with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, multimeters, and power debugging tools.
• Strong debugging intuition—and the humility to know that debugging is 90% of the job.
• Experience in fast-paced prototyping environments and a bias toward quick iteration.
• Strong product sense: you prioritize manufacturing reliability, robustness, and long-term serviceability.

Responsibilities

• Support the development, testing, and debugging of embedded Linux systems and low-level firmware — from daemons and drivers to bootloaders and control loops — under the guidance of senior engineers.
• Assist in developing and maintaining drivers across interfaces such as PCIe, SPI, I2C, UART, MIPI CSI-2, and GPIO, under the guidance of senior engineers.
• Help bring up peripherals (cameras, sensors, communication links) at both the software and hardware level — from firmware and embedded Linux integration to assembling first article prototypes, soldering, wiring, and initial power‑on checks alongside the EE team.
• Help own component test characterization campaigns, from setting up test rigs to running the tests and pulling results together.
• Participate in longevity testing campaigns and analyze the resulting test data to catch issues before they matter.
• Participate in design reviews, code reviews, and team discussions to build your product and reliability instincts.

Skills

C/C++

Embedded software

DC power systems

Schematics

Debugging

Prototyping

Manufacturing reliability

Oscilloscopes

Tools

Zephyr RTOS

Qualcomm SoCs

Open-source embedded

Job description

Observable Space in Los Angeles is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to help build and maintain embedded Linux systems and low-level firmware across our full product line, from robotic ground telescopes to on‑orbit compute platforms.

You will read schematics, debug drivers, and collaborate with electrical and hardware teams to bring up peripherals, validate test rigs, and iterate quickly in a fast-paced prototyping environment focused on manufacturing reliability and long-term serviceability.