Embedded Flight Software Engineer

Description:

Protingent has an exciting direct hire opportunity for a Flight Software Engineer with our client in Los Angeles, CA.

Job Responsibilities:

• Develop low-level C/C++ drivers, Board Support Packages (BSPs), and hardware interfaces for microcontrollers, FPGAs, and standard communication buses.
• Design and implement stage-1 and stage-2 bootloaders, robust boot behaviors, partition swapping logic, and fail-safe recovery modes.
• Architect memory management strategies across volatile and non-volatile memory (NOR/NAND Flash, SRAM, EEPROM) to preserve data integrity across reboots.
• Configure low-level communication protocols and bus interfaces (e.g., SPI, I2C, CAN, UART, SpaceWire, or PCIe) between compute units, peripherals, and payloads.
• Implement telemetry collection, time synchronization, and task scheduling within RTOS or embedded OS environments.
• Execute hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and debugging on flatsats using logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and FPGA emulator tools.
• Manage the codebase using modern version control systems and contribute to CI/CD workflows for automated testing and continuous integration.
• Execute comprehensive test campaigns on testbeds and flight units to verify software performance under flight-like conditions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate subsystems with the spacecraft main compute element.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
• Document design processes, test results, and system performance.
• Provide technical guidance on FSW architectures to fellow engineers, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.

Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in computer science, aerospace engineering, or similar field.
• 5+ years of embedded software engineering experience, with exposure to low-level driver development, hardware integration, or bootloaders.
• Strong proficiency in C, C++, embedded Linux, and Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS).
• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and automated testing/CI workflows.
• Strong ability to collaborate effectively in a dynamic environment while maintaining a positive and professional attitude.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

Desired Job Qualifications:

• Experience writing custom drivers for FPGA logic blocks or hardware interfaces (such as I2C, CAN, SPI, UART, or SpaceWire).
• Experience with hardware-level communication protocols and hardware/software integration.
• Experience working in clean room environments and adhering to ESD protocols.
• Demonstrated experience with custom bootloader design, memory controller drivers, Flash file systems, and image verification/recovery techniques.

Job Details:

• Job Type: Direct Hire
• Location: Los Angeles, CA
• Salary Range: $130K-170K
• ITAR obligations are associated with this role, U.S. citizenship, U.S. legal permanent resident status, or protected person status under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a) (1), (3) is required.
• May be required to obtain and maintain a United States Department of Defense Top Secret security clearance