Staff Embedded Software Engineer Verified today

About Observable Space

Observable Space builds precision optics platforms for Earth and in-space observation. The company combines opto-mechanical hardware, embedded compute, cloud orchestration, and APIs into world-class products. Systems are trusted by NASA, JPL, SpaceX, Boeing, RTX, the US Space Force, and leading research institutions.

The Role

As a Staff Embedded Software Engineer, you will work across the full product line from robotic ground telescopes to on-orbit compute platforms. This is a deeply hands-on role: you will read schematics, work directly with electrical and mechanical teams, debug edge cases, and own Yocto-based platforms down to the metal. You will report to the Embedded Engineering Lead.

What You'll Do

• Architect, implement, and document embedded Linux systems for extreme reliability in remote and space environments.
• Own the BSP and driver stack across PCIe, SPI, I2C, UART, MIPI CSI-2, GPIO, and other hardware interfaces.
• Bring up high-speed peripherals including PCIe endpoints, MIPI cameras, and high-bandwidth data links.
• Maintain build system health: keep Yocto builds unblocked, reproducible, and hardened through CI/CD testing.
• Design systems that run autonomously for years with minimal human intervention.
• Collaborate on automated testing and hardware-in-the-loop lab infrastructure.
• Participate in product design reviews to ensure manufacturability, serviceability, and field reliability.

What You'll Bring

• 5+ years in embedded software engineering or systems-level development.
• Strong proficiency in C and modern C++.
• Solid understanding of DC power systems, motor drivers, and common hardware interfaces (I2C, SPI, CAN, Ethernet, MIPI, PCIe).
• Experience bringing up high-speed interfaces, especially PCIe and MIPI CSI-2 (D-PHY 1.4+).
• Deep familiarity with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, multimeters, and power debugging tools.
• Ability to read schematics, understand board-level considerations, and debug at the electrical-software boundary.
• Strong debugging intuition and experience in fast-paced prototyping environments.
• Product sense: you prioritize manufacturing reliability, robustness, and long-term serviceability.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Zephyr RTOS, embedded networking stacks, or sensor fusion.
• Experience with Qualcomm SoCs and their BSP/driver ecosystems.
• Experience with 3 phase motor drivers and tuning park/clark vector control.
• Background in vision processing, image pipelines, or camera-focused algorithms.
• Contributions to open-source embedded or Linux kernel projects.
• Passion for astronomy, physics, and scientific exploration.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary aligned with industry standards and your experience.
• Stock options.
• Hybrid work environment with minimum 3 days per week in LA office.
• Unlimited PTO (exempt only) including paid holidays.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% employer-paid premiums.
• Access to cutting-edge hardware and software tools.
• Mission-driven culture focused on real-world impact.