Senior Embedded Systems Engineer - Space Systems Verified today

Xplore · Space Systems · first seen 2026-07-16

Build the Systems That Power Spacecraft

Xplore is a venture-backed commercial space company designing, building, and operating satellites and sensors for Earth observation. You will design and own the embedded hardware and firmware that power Xplore's spacecraft and payload systems from early architecture through flight and constellation scale.

The Mission

You will lead the design and development of flight-critical embedded hardware and firmware across the full lifecycle:

Embedded architecture and system design
PCB and hardware development
FPGA and firmware implementation
Board bring-up and hardware validation
System integration and environmental testing

You will improve current embedded architectures and build new ones that are technically rigorous, resilient, and scalable for spacecraft deployment. Your designs will move from lab bench to launch vehicle to orbit, powering spacecraft on real missions.

What You Will Build

Flight electronics for next-generation Earth observation spacecraft
High-performance embedded compute platforms for on-orbit data processing
FPGA-enabled sensor interfaces and high-speed data pipelines
Embedded avionics supporting spacecraft command, control, and payload management
Custom hardware systems supporting multi-sensor spacecraft architectures

What You Will Own

Embedded System Architecture

Architect embedded hardware and firmware for spacecraft and payload subsystems
Define system interfaces between sensors, compute systems, and spacecraft avionics
Design scalable embedded platforms supporting multi-sensor spacecraft architectures
Establish design standards for reliability, performance, and manufacturability

Hardware Design and PCB Development

Design multi-layer PCBs for spaceflight applications using KiCAD or equivalent EDA tools
Perform schematic capture, component selection, and layout review
Ensure designs meet signal integrity, thermal, and power requirements
Implement design for manufacturability and production readiness

Board Bring-Up and Hardware Validation

Lead bring-up of custom flight electronics and embedded subsystems
Validate power sequencing, clocking, and high-speed interfaces
Perform hands-on debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and lab instrumentation
Conduct integration testing and support environmental qualification of flight hardware

FPGA and Firmware Development

Develop FPGA-based solutions using Xilinx Vivado and related toolchains
Implement RTL designs and achieve timing closure for high-performance systems
Develop embedded Linux drivers and low-level firmware in C/C++ (Rust a plus)
Optimize system performance across hardware and firmware boundaries

System Integration

Integrate embedded hardware with spacecraft flight software and payload systems
Support payload integration and data interface development
Build test harnesses and validation infrastructure for subsystem testing
Collaborate with spacecraft, payload, and mission engineering teams to ensure flight readiness

Required Qualifications

U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident
3-5+ years of experience in embedded systems hardware development
Strong PCB design experience, including schematic capture and layout (KiCAD preferred)
Experience designing 4+ layer boards with mixed-signal or high-speed interfaces
Experience with FPGA development using Xilinx toolchains
Experience developing Linux device drivers in C
Strong hardware debugging skills using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and spectrum analyzers
Experience with embedded power architectures and power supply design
Familiarity with embedded Linux systems and cross-compilation environments
Hands-on experience soldering SMD components (including fine-pitch ICs) and through-hole components
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
Ability to work independently and take ownership of complex subsystems

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with Xilinx SoCs (e.g., Zynq family)
Deep familiarity with Vivado design flows and constraint management
Experience with high-speed digital design (LVDS, Ethernet, USB)
Experience working with embedded GPU platforms such as NVIDIA Jetson
Experience building custom Linux images (Yocto, Buildroot, PetaLinux)
Experience optimizing Docker containers for embedded deployment
Familiarity with Git, CI/CD pipelines, and modern development workflows

Additional Requirements

Availability to support critical integration, testing, or launch activities outside standard working hours when required
Ability to work on-site at Xplore's Bellevue, Washington office

What Success Looks Like (First 6 Months)

You have taken technical ownership of one or more embedded subsystems supporting spacecraft avionics or payload electronics
You have successfully brought up new flight hardware, validating board functionality, firmware interfaces, and FPGA logic through lab testing and system integration
You have resolved early hardware and firmware integration challenges, improving system stability, performance, and reliability
You have delivered production-ready embedded designs or improvements that directly support upcoming spacecraft missions
You have built test infrastructure, automation, or validation pipelines that improve hardware verification and engineering velocity
You have become a trusted technical contributor across spacecraft, payload, and software teams

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary: USD $130,000 to $160,000 per year, determined based on job-related knowledge and skills, education and experience.

Benefits include 100% company-funded medical, vision, and dental coverage, life and ADD insurance, HSA-qualified health plan for full-time employees working 30 hours or more per week, paid time off accrued at 1.33 days per month, minimum 13 paid federal holidays per year, equity incentive plan (ESOP) for qualified full-time employees, free beverages and snacks, weekly team lunches, regular team outings, and special rewards.