This Embedded Software Engineer role sits at the intersection of hardware and mission-critical software, where the work directly shapes the reliability and performance of fielded defense systems. Day to day, the engineer designs, develops, and debugs firmware and low-level software running on embedded processors and microcontrollers, integrating tightly with hardware interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART, and CAN bus. Responsibilities include writing and optimizing C and C++ code for real-time operating systems, conducting hardware bring-up, and collaborating with electrical engineers to validate board support packages and device drivers. The engineer participates in code reviews, supports integration and testing on target hardware, and troubleshoots timing, memory, and peripheral issues in a lab environment. Experience with RTOS platforms such as VxWorks, FreeRTOS, or equivalent, along with familiarity with JTAG debugging tools and version control systems, is essential. This is a fully onsite position supporting a defense-focused program, and candidates must hold an active Secret clearance to be considered from day one.
What you'll do
- Develop and maintain embedded firmware in C and C++ targeting bare-metal and RTOS-based platforms for defense hardware systems
- Integrate software with custom hardware by writing and debugging device drivers, BSPs, and hardware abstraction layers
- Perform real-time performance analysis, memory optimization, and timing verification to meet strict operational requirements
- Execute unit, integration, and hardware-in-the-loop testing to validate embedded software functionality and reliability
- Participate in design reviews, code reviews, and contribute to technical documentation including software design descriptions and interface control documents
- Troubleshoot and resolve software and hardware interface defects using lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG debuggers
- Coordinate with systems and hardware engineers to refine requirements and ensure software implementations align with overall system architecture