Embedded Software Engineer

Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Full-Time
• Los Angeles, CA (hybrid work)

Observable Space builds the end-to-end hardware and software infrastructure needed to operate in space. From advanced ground stations, on orbit sensor suites, to distributed compute platforms, we deliver the foundational systems enabling continuous, real-time observation of the cosmos.

We combine precision opto-mechanical hardware, embedded computing, cloud orchestration, and developer-friendly APIs into world class products that serve commercial operators, scientific institutions, government agencies, and astronomy enthusiasts alike.

Observable Space is backed by top-tier institutional investors including Upfront Ventures, Oceans Ventures, Venrex, Marlin spike Partners, and Embedded Ventures.

We are expanding our embedded engineering team and seeking a Staff Embedded Software Engineer who can help architect, implement, and scale the systems powering our next-generation ground and space telescopes.

As an Embedded Software Engineer, you will work across our full product line—from robotic ground telescopes to on-orbit compute platforms. You will design and maintain embedded Linux systems, bring up complex peripherals, build rock-solid drivers, and architect software that will run for decades in remote and harsh environments.

This role is deeply hands-on: you will read schematics, work shoulder-to-shoulder with electrical and mechanical teams, debug unusual edge cases, and own Yocto-based platforms down to the metal. You will report to the Embedded Engineering Lead.

• Architect, implement, and document embedded Linux systems composed of multiple daemons, services, and hardware interfaces—designed 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 (PCIe endpoints, MIPI cameras, high-bandwidth data links) and ensure their long-term robustness.

• Maintain build system health: keep Yocto builds unblocked, reproducible, and hardened through strict CI/CD testing gates.

• Design for resilience: create systems that can run autonomously for years with minimal human intervention.

• Collaborate on automated testing: help the test team build lab infrastructure that enables frictionless writing and execution of hardware-in-the-loop tests.

• Participate in product design reviews to ensure manufacturability, serviceability, and field reliability.

• 5+ years in embedded software engineering or systems-level development.

• Strong proficiency in C and modern C++—and good judgment about when not to overuse templates.

• 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 and interpret schematics
  , understand board-level considerations, and debug at the electrical–software boundary.

• 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
  .

• Experience with
  Zephyr RTOS
  , embedded networking stacks, or sensor fusion.

• Experience with
  Qualcomm So Cs and their BSP/driver ecosystems.

• Experience with 3 phase motor drivers and tuning parameters park/clark vector control.

• Background in vision processing, image pipelines, or camera-focused…