Software Engineer – Systems RTOS​/HIL

Software Engineer – Systems & Real-Time (RTOS / HIL)

Join Nominal as a Systems‑Level Software Engineer. Nominal builds the software infrastructure that powers the world’s most advanced hardware systems—from spacecraft and autonomous vehicles to next‑generation industrial machines.

Our platform ingests high‑rate telemetry, validates complex autonomy software in real time, and helps engineering teams iterate faster without sacrificing safety or precision. We’re a small, fast‑moving team of engineers and operators who own problems end‑to‑end, work across disciplines, and thrive on solving challenges at the intersection of hardware and software. As a dual‑use platform, we serve top‑tier commercial and defense customers, including the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, Shield AI, and Anduril.

• Design and implement hard real‑time components for data acquisition, control, and simulation using C++ and/or Rust.
• Develop deterministic communication layers for CAN, Ether
  
  CAT, serial, and MIL‑STD‑1553 or similar field buses.
• Architect the core HIL runtime, including task schedulers, timing controllers, and synchronization primitives.
• Integrate with embedded targets, flight computers, and sensor networks to validate autonomy and control software.
• Collaborate with our infrastructure and visualization teams to connect real‑time execution with distributed telemetry, playback, and analysis pipelines.
• Profile, benchmark, and harden low‑latency systems to meet microsecond‑level timing guarantees.
• Establish testing and verification standards for real‑time correctness and timing determinism across the platform.

• 4+ years of systems‑level or embedded software development in C++ (C++17 or newer) or Rust, with a deep understanding of real‑time constraints and deterministic scheduling.
• Experience with RTOSs such as QNX, RTEMS, FreeRTOS, VxWorks, or Linux PREEMPT‑RT.
• Background in HIL or SIL testing, real‑time control loops, or simulation frameworks for aerospace, automotive, or robotics.
• Strong grasp of hardware interfaces, timing jitter, interrupt handling, and low‑level I/O.
• Familiarity with signal acquisition, control systems, and sensor fusion concepts.
• Bonus: experience with LabVIEW, NI Test Stand, PXI/DAQ systems, or integration with external test equipment.
• Bonus: knowledge of time‑synchronized networking (PTP/NTP), DDS, or real‑time middleware (ROS 2, RTI Connext).
• Ability to debug at multiple layers—from driver‑level to distributed telemetry—and to reason clearly about timing and causality.

• 100% coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Unlimited PTO and sick leave
• Free lunch, snacks, and coffee
• Professional Development Stipend
• Annual company retreat

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be:

• U.S. citizen or national
• U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder)
• Refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157
• Asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

The base pay range for this role is $130,000 – $230,000 per year.

Mid‑Senior level

Full‑time

Engineering and Information Technology

Software Development