Senior Satellite Embedded Engineer

Current Job Openings >> Senior Satellite Embedded Engineer

Senior Satellite Embedded Engineer

Summary

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Description

HawkEye 360 (HE360) is seeking a versatile, detail-oriented Satellite Embedded Engineer to join the Space team in Herndon, Virginia. As a Senior Satellite Embedded Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in developing the software that powers our spacecraft and payloads. You will work hands-on with real flight hardware, creating flight software from the ground up - from low-level driver development to integrated spacecraft functionality. Reporting to the Firmware Systems Lead, you will contribute to the architecture, implementation, testing, and optimization of software that will fly on-orbit and enable HE360's mission.This role is ideal for an engineer who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys solving complex technical problems, and wants to directly influence mission success.

As the Senior Satellite Embedded Engineer, your main responsibilities will be:

• Design and implement flight software in C for critical spacecraft functions including communications, telemetry, command handling, payload tasking, and autonomous fault protection.
• Develop and integrate low-level embedded drivers, including subcontractor-supplied drivers, across RTOS and embedded Linux systems.
• Conduct unit testing, integrated software testing, and hardware-in-the-loop verification to ensure reliability before launch.
• Support hardware bring-up and system integration, debugging interactions between software, processors, sensors, radios, and payload electronics.
• Build and maintain Python and C tools for ground support equipment, automated testing workflows, and data processing.
• Analyze on-orbit and ground test data to diagnose issues, validate performance, and drive continuous system improvements.
• Optimize software for Low-SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) embedded environments, focusing on performance, efficiency, and resource utilization.
• Collaborate closely with systems, RF, hardware, and operations teams to ensure seamless multi-disciplinary integration.
• Participate in rapid development cycles, supporting design reviews, code reviews, and iterative hardware/software testing.

Your skills and qualifications:

Essential education and experience:

• Proven ability to solve complex technical problems with high attention to detail and minimal oversight.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in cross-functional engineering teams.
• B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field; or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience, preferably in embedded systems.
• Proficiency in C, Python, Bash, and version control (Git).
• Experience with Linux and RTOS-based embedded development, including debugging and performance tuning.

Desirable:

• Experience with embedded communication interfaces: CAN, SPI, IC, RS-422, or similar.
• Familiarity with GitLab CI or similar Continuous Integration tooling.
• Experience with bare-metal microcontrollers or Zephyr RTOS.
• Understanding of Yocto/OpenEmbedded for ARM-based embedded Linux systems.
• Hands-on experience with Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+, Zynq-7000, or similar SoC platforms.
• Exposure to RF systems, software-defined radios, and payload-level signal-processing chains.
• Familiarity with spacecraft command and telemetry systems, mission operations, or satellite bus architectures.
• Comfort using lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and related instrumentation.

Base Salary Range: $130,000 - $170,000 annually

HawkEye 360 offers a compensation package that includes a competitive base salary plus annual performance bonus and benefits. We consider many factors when determining salary offers, such as candidate's work experience, education, training & skills, as well as market and business considerations. We are also open to considering candidates with experience and qualifications at a different level than required in a job posting, which may affect the compensation package offered.

Company Overview:

HawkEye 360 is equipping defense, intelligence, and national security leaders with mission-critical signals intelligence to enable faster, better decision making. By detecting, geolocating, and characterizing radio frequency emissions worldwide, HawkEye 360 delivers trusted domain awareness and early warning indicators to the US Government and allied partners. Our space-based collection, proprietary signal processing, and AI-powered analytics transform knowledge of RF spectrum into a strategic advantage. Proven by operational mission success, HawkEye 360 is redefining how signals intelligence strengthens national and global security.

HawkEye 360 is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

To all recruitment agencies: HawkEye 360 does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, HawkEye 360 employees or any other organization location. HawkEye 360 is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.