Computer Systems Engineer 3

About the role

We are seeking a Computer Systems Engineer with 5–9 years of professional experience to support the development and integration of space payload emulators in El Segundo, CA. In support of Company Defense Systems next-generation space programs, this role focuses on hands-on hardware/software development for embedded systems (Xilinx SoC/FPGA) and front-end UI/UX control interfaces. This position is tailored for an engineer who thrives in a hands-on lab environment, working side-by-side with multidisciplinary teams (hardware, firmware, software, and test engineers) to bring up hardware, integrate software/logic, and build intuitive emulator interfaces. This is a W2 contract position with CTS International. This role is not subcontracted (no C2C). No third-party or agency submissions.

Responsibilities

• Develop, configure, and maintain embedded software and firmware on Xilinx SoC platforms (Zynq UltraScale+, Versal).
• Implement and debug Processing System to Programmable Logic (PS/PL) interfaces, AXI interconnects, and memory maps.
• Develop and validate Board Support Packages (BSP), PetaLinux/embedded Linux distributions, device drivers, and low-level communication interfaces (PCIe, Ethernet, SPI, I2C, UART).
• Lead hands-on board bring-up, hardware/software integration, and system-level debugging in a lab environment using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers.
• Design and implement responsive, reliable front-end graphical user interfaces (GUIs) using Java or modern JavaScript frameworks (e.g., React, Vue, Angular, or JavaFX/Electron).
• Build control dashboards, telemetry displays, and command interfaces for payload emulation testbeds and operational teams.
• Integrate UI applications with embedded back-end services, APIs, and hardware endpoints for real-time monitoring and control.
• Partner closely with FPGA logic designers, hardware engineers, and systems testers in a collaborative lab environment to diagnose issues and validate end-to-end emulator functionality.
• Drive rapid prototyping, root-cause troubleshooting, and iterative testing on lab benches and test fixtures.
• Provide technical leadership during hardware/software co-design and integration milestones.
• Utilize Xilinx toolchains (Vivado, Vitis, PetaLinux, SDK) for software build pipelines, profiling, and debugging.
• Follow modern software engineering practices, including code reviews, documentation, and version control using Git/GitLab.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience: 5–9 years of professional experience in embedded hardware/software development and integration.
• Embedded Xilinx Platforms: Hands-on experience developing for Xilinx SoC/MPSoC architectures (Zynq UltraScale+, Versal).
• Xilinx Toolchains: Demonstrated proficiency with Xilinx design and development tools (Vivado, Vitis, PetaLinux, SDK).
• PS/PL & Driver Integration: Proven experience with PS/PL integration, embedded Linux / RTOS, board bring-up, and device driver development.
• Front-End Development: Practical development experience creating user interfaces and GUIs using Java (e.g., JavaFX/Swing) or JavaScript (e.g., React, Node, Vue, Electron) frameworks.