Senior Embedded Systems Engineer - Space Systems

About the Role

Xplore is a venture-backed commercial space company that designs, builds, and operates satellites and sensors collecting high-fidelity Earth observation data. We are hiring a Senior Embedded Systems Engineer - Space Systems to lead the design and development of the embedded hardware and firmware that power Xplore's spacecraft and payload systems—from early architecture and board bring-up through flight and constellation scale.

What You Will Build

• Flight electronics for next-generation Earth observation spacecraft
• High-performance embedded compute platforms for on-orbit data processing
• FPGA-enabled sensor interfaces and high-speed data pipelines
• Embedded avionics supporting spacecraft command, control, and payload management
• Custom hardware systems supporting multi-sensor spacecraft architectures

What You Will Own

• Embedded System Architecture: Architect embedded hardware and firmware for spacecraft and payload subsystems; define system interfaces between sensors, compute systems, and spacecraft avionics; design scalable embedded platforms supporting multi-sensor spacecraft architectures; establish design standards for reliability, performance, and manufacturability
• Hardware Design & PCB Development: Design multi-layer PCBs for spaceflight applications using KiCAD or equivalent EDA tools; perform schematic capture, component selection, and layout review; ensure designs meet signal integrity, thermal, and power requirements; implement design for manufacturability (DFM) and production readiness
• Board Bring-Up & Hardware Validation: Lead bring-up of custom flight electronics and embedded subsystems; validate power sequencing, clocking, and high-speed interfaces; perform hands-on debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and lab instrumentation; conduct integration testing and support environmental qualification of flight hardware
• FPGA & Firmware Development: Develop FPGA-based solutions using Xilinx Vivado and related toolchains; implement RTL designs and achieve timing closure for high-performance systems; develop embedded Linux drivers and low-level firmware in C/C++ (Rust a plus); optimize system performance across hardware and firmware boundaries
• System Integration: Integrate embedded hardware with spacecraft flight software and payload systems; support payload integration and data interface development; build test harnesses and validation infrastructure for subsystem testing; collaborate with spacecraft, payload, and mission engineering teams to ensure flight readiness

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident
• 3-5+ years of experience in embedded systems hardware development
• Strong PCB design experience, including schematic capture and layout (KiCAD preferred)
• Experience designing 4+ layer boards with mixed-signal or high-speed interfaces
• Experience with FPGA development using Xilinx toolchains
• Experience developing Linux device drivers in C
• Strong hardware debugging skills using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and spectrum analyzers
• Experience with embedded power architectures and power supply design
• Familiarity with embedded Linux systems and cross-compilation environments
• Hands-on experience soldering SMD components (including fine-pitch ICs) and through-hole components
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of complex subsystems

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Xilinx SoCs (e.g., Zynq family)
• Deep familiarity with Vivado design flows and constraint management
• Experience with high-speed digital design (LVDS, Ethernet, USB)
• Experience working with embedded GPU platforms such as NVIDIA Jetson
• Experience building custom Linux images (Yocto, Buildroot, PetaLinux)
• Experience optimizing Docker containers for embedded deployment
• Familiarity with Git, CI/CD pipelines, and modern development workflows

Additional Requirements:

• Availability to support critical integration, testing, or launch activities outside standard working hours when required
• Ability to work on-site at Xplore's Bellevue, Washington office

Why This Role Is Different

• You will design embedded systems that fly on spacecraft
• You will work across hardware, firmware, FPGA, and system integration
• You will build mission-critical electronics that operate in orbit
• You will work in a high-agency engineering environment where ownership matters
• Your designs will move from lab bench to launch vehicle to orbit

What Success Looks Like (First 6 Months)

• You have taken technical ownership of one or more embedded subsystems supporting spacecraft avionics or payload electronics
• You have successfully brought up new flight hardware, validating board functionality, firmware interfaces, and FPGA logic through lab testing and system integration
• You have resolved early hardware and firmware integration challenges, improving system stability, performance, and reliability
• You have delivered production-ready embedded designs or improvements that directly support upcoming spacecraft missions
• You have built test infrastructure, automation, or validation pipelines that improve hardware verification and engineering velocity
• You have become a trusted technical contributor across spacecraft, payload, and software teams, helping drive embedded system architecture for future missions

Benefits

• 100% company-funded medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your qualified dependents
• Life and ADD insurance
• Equity incentive plan (ESOP) for qualified full-time employees
• HSA qualified health plan available for full-time employees working 30+ hours per week
• Paid Time Off: 1.33 days per month (16 days/year) plus 13 paid federal holidays annually
• Washington State employees accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law
• Free beverages and snacks, weekly team lunches, regular team outings, and special rewards

Pay

USD $130,000 - $160,000 per year. Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Who Thrives At Xplore

Xplore is built around curious, driven engineers and builders who want to put real hardware in space and see it work. Our team members are energized by building, launching, and operating spacecraft; enjoy tackling hard technical problems that require creativity, persistence, and teamwork; thrive in an environment surrounded by high-performing peers who push each other to do their best work; take pride in designing systems that move from idea to hardware to orbit; and approach challenges with intellectual curiosity, collaboration, and a strong sense of ownership.

Inside the office, we push each other to become better engineers and better problem-solvers every day. Curiosity doesn't stop when the workday ends—space is an exciting field, and new ideas tend to surface in hallway conversations, over whiteboards, or while debugging hardware late in the lab. We take our work seriously, but we don't take ourselves too seriously. Humor, creativity, and curiosity are part of the culture. Outside of work you'll find teammates who play music, experiment with hydroponics, train for endurance races, build elaborate LEGO creations, explore geocaching trails, photograph national parks, and pursue all kinds of technical and creative hobbies. We're a tight-knit group that loves what we do—and the people we do it with.

Why Join Now

• Spacecraft already on orbit
• Constellation scaling underway
• Expanding government and commercial demand
• Next-generation mission architecture in development

The engineers who join at this stage will define how Xplore operates for the next decade. If you're ready to command spacecraft, architect autonomy, and build operational systems that scale—we want to talk.