{"id":3307585,"url":"https://alion.io/job/q-ctrl-staff-embedded-software-engineer","title":"Staff Embedded Software Engineer","company":{"id":6563,"name":"Q-CTRL","domain":"q-ctrl.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/q-ctrl","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Lever","truth_index":null},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"staff","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Sydney, Australia"],"countries":["AU"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":114000,"max_usd":243000,"period":"year","method":"global_role_cell_scaled_by_country","sample_n":646},"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"CI/CD","optional":false},{"name":"Cocotb","optional":false},{"name":"DO-160","optional":false},{"name":"DO-178C","optional":false},{"name":"Embassy","optional":false},{"name":"Embedded Rust","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"RTOS","optional":false},{"name":"Rust","optional":false},{"name":"SystemVerilog","optional":false},{"name":"VHDL","optional":false},{"name":"Xilinx Vivado","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-26T23:56:54Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-26","last_verified_at":"2026-10-31T14:30:43Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":4,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":4},"description":"Join Q-CTRL to help turn cutting-edge quantum sensing technology into robust, commercial products that operate in real-world environments. As a Staff Embedded Software Engineer in Sensing R&D, you will drive the technical direction and system architecture for the real-time embedded software, FPGA, and firmware stacks powering our next-generation quantum sensors and navigation platforms.\nOperating within our cross-functional R&D teams, you will help bridge hardware, firmware, and software interfaces to solve complex integration challenges. You will act as a key technical contributor - remaining close to hands-on execution.\nYou do not need prior experience in quantum technology: we value exceptional engineering fundamentals, systems-thinking, and a drive to build scalable, field-ready products\nWhat you’ll be doing:\nDrive Next-Gen Microcontroller Architecture: Lead the ground-up firmware architecture and implementation on microcontrollers, leveraging modern embedded frameworks (e.g., Rust Embassy) to deliver low-SWaP-C control systems for uncrewed platforms.\nSystem-Level Technical Ownership: Take architectural ownership of critical embedded software and FPGA interfaces across Sensing R&D, delivering solutions that balance performance, maintainability, and delivery timelines.\nLead Embedded Commercial Upgrades: Architect firmware for platform integration, supporting real-time data capture, display interfaces, and high-reliability platform integrations.\nDesign for High Reliability & Qualification: Define the long-term embedded software roadmap to mature quantum sensing platforms toward higher TRLs, establishing pathways toward flight safety qualification and compliance.\nAutomated Testing & Quality: Drive continuous integration and automated testing in embedded environments; establish robust CI/CD pipelines, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, and simulation workflows to maintain high delivery quality. \nCross-Functional Partnership: Work alongside Product Managers, Team Leads, and other technical contributors to align technical vision with product goals, evaluating trade-offs to ensure execution stays on track without compromising technical integrity.\nKnowledge Sharing & Mentorship: Actively coach and mentor engineers across the department, fostering a culture of knowledge sharing to eliminate key-person dependencies.\nIdeally you’ll have:\nDepartment-Level Architectural Leadership: 8+ years of hands-on embedded software engineering experience, with a proven track record of designing, delivering, and maintaining complex real-time systems.\nRust & Modern Systems Programming: Expertise in Rust (specifically embedded Rust and async frameworks like Embassy) or modern C/C++ for bare-metal microcontrollers and RTOS environments.\nFPGA & SoC Integration: Practical experience with modern SoC architectures (e.g., Xilinx Zynq / Vivado workflows), combining FPGA logic with high-bandwidth DMA transfers, DSP pipelines, and processor subsystems.\nPragmatic Systems Design: A strong track record of making sensible technical trade-offs-solving complex problems cleanly without over-engineering.\nCollaborative Mindset: Strong technical communication skills and a willingness to share knowledge, mentor peers, and engage in constructive design reviews.\nCommunication Protocols & HIL: Deep knowledge of low-level hardware interfaces (SPI, I2C, CAN, UART, PCIe, Ethernet/TCP-IP) and hands-on experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing environments.\nIt would be fantastic if you have these skills/experience but not essential:\nFamiliarity with aerospace, defense, or high-reliability qualification standards (e.g., DO-160, DO-178C, or Safety of Flight / SOF qualification pathways).\nHands-on exposure to precision optical, physical, or sensor-based hardware (e.g., precision temperature control, laser/optical drivers, or signal conditioning).\nExperience with SystemVerilog/VHDL logic design or cocotb verification workflows.\nFamiliarity with Yocto, customized embedded Linux distributions, or kernel driver development.\nExperience with uncrewed vehicles (UAVs, UUVs), robotics, or dual-use defense technology.","description_format":"text","description_chars":4140,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":8,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Quantum Science 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