{"id":844565,"url":"https://alion.io/job/xplore-senior-embedded-systems-engineer-space-systems","title":"Senior Embedded Systems Engineer - Space Systems","company":{"id":11126,"name":"Xplore","domain":"xplore.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/xplore","size_band":"11-50","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workable","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":3,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-11-08T05:47:12Z"}},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Bellevue, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":130000,"max":160000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":160000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"KiCad","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"Rust","optional":false},{"name":"Xilinx Vivado","optional":false},{"name":"CI/CD","optional":true},{"name":"Docker","optional":true},{"name":"Git","optional":true},{"name":"PetaLinux","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-03-10T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-03-10","last_verified_at":"2026-11-08T13:17:36Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":243,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":243},"description":"Build the Systems That Power Spacecraft\nXplore is a highly differentiated, venture-backed commercial space company. We design, build, and operate satellites and sensors that collect high-fidelity Earth observation data, enabling insights that support social, economic, environmental, and security outcomes across the globe.\nEvery image we collect contains trillions of spectral data points-revealing the physical and chemical state of Earth in ways conventional imaging cannot see. Our multi-sensor satellites combine remote sensing data, edge computing, and high-throughput communications to generate spatial insights for customers worldwide.\nWe are building the operational backbone of a scalable space infrastructure company.\nIn this role, you will design and own 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.\nThe Mission\nWe 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.\nYou will lead the design and development of flight-critical embedded hardware and firmware across the full lifecycle:\nEmbedded architecture and system design\nPCB and hardware development\nFPGA and firmware implementation\nBoard bring-up and hardware validation\nSystem integration and environmental testing\nYou will improve current embedded architectures and build new ones that are technically rigorous, resilient, and scalable for spacecraft deployment.\nYou will take technical ownership of systems that move from design to flight and operate on real missions in orbit.\nYour designs will move from lab bench to launch vehicle to orbit -powering spacecraft on real missions.\nWhat You Will Build\nFlight electronics for next-generation Earth observation spacecraft\nHigh-performance embedded compute platforms for on-orbit data processing\nFPGA-enabled sensor interfaces and high-speed data pipelines\nEmbedded avionics supporting spacecraft command, control, and payload management\nCustom hardware systems supporting multi-sensor spacecraft architectures\nWhat You Will Own\nEmbedded System Architecture\nArchitect embedded hardware and firmware for spacecraft and payload subsystems\nDefine system interfaces between sensors, compute systems, and spacecraft avionics\nDesign scalable embedded platforms supporting multi-sensor spacecraft architectures\nEstablish design standards for reliability, performance, and manufacturability\nHardware Design & PCB Development\nDesign multi-layer PCBs for spaceflight applications using KiCAD or equivalent EDA tools\nPerform schematic capture, component selection, and layout review\nEnsure designs meet signal integrity, thermal, and power requirements\nImplement design for manufacturability (DFM) and production readiness\nBoard Bring-Up & Hardware Validation\nLead bring-up of custom flight electronics and embedded subsystems\nValidate power sequencing, clocking, and high-speed interfaces\nPerform hands-on debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and lab instrumentation\nConduct integration testing and support environmental qualification of flight hardware\nFPGA & Firmware Development\nDevelop FPGA-based solutions using Xilinx Vivado and related toolchains\nImplement RTL designs and achieve timing closure for high-performance systems\nDevelop embedded Linux drivers and low-level firmware in C/C++ (Rust a plus)\nOptimize system performance across hardware and firmware boundaries\nSystem Integration\nIntegrate embedded hardware with spacecraft flight software and payload systems\nSupport payload integration and data interface development\nBuild test harnesses and validation infrastructure for subsystem testing\nCollaborate with spacecraft, payload, and mission engineering teams to ensure flight readiness\nYour decisions will directly influence spacecraft capability, reliability, and mission performance.\nRequirements\nRequired Qualifications\nU.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident\n3-5+ years of experience in embedded systems hardware development\nStrong PCB design experience, including schematic capture and layout (KiCAD preferred)\nExperience designing 4+ layer boards with mixed-signal or high-speed interfaces\nExperience with FPGA development using Xilinx toolchains\nExperience developing Linux device drivers in C\nStrong hardware debugging skills using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and spectrum analyzers\nExperience with embedded power architectures and power supply design\nFamiliarity with embedded Linux systems and cross-compilation environments\nHands-on experience soldering SMD components (including fine-pitch ICs) and through-hole components\nBachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field\nAbility to work independently and take ownership of complex subsystems\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience with Xilinx SoCs (e.g., Zynq family)\nDeep familiarity with Vivado design flows and constraint management\nExperience with high-speed digital design (LVDS, Ethernet, USB)\nExperience working with embedded GPU platforms such as NVIDIA Jetson\nExperience building custom Linux images (Yocto, Buildroot, PetaLinux)\nExperience optimizing Docker containers for embedded deployment\nFamiliarity with Git, CI/CD pipelines, and modern development workflows\nAdditional Requirements\nAvailability to support critical integration, testing, or launch activities outside standard working hours when required\nAbility to work on-site at Xplore’s Bellevue, Washington office\nWhy This Role Is Different\nYou will design embedded systems that fly on spacecraft\nYou will work across hardware, firmware, FPGA, and system integration\nYou will build mission-critical electronics that operate in orbit\nYou will work in a high-agency engineering environment where ownership matters\nYour designs will move from lab bench to launch vehicle to orbit\nThis is a builder’s role.\nWhat Success Looks Like (First 6 Months)\nYou have taken technical ownership of one or more embedded subsystems supporting spacecraft avionics or payload electronics.\nYou have successfully brought up new flight hardware, validating board functionality, firmware interfaces, and FPGA logic through lab testing and system integration.\nYou have resolved early hardware and firmware integration challenges, improving system stability, performance, and reliability.\n·You have delivered production-ready embedded designs or improvements that directly support upcoming spacecraft missions.\nYou have built test infrastructure, automation, or validation pipelines that improve hardware verification and engineering velocity.\nYou have become a trusted technical contributor across spacecraft, payload, and software teams, helping drive embedded system architecture for future missions.\nBenefits\nPay Range Compensation and Benefits: USD $130k - $160k / per year\nYour actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education and experience.\nBase salary is just one part of your Total Rewards at Xplore. As an employee, you will also receive access to comprehensive 100% company-funded medical, vision, and dental coverage, life and ADD insurance for you and your qualified dependents, and various other company perks such as free beverages and snacks, weekly team lunches, regular team outings, and special rewards. Additionally, Xplore offers an equity incentive plan (ESOP) for qualified full-time employees.\nThe HSA qualified health plan is available for full-time employees working 30 hours or more per week.\nPaid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)\nEach full-time employee earns PTO at a rate of 1.33 days per month, and a minimum of 13 paid federal holidays are provided each year for full-time employees. Note: Employees in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law.\nWho Thrives at Xplore\nXplore is built around curious, driven engineers and builders who want to put real hardware in space and see it work.\nOur team members:\nAre energized by building, launching, and operating spacecraft\nEnjoy tackling hard technical problems that require creativity, persistence, and teamwork\nThrive in an environment surrounded by high-performing peers who push each other to do their best work\nTake pride in designing systems that move from idea to hardware to orbit\nApproach challenges with intellectual curiosity, collaboration, and a strong sense of ownership\nInside 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.\nWe take our work seriously, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. Humor, creativity, and curiosity are part of the culture.\nOutside 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.\nWe’re a tight-knit group that loves what we do - and the people we do it with.\nWhy Join Now\nSpacecraft already on orbit\nConstellation scaling underway\nExpanding government and commercial demand\nNext-generation mission architecture in development\nThe engineers who join at this stage will define how Xplore operates for the next decade.\nIf you’re ready to command spacecraft, architect autonomy, and build operational systems that scale - we want to talk.\nMore About Xplore\nPlease click for company website\nEEO/Additional Requirements\nXplore is an equal opportunity employer; employment with Xplore is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.\nThis employer participates in E-Verify. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. 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