Engineer Embedded Software - Top Secret

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Embedded Software Engineer – Top Secret

Job Description

Ready to launch your career to new heights? We're seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to develop the software powering sophisticated flight, space, and ground systems. You'll work on everything from advanced control systems and data analytics to real-time software architectures, partnering with hardware and systems experts to solve complex engineering challenges. This is a hands-on, fast-paced role where your work directly contributes to breakthrough aerospace technologies.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, document, test, and debug embedded applications and software systems that provide logical and mathematical solutions for flight, space, and ground platforms.
• Develop software that operates in resource-constrained target environments with soft and hard real-time requirements, ensuring reliability and performance.
• Implement complex data analysis, data routing, and control system algorithms using C and object-oriented design principles.
• Work with various processors, memory, and I/O architectures to create robust embedded software solutions.
• Develop and integrate software that runs on real-time operating systems such as VxWorks, Linux, FreeRTOS, RT-Linux, or GH Integrity, using their associated host and development tools.
• Conduct multidisciplinary research and collaborate with equipment designers and hardware engineers to plan, design, develop, and utilize electronic data processing systems for product software.
• Determine overall system and user needs by analyzing system capabilities, program intent, output requirements, input data acquisition, programming techniques, and controls.
• Prepare operating instructions, design and develop utility programs, and ensure that software standards and best practices are met.
• Participate in the full software lifecycle for automated test sets and test systems on aerospace programs, including requirements, design, implementation, integration, and test.
• Apply process-oriented methodologies such as waterfall, spiral, or agile processes to manage and execute software development activities.
• Collaborate effectively with large, cross-functional engineering teams in a lab environment, contributing to design reviews, technical discussions, and problem resolution.
• Support hardware validation and verification activities for RF, digital, or mixed-signal devices as needed.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or Software Engineering from an ABET-accredited university.
• Minimum 5 years of software development experience.
• Proficiency in C programming and object-oriented software design.
• Experience executing software in a real-time operating system (RTOS) environment such as FreeRTOS, RT-Linux, or GH Integrity.
• Experience with embedded software development for resource-constrained systems with real-time requirements.
• Strong understanding of object-oriented programming and object-oriented software development practices.
• Experience working with real-time operating systems such as VxWorks or Linux and their associated host and development environments.
• Ability to work comfortably in a fast-paced lab environment with rapid development cycles.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for collaboration within large engineering teams.
• Active Top Secret clearance.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with C++ and embedded C++ development.
• Experience with Embedded Linux and Linux-based development environments.
• Experience across the full software lifecycle, including software systems architecture development, requirements definition and analysis, object-oriented development, coding and unit testing, system integration, and system test.
• Familiarity with process-oriented development methodologies such as waterfall, spiral, or agile processes.
• Experience with lab instruments such as noise and signal generators, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, power sources, and switches.
• Experience with hardware validation and verification of RF, digital, or mixed-signal devices.
• Experience with object-oriented programming tools and techniques in embedded environments.
• Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams, including hardware and systems engineers.

Work Environment

This role is based in a lab-centric engineering environment in Manhattan Beach, CA, focused on strategic space and aerospace systems. You will work with real-time operating systems such as VxWorks, Linux, FreeRTOS, RT-Linux, and GH Integrity, along with their associated host and development tools. The position involves hands-on work with embedded processors, memory and I/O architectures, and a variety of lab instruments, including noise and signal generators, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, power sources, and switches. The environment is fast-paced, with rapid development cycles and close collaboration across large, multidisciplinary engineering teams. Work is primarily conducted on-site in a lab setting, where professional, practical attire suitable for an engineering laboratory is expected.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Palo Alto, CA.

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $100.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Palo Alto,CA.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 17, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.