Firmware Engineer for Space Applications

Company Description

Space Robotics Workers (SRW) is focused on developing key technologies for robotics for space and Low-Earth Orbit Destinations. The company offers in-orbit services such as assembly, maintenance, manufacturing, and debris removal, with a goal to facilitate space exploration and innovation.

Job Description

We're looking for a
Firmware Developer Engineer
to develop and implement embedded systems software for Space Applications. You'll be one of our first employees, working directly with our founding team to build the foundational Software that controls actuators, sensors, power systems, and data interfaces operating in the extreme environment of space.

You'll design, implement, and test firmware for flight-ready hardware systems including motors, solenoids, valves, proximity sensors, force/torque sensors, vision systems, and FPGA-based control architectures. Your code will enable robotics, autonomous docking operations, real-time control loops, fault detection, and safe operations of mechanical and electrical systems in orbit.

As an early employee, you'll help establish our firmware development practices, testing methodologies, and integration workflows while working on technology that will be tested in space and deployed across the growing orbital economy.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test embedded firmware for electromechanical systems including actuators (motors, solenoids, valves), sensors (proximity, force/torque, thermal, position), and control electronics
• Implement low-level device drivers, interrupt handlers, and real-time control algorithms for space-qualified hardware
• Develop firmware for microcontrollers and embedded processors managing power distribution, motor control, sensor data acquisition, and communication interfaces
• Write efficient, deterministic code for resource-constrained embedded systems with strict timing requirements
• Interface with CAN bus, SpaceWire, I2C, SPI, UART, and other industrial/aerospace communication protocols
• Implement fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) routines for autonomous operation in space
• Design, implement, and verify FPGA-based control systems for high-speed sensor processing, motor control, and data acquisition
• Develop VHDL/Verilog code for real-time signal processing, sensor fusion, and deterministic control loops
• Integrate FPGAs with microcontrollers and embedded processors to create hybrid control architectures
• Implement custom IP cores for specialized functions (e.g., precise timing, encoder processing, communication protocol implementations)
• Perform hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and verification of FPGA designs
• Optimize FPGA resource utilization (logic, memory, DSP blocks) for space-qualified hardware
• Debug firmware issues using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG debuggers, and simulation tools
• Develop comprehensive test plans for verification and validation
• Perform unit testing, integration testing, and system-level testing of embedded software
• Conduct hardware-in-the-loop testing with actuators, sensors, and mechanical assemblies
• Participate in environmental testing (thermal vacuum, vibration, radiation) to validate firmware performance
• Participate in design reviews, technical discussions, and system architecture decisions
• Create detailed software specifications, design documents, and interface control documents (ICDs)
• Support configuration management and traceability for space-qualified systems

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional experience
  in firmware development in the space or robotics industry
• Proven experience developing embedded systems software
  for electromechanical components (motors, actuators, sensors, valves, etc.)
• Strong proficiency in Python
  for scripting, testing, data analysis, and rapid prototyping
• Hands-on experience with Arduino
  or similar microcontroller development platforms
• Deep understanding of low-level embedded programming methodologies
  including bare-metal programming, RTOS (Real-Time Operating Systems), interrupt handling, DMA, and memory management
• FPGA design and integration experience
  with VHDL or Verilog for control systems, signal processing, or sensor interfaces
• Strong understanding of digital electronics
  , including ADCs, DACs, PWM, encoders, and communication protocols (CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, etc.)
• Experience with embedded C/C++
  for microcontrollers and embedded processors
• Familiarity with debugging tools
  including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG/SWD debuggers, and multimeters
• Bachelor's degree in computer engineering
  , Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent technical field

Strongly Preferred

• Flight software development experience
  for space systems (satellites, launch vehicles, landers, or space robotics)
• Aerospace software standards knowledge
  such as NASA or ECSS software engineering standards
• Space-qualified hardware experience
  with radiation-tolerant processors, FPGAs, or components
• Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS)
  experience such as FreeRTOS, VxWorks, or RTEMS
• Motor control experience
  including brushless DC motors, stepper motors, servo systems, or linear actuators
• Sensor integration experience
  with IMUs, force/torque sensors, proximity sensors, encoders, or vision systems
• Communication protocols
  for space or industrial applications (SpaceWire, MIL-STD-1553, Ethernet/IP, Modbus, ROS, Industrail ROS/ROS 2.0)
• Familiarity with control theory
  including PID control, state-space controllers, or model-based control
• Simulation and modeling tools
  such as MATLAB/Simulink for control system design
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing
  and test automation frameworks
• Knowledge of power electronics
  and power management systems
• Version control and CI/CD
  experience with Git, GitLab/GitHub, and automated testing pipelines
• Thermal, vibration, or radiation testing
  experience for space-qualified hardware
• Python libraries experience
  such as NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib for data analysis and visualization

Personal Attributes

• Hands-on problem solver:
  Comfortable working directly with hardware, debugging in the lab, and troubleshooting complex issues
• Startup mentality:
  Comfortable with ambiguity, fast pace, and wearing multiple hats in an early-stage environment
• Collaborative:
  Works effectively across disciplines (mechanical, electrical, software) and with external partners
• Mission-driven:
  Passionate about advancing space exploration and building sustainable space infrastructure
• Strong communicator:
  Can document technical work clearly and explain firmware behavior to diverse audiences
• Continuous learner:
  Stays current with embedded systems technologies and aerospace industry best practices