If you’re passionate about embedded systems, aerospace technology, and building innovative hardware that powers the future of space exploration, this opportunity is worth checking out. Observable Space is hiring a Jr Embedded Engineer in Los Angeles, California, offering a competitive salary ranging from $100,000 to $160,000 per year. This entry-level role is ideal for recent graduates and early-career engineers who want to work on cutting-edge embedded software and hardware solutions in the rapidly growing space technology industry.
Job Overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Observable Space |
| Role | Jr Embedded Engineer |
| Qualification | Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Embedded Systems, or a related STEM field |
| Job Location | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Salary | $100,000–$160,000 per year |
| Work Type | On-site |
| Job Type | Full-Time |
| Job Level | Entry Level / Junior |
| Industry | Aerospace, Space Technology, Embedded Systems |
Job Description
As a Junior Embedded Software Engineer, you’ll work alongside our embedded team across our full product line, from robotic ground telescopes to on-orbit compute platforms. You’ll help build and maintain embedded Linux systems and low-level firmware, bring up hardware peripherals, write and debug drivers, and pitch in on the bench work- soldering, test rigs, and prototype assembly- that keeps hardware programs moving.
This role is hands-on from day one: you’ll read schematics alongside senior engineers, get exposure to electrical and mechanical teams, dig into real hardware debugging, and grow your understanding of edge compute at the cutting edge. You will report to the Embedded Engineering Lead, with close mentorship from senior and staff engineers on the team.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the development, testing, and debugging of embedded Linux systems and low-level firmware- from daemons and drivers to bootloaders and control loops under the guidance of senior engineers.
- Assist in developing and maintaining drivers across interfaces such as PCIe, SPI, I2C, UART, MIPI CSI-2, and GPIO, under the guidance of senior engineers.
- Help bring up peripherals (cameras, sensors, communication links) at both the software and hardware level — from firmware and embedded Linux integration to assembling first article prototypes, soldering, wiring, and initial power-on checks alongside the EE team.
- Help own component test characterization campaigns, from setting up test rigs to running the tests and pulling results together.
- Participate in longevity testing campaigns and analyze the resulting test data to catch issues before they matter.
- Participate in design reviews, code reviews, and team discussions to build your product and reliability instincts.
Basic Qualifications
- 0–2 years of experience in embedded software engineering, systems-level development, or a related internship/academic background.
- Experience in C and working knowledge of C++.
- Foundational understanding of common hardware interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, Ethernet) from coursework, personal projects, or internships.
- Comfort reading basic schematics or a strong willingness to learn.
- Familiarity with basic lab tools (multimeter, oscilloscope) or eagerness to build that skill on the job.
- Strong debugging curiosity and persistence- you enjoy digging into why something isn’t working.
- Good communication skills and comfort asking questions and collaborating closely with senior engineers.
- A bias toward hands-on learning and fast iteration.
Bonus Qualifications
- Ability to solder and build a wire harness.
- Ability to use a multimeter and oscilloscope.
- Exposure to firmware development on microcontrollers (e.g., bare-metal, RTOS, or Arduino/STM32/ESP32-style projects) from coursework, personal projects, or internships.
- Exposure to Linux kernel development, device drivers, or embedded Linux (Yocto, Buildroot).
- Personal, academic, or internship projects involving PCIe, MIPI CSI-2, or other high-speed interfaces.
- Familiarity with Zephyr RTOS or other embedded operating systems.
Selection Process
- Application Submission
- Resume Screening
- Technical Assessment
- Technical Interview
- Hiring Manager Interview
- Final Interview
- Offer & Background Verification
How to Apply
- Visit the official Observable Space careers page.
- Search for the Jr Embedded Engineer position.
- Review the job description and eligibility requirements.
- Prepare your updated resume and any required documents.
- Complete the online application form.
- Submit your application before the position is filled.
