Spectra Defense Technologies

Embedded Software Engineer

Las Cruces, NM
Full Time
Experienced
Embedded Software Engineering Lead

Job Title

Embedded Software Engineering Lead

Location

Las Cruces, NM (On-site)

Clearance Requirement

Active U.S. Secret clearance preferred; U.S. citizenship required and ability to obtain a clearance

Experience Level

Senior (10+ years)

Position Summary

The Embedded Software Engineering Lead is responsible for providing both technical leadership and hands-on embedded software development for real-time systems. This role manages a growing team while actively contributing to firmware, BSP, and low-level software development. The position requires strong technical depth, leadership capability, and experience within regulated industries such as avionics, aerospace, or defense.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Technical & Leadership Responsibilities

  • Design, develop, debug, and maintain real-time embedded firmware in C.
  • Customize Board Support Packages (BSPs), including bootloaders, device trees, peripheral drivers, and system initialization.
  • Build and maintain Linux root filesystems and system images using Buildroot, Yocto/Poky, PetaLinux, and BitBake.
  • Utilize Xilinx Vitis for application platform creation, BSP customization, and QSPI flashing/partitioning.
  • Integrate and debug hardware access layers and CSR register interactions.
  • Test and integrate MIL‑STD‑1553B implementations.
  • Partner with hardware teams working on Xilinx UltraScale+ MPSoC, Intel Stratix 10, Cyclone 5, and NIOS II-based designs.
  • Conduct code reviews and enforce engineering standards.
  • Lead, mentor, and develop embedded software engineers.
  • Drive technical excellence through mentorship and structured reviews.
  • Plan and track software deliverables using Microsoft Project.
  • Coordinate cross-functionally with hardware, systems, and test engineering.
  • Maintain documentation for BSP, firmware architecture, and debugging processes.
  • Establish engineering processes for a regulated‑industry customer base.

Required Qualifications

  • 10+ years of embedded software/firmware development experience.
  • Industry background in avionics, aerospace, defense, or regulated embedded environments.
  • Leadership experience in a technical or formal capacity.
  • Experience with Microsoft Project planning/tracking.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience scaling an embedded software team.
  • Experience building formal engineering processes.
  • Exposure to DO‑178C or similar safety‑critical standards.
  • Familiarity with SPI, UART, CAN, USB, and related protocols.
  • Python scripting for automation.
  • Experience with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG.
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