Principal Embedded Software Engineer (Actuators & Control Systems)

Location: Redondo Beach, United States; onsite. U.S. work authorization or eligibility to obtain the authorizations required under ITAR is mandatory.

Salary: $200,000–$300,000 per year, plus potential stock options and benefits.

Company

hirify.global Space develops in-space transportation vehicles and propulsion systems for orbital transport, constellation deployment, and precision reentry.

What you will do

• Develop real-time firmware for rocket engine valves, thrust vector control actuators, satellite propulsion systems, reaction wheels, gimbals, and other motor-driven systems.
• Implement closed-loop position, velocity, torque, and pressure control using encoder, LVDT, resolver, current, and pressure feedback.
• Interface with motor drivers and redundant actuator systems through CAN, SPI, UART, Ethernet, RS-422, and BiSS-C.
• Design safety-critical state machines for thrust sequences, valve actuation, pressurization, and safe shutdowns.
• Participate in hotfire campaigns, environmental testing, and in-flight diagnostics.
• Write unit-tested, reviewable production firmware for testbeds and spacecraft.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 12+ years of embedded C/C++ development experience for electromechanical control systems.
• Experience with real-time control loops, motor commutation, actuator calibration, and servo, stepper, or brushless DC motors.
• Experience troubleshooting across the hardware and software stack with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, hardware debuggers, and source-level debuggers.
• Strong understanding of low-level hardware and digital interfaces, including I2C, SPI, CAN, and UART.
• Must satisfy U.S. Government ITAR eligibility requirements.

Nice to have

• Rocket engine controller software experience, including valve sequencing and abort logic.
• Satellite attitude control systems experience with reaction wheels, magnetorquers, and small thrusters.
• Familiarity with redundant actuator architectures and fault detection and response algorithms.
• Exposure to vacuum, temperature extremes, and radiation upsets in space environments.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employment with medical, vision, and dental coverage.
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
• Potential long-term incentives in the form of stock options.
• Onsite work with collaboration across propulsion, avionics, and GNC teams.

Hiring process

• Application review and introductory phone interview.
• Technical phone interview(s).
• Onsite interview followed by an offer.