Senior Embedded Systems Engineer - Space SystemsXplore is a highly differentiated, venture-backed commercial space company. We design, build, and operate satellites and sensors that collect high-fidelity Earth observation data, enabling insights that support social, economic, environmental, and security outcomes across the globe.Every image we collect contains trillions of spectral data points—revealing the physical and chemical state of Earth in ways conventional imaging cannot see. Our multi-sensor satellites combine remote sensing data, edge computing, and high-throughput communications to generate spatial insights for customers worldwide.We are building the operational backbone of a scalable space infrastructure company.In this role, you will design and own the embedded hardware and firmware that power Xplore's spacecraft and payload systems—from early architecture and board bring-up through flight and constellation scale.We are hiring a Senior Embedded Systems Engineer - Space Systems to lead the design and development of the embedded hardware and firmware that power Xplore's spacecraft and payload systems.You will lead the design and development of flight-critical embedded hardware and firmware across the full lifecycle:Embedded architecture and system designPCB and hardware developmentFPGA and firmware implementationBoard bring-up and hardware validationSystem integration and environmental testingYou will improve current embedded architectures and build new ones that are technically rigorous, resilient, and scalable for spacecraft deployment.You will take technical ownership of systems that move from design to flight and operate on real missions in orbit.Your designs will move from lab bench to launch vehicle to orbit—powering spacecraft on real missions.What you will build:Flight electronics for next-generation Earth observation spacecraftHigh-performance embedded compute platforms for on-orbit data processingFPGA-enabled sensor interfaces and high-speed data pipelinesEmbedded avionics supporting spacecraft command, control, and payload managementCustom hardware systems supporting multi-sensor spacecraft architecturesWhat you will own:Embedded System ArchitectureArchitect embedded hardware and firmware for spacecraft and payload subsystemsDefine system interfaces between sensors, compute systems, and spacecraft avionicsDesign scalable embedded platforms supporting multi-sensor spacecraft architecturesEstablish design standards for reliability, performance, and manufacturabilityHardware Design & PCB DevelopmentDesign multi-layer PCBs for spaceflight applications using KiCAD or equivalent EDA toolsPerform schematic capture, component selection, and layout reviewEnsure designs meet signal integrity, thermal, and power requirementsImplement design for manufacturability (DFM) and production readinessBoard Bring-Up & Hardware ValidationLead bring-up of custom flight electronics and embedded subsystemsValidate power sequencing, clocking, and high-speed interfacesPerform hands-on debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and lab instrumentationConduct integration testing and support environmental qualification of flight hardwareFPGA & Firmware DevelopmentDevelop FPGA-based solutions using Xilinx Vivado and related toolchainsImplement RTL designs and achieve timing closure for high-performance systemsDevelop embedded Linux drivers and low-level firmware in C/C++ (Rust a plus)Optimize system performance across hardware and firmware boundariesSystem IntegrationIntegrate embedded hardware with spacecraft flight software and payload systemsSupport payload integration and data interface developmentBuild test harnesses and validation infrastructure for subsystem testingCollaborate with spacecraft, payload, and mission engineering teams to ensure flight readinessYour decisions will directly influence spacecraft capability, reliability, and mission performance.