Software Engineer
Role details
Job location
Tech stack
Job description
The Software Engineer develops functional, well-architected software that directly drives hardware for advanced optical communication and tracking systems. This role focuses on building and improving control software and system architecture for hardware such as moving mirrors, ensuring high performance, reliability, and maintainability in complex, noisy environments. The position is foundational and long-term, supporting a major space-focused project well beyond its anticipated launch timeline. Responsibilities
- Design and set up the software and system architecture that governs how hardware and control systems operate, with an initial focus on significantly improving the speed and performance of mirror movement over the first three to six months.
- Develop, implement, and refine software controls that interface with hardware components, including evaluation cards that connect computer programs to physical devices such as moving mirrors used for tracking.
- Work closely with the PAT Engineer and other team members to create robust control loops and tracking algorithms that perform reliably in noisy, real-world environments.
- Write clean, well-structured, and thoroughly documented code with extensive comments to ensure clarity and maintainability for both software engineers and non-technical team members, including optics engineers.
- Drive and uphold standards for documentation, code quality, and coding rigor within small development groups, helping to define and enforce best practices for maintainable and reusable code.
- Collaborate with existing engineers and interns to organize, refactor, and advance the codebase, ensuring that the software architecture supports long-term scalability and future enhancements.
- Develop functional embedded software and firmware that interacts with real-time operating systems and hardware components, ensuring reliable performance for tracking and control applications.
- Contribute to system design and software architecture decisions, particularly around control systems and tracking systems used in industrial, aerospace, defense, and autonomous applications.
- Ensure that code and system designs support long-term reusability and understandability, so future team members can extend and maintain the software even after the original developer is no longer involved.
- Participate in problem-solving and optimization efforts to accelerate overall system performance and support the transition from lab testing to deployed components for a planned space launch.
Requirements
Sensors Firmware Codebase Actuators Visionary Leadership Innovation Algorithms Embedded C Scalability Reliability Communication Control Loops Systems Design Robust Control Professionalism Problem Solving Control Systems Maintainability Embedded Systems Embedded Software Autonomous System Laboratory Testing Autonomous Vehicles Hardware Components Software Engineering Software Development Systems Architecture Firmware Development Programming Languages Software Architecture Industrial Automation Optical Communication Artificial Intelligence C (Programming Language) Internet Of Things (IoT) Engineering Design Process C++ (Programming Language) Software Quality (SQA/SQC) Real-Time Operating Systems Python (Programming Language) Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, * Proven experience writing functional code that directly drives hardware in real-world applications, such as embedded systems, evaluation cards, or hardware control interfaces.
- Hands-on experience with tracking systems from industrial, aerospace, defense, or military applications, specifically systems that actively track object coordinates in noisy environments.
- Experience with autonomous systems, such as self-driving cars, drones with collision avoidance, or advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), with a focus on control and sensing integration.
- Deep controls experience, including a strong understanding of control systems and control loops, and the ability to design and implement robust control algorithms.
- Proficiency in programming languages such as C, C++, Python, and MATLAB, with the ability to write generic, maintainable code suitable for long-term use.
- Experience with embedded software and firmware development, including working with embedded C and C/C++ in environments that may involve real-time operating systems and IoT-style hardware.
- Demonstrated ability to set up software architecture and system design for hardware-interfacing applications, including evaluation cards that bridge computer programs and physical devices.
- Strong focus on code quality, including writing well-documented, controlled code with extensive comments to ensure clarity for technical and non-technical team members.
- Ability to work effectively in small, collaborative development teams, contributing to coding standards, documentation practices, and shared understanding of the codebase.
- Professionalism and strong cultural fit, with the ability to communicate clearly, collaborate across disciplines, and consistently deliver practical, effective solutions.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience in software engineering and software development for hardware-centric or embedded applications.
- Background in defense, aerospace, industrial automation, or related domains involving complex tracking and control systems.
- Familiarity with real-time operating systems and IoT environments, including designing software that interacts with sensors, actuators, and networked devices.
- Experience with system design architecture and software architecture for complex, multi-component systems.
- Exposure to drones, autonomous vehicles, or ADAS technologies, particularly in the context of collision avoidance and object tracking.
- Ability to explain technical concepts and code behavior to non-software specialists, such as optics engineers or hardware-focused team members.
- Demonstrated commitment to code reusability, maintainability, and long-term support of software projects.
- Interest in working on long-term, high-impact projects that involve advanced optical communication and tracking systems and space-related applications.
- Comfort working in environments that balance remote and local collaboration, with a focus on results and effective communication., Sensors Firmware Codebase Actuators Visionary Leadership Innovation Algorithms Embedded C Scalability Reliability Communication Control Loops Systems Design Robust Control Professionalism Problem Solving Control Systems Maintainability Embedded Systems Embedded Software Autonomous System Laboratory Testing Autonomous Vehicles Hardware Components Software Engineering Software Development Systems Architecture Firmware Development Programming Languages Software Architecture Industrial Automation Optical Communication Artificial Intelligence C (Programming Language) Internet Of Things (IoT) Engineering Design Process C++ (Programming Language) Software Quality (SQA/SQC) Real-Time Operating Systems Python (Programming Language) Advanced Driver Assistance Systems +0
Google IT Automation with Python
Benefits & conditions
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Reno, NV. Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $86.53 - $105.76/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: * Medical, dental & vision * Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital * 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available * Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) * Short and long-term disability * Health Spending Account (HSA) * Transportation benefits * Employee Assistance Program * Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type