Senior Embedded Systems & Controls Engineer

Senior Embedded Systems & Controls Engineer (Robotics, Automotive & Industrial Automation)

Location: Irvine, CA Level: Band 6 (Senior / Staff)

Schedule: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday – Friday

We're seeking a Senior Embedded Systems & Controls Software Engineer with strong
systems intuition and a passion for building robust, safety-critical control software. This
role sits at the intersection of embedded software, system-level control logic, and
hardware interfaces, owning the supervisory control layers that coordinate actuators,
motor drives, and vehicle-level systems.

You will architect and implement system control logic, state machines, sequencing,
diagnostics, and communication interfaces that ensure safe, deterministic operation
across complex aerospace systems. While this role interfaces closely with motor
control, BMS, and vehicle control software, its primary focus is system behavior,
integration, and correctness, not fast inner-loop control.

Key Responsibilities:
System Control Architecture & Logic
Design and own system-level control architecture spanning actuator control,
power sequencing, and operational state management.
Develop supervisory logic, state machines, and mode management that
coordinate lower-level motor control and hardware subsystems.
Define and implement safe power-up, power-down, fault response, and degraded
operating modes consistent with aerospace system requirements.
Embedded Software Development
Develop and maintain embedded software in C/C++ on real-time microcontroller
platforms (e.g., TI C2000, NXP, or comparable safety-oriented MCUs).
Architect scalable and maintainable software frameworks supporting control
execution, communication, diagnostics, and monitoring.
Work across BSPs, middleware, and application layers to ensure deterministic
behavior and system robustness.

System Interfaces & Communication
Define, implement, and document system interfaces between controllers,
subsystems, and external equipment.
Author and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for communication
protocols such as CAN (including safety-oriented profiles), ARINC 825, and other
aerospace or automotive buses.
Ensure reliable data exchange, arbitration, and fault handling across system
boundaries.
Model-Based Design & Validation
Use MATLAB/Simulink to develop and validate system-level control logic,
sequencing, and coordination strategies.

Support model-based design workflows spanning MIL, SIL, and HIL
environments.
Leverage simulation and lab data to validate system behavior across nominal,
corner-case, and fault scenarios.
Integration, Test & Bring-Up
Lead system-level integration activities across motor control, BMS, sensors, and
vehicle control software.
Support hardware bring-up, HIL testing, and lab validation, diagnosing issues
that span software, hardware, and system interactions.
Develop test strategies, automation hooks, and data analysis workflows to
ensure repeatable verification.
Safety, Process & Lifecycle Support
Support development of safety-critical embedded software by following
disciplined software development processes.
Contribute to requirements definition, traceability, verification planning, and
certification readiness activities aligned with standards such as DO-178C,
ARP4754/4761, or equivalent safety frameworks.
Maintain configuration control and long-term maintainability of system software
artifacts.

Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering,
Computer Science, or related field; equivalent professional experience may
be considered in lieu of a degree.
Minimum of 8 years of experience developing embedded control software for
complex real-time systems
Strong proficiency in embedded C/C++ and real-time software architecture
Experience designing system-level control logic, state machines, and
sequencing
Hands-on experience with communication protocols such as CAN (and
derivatives), SPI, Ethernet, or ARINC
Experience with model-based design tools (MATLAB/Simulink) and SIL/HIL
testing
Proven ability to integrate and debug software across hardware, firmware,
and system boundaries
Strong analytical skills and system-level problem-solving ability
Preferred Experience:
5+ years of experience developing embedded control software for complex real-
time systems
Strong proficiency in embedded C/C++ and real-time software architecture
Experience designing system-level control logic, state machines, and sequencing
Hands-on experience with communication protocols such as CAN (and
derivatives), SPI, Ethernet, or ARINC
Experience with model-based design tools (MATLAB/Simulink) and SIL/HIL
testing

Must work onsite in Irvine, CA

Proven ability to integrate and debug software across hardware, firmware, and
system boundaries
Strong analytical skills and system-level problem-solving ability
Working Conditions:
Work Environment: Primarily office-based in a professional, collaborative
engineering setting within the aerospace & defense sector.
Schedule: Standard business hours are 9 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday–Friday, with
occasional overtime or weekend work during critical project deadlines or testing
phases. Travel: Minimal (<10%)
Physical Requirements:
o Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.\
o Ability to participate in meetings, presentations, and collaborative design
reviews.
o Occasional movement between office areas, labs, and secure spaces.
Security Requirements:
o Must be legally authorized to work in the United States
o Work may be conducted in ITAR-regulated or classified environments.
Workload: Fast-paced, project-driven environment with shifting priorities based
on program milestones and customer needs.
Technology Use: Extensive use of specialized software development tools,
simulation environments, and version control systems.
Job Posting:
Neon Aero is building safety-critical aerospace systems that have to behave correctly
every time—through power-up, normal operation, faults, and recovery. We're looking for
a Senior Embedded Systems & Controls Software Engineer with strong systems
intuition and a love of clean, deterministic control logic.
This role lives at the intersection of embedded software, system-level control behavior,
and hardware interfaces. You'll own the supervisory control layers that coordinate
actuators, motor drives, power, and vehicle-level systems—designing the state
machines, sequencing, diagnostics, and comms that keep the whole system coherent
and safe.
This is not a fast inner-loop motor-control role. It's about system behavior, integration,
and correctness.
Why This Role Matters:
This role defines how complex control systems behave as a whole. Your work ensures
motors, actuators, power, and climate systems operate coherently, safely, and
predictably under all conditions. You'll have deep technical ownership, influence system
architecture decisions, and help bring flight-ready control systems from concept to
deployment. You will get to:

Own system-level control behavior: architect supervisory control across
actuators, power sequencing, and operational modes; implement state machines,
mode management, safe power-up/down, fault response, and degraded
operations.
Build robust embedded real-time software: develop embedded C/C++ on safety-
oriented MCUs (e.g., TI C2000, NXP); create scalable frameworks for control
execution, diagnostics, monitoring, and communications; ensure deterministic
behavior across BSP/middleware/application layers.
Define and maintain system interfaces: implement and document
controller/subsystem/external interfaces; write and maintain ICDs for CAN (incl.
safety profiles), ARINC 825, and related buses; ensure reliable data exchange,
arbitration, and fault handling.
Drive model-based validation: use MATLAB/Simulink for system logic and
sequencing; support MIL/SIL/HIL workflows; validate behavior with simulation
and lab data across nominal, corner-case, and fault scenarios.
Lead integration and test: integrate across motor control, BMS, sensors, and
vehicle control; support hardware bring-up and lab/HIL debugging; develop test
strategies, automation hooks, and analysis workflows for repeatable verification.
Support safety-critical process and lifecycle: contribute to requirements,
traceability, verification planning, and certification readiness (DO-178C,
ARP4754/4761, or equivalent); maintain configuration control and long-term
maintainability of software artifacts.
What you'll Bring:
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer
Science, or related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered
in lieu of a degree.
Minimum of 8 years building embedded control software for complex real-time
systems.
Strong proficiency in embedded C/C++ and real-time software architecture.
Experience designing system-level control logic, state machines, and
sequencing.
Hands-on experience with comms/protocols such as CAN, SPI, Ethernet, and/or
ARINC.
Experience with MATLAB/Simulink and SIL/HIL validation.
Proven ability to integrate and debug across hardware/firmware/software
boundaries.
Strong analytical and system-level problem-solving skills.
Nice to Haves:
o Direct experience with aerospace safety frameworks (DO-178C,
ARP4754/4761) and certification-oriented development.
o Experience bringing up safety-oriented MCUs and building
diagnostic/health-monitoring frameworks.
o Comfort working end-to-end—from ICDs and requirements through lab
validation.

Why Join Us:
Work alongside elite engineering talent and innovators from across aerospace
and tech.
Be part of a team moving faster than the industry standard.
Shape solutions that are lower-cost, autonomous, and scalable — the future of
aviation.
Competitive compensation, including equity participation, growth opportunities,
and full health benefits (health, vision, dental, 401K) designed to support you in
and out of work.