Principal Embedded Software Engineer (Actuators & Control Systems)

• As a Senior Embedded Software Engineer at Impulse focused on Actuation & Control Systems, you will be responsible for developing embedded software that controls a variety of actuated systems across launch vehicles and spacecraft
• These include rocket engine valves, satellite thrusters, thrust vector control actuators, and motor-driven devices such as reaction wheels and gimbals
• You will collaborate with propulsion, avionics, and GNC teams to design high-performance, fault-tolerant firmware capable of operating reliably in harsh environments such as launch and space
• Develop real-time firmware for controlling: Rocket engine valves and thrust vector control actuators (TVCAs); Satellite propulsion systems, including cold gas and electric thrusters; and Motor-driven systems such as reaction wheels, gimbals, and momentum wheels
• Implement closed-loop control for: Position, velocity, torque, and pressure regulation; as well as Feedback via encoders, LVDTs, resolvers, current sensors, and pressure sensors
• Interface with motor drivers and redundant actuator systems using protocols like CAN, SPI, UART, Ethernet, RS-422, and BISS-C
• Design and implement 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 and reviewable production firmware for use in both testbeds and spacecraft

### Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision: Enjoy the best medical, dental and optical coverage money can buy. We’ve got you and your family covered for all eventualities
• Company Ownership: You’ll be contributing to Impulse’s success, so you deserve to share in it. All full-time employees receive a meaningful equity allocation
• Flexible PTO Policy: We believe in work-life harmony more so than “balance”. When you are happy & fulfilled outside of work, you will be more productive when you’re in it. We offer generous PTO accrual to our full-time employees- Strong understanding of low-level hardware and digital interfaces (I2C, SPI, CAN, UART)
• Experience using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, hardware debuggers, and source-level debuggers to troubleshoot problems at all layers of the stack
• 12+ years of embedded C/C++ development experience for electromechanical control systems
• Proficiency working with servo motors, stepper motors, or brushless DC motors
• Experience implementing real-time control loops, motor commutation, and actuator calibration routines
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• Prior work on rocket engine controller software, including valve sequencing and abort logic
• Experience with satellite attitude control systems (ACS), including reaction wheels, magnetorquers, and small thrusters
• Familiarity with redundant actuator architectures and fault detection/response algorithms
• Exposure to space environment constraints such as vacuum, temperature extremes, and radiation upsets