Embedded Software Engineer - Platform & Hardware Integration

Summary

Quest Defense Systems & Solutions is focused on supporting complex, mission-critical programs where software performance and reliability are essential. They are seeking an experienced Embedded Software Engineer to build foundational embedded platforms and ensure robust communication with hardware components, collaborating closely with various teams to deliver real-time embedded solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain very low‑level embedded software, including processor‑level C, C++, and assembly code
• Lead and execute SoC hardware initialization, board bring-up, and platform-level hardware/software integration
• Experience with FPGA/ASIC components, ensuring timing‑critical and deterministic communication
• Integrate and support avionics and real‑time communication protocols such as TSN, PCIe, and AFDX
• Contribute to the development of highly reliable embedded systems for avionics, safety‑critical, or deterministic real‑time environments
• Utilize ARM DS IDE, DSTREAM, and Python-based tooling for debugging, automation, and productivity optimization
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with hardware, systems, and verification teams to ensure seamless integration and compliance with platform requirements
• Participate in design reviews, documentation development, and continuous improvement of embedded software processes

Skills

• U.S. citizenship is required
• Bachelor's degree in software engineering or a related engineering discipline
• 4+ years of relevant Software Engineering experience in avionics or electronic controls embedded development in a safety or mission critical environment (ie: aerospace, military)
• Demonstrated expertise in low‑level embedded software development using C, C++, and assembly
• Strong background in SoC initialization, hardware, board bring‑up, and system-level hardware/software integration
• Hands-on experience interfacing with FPGA/ASIC logic and working with timing‑critical embedded communication
• Practical knowledge of avionics and deterministic communication protocols, including TSN, PCIe, and AFDX
• Proven experience developing software for avionics, safety‑critical, or other deterministic real‑time systems
• Proficiency with ARM DS IDE, DSTREAM hardware debug tools, and Python for automation and tooling
• Experience developing board support packages, boot code, device drivers, or other platform-level embedded software
• Hands-on experience with new board bring-up, processor initialization, hardware debug, and early-stage system integration
• Experience supporting DO-178C, DO-254, or other safety-critical development and verification processes
• Familiarity with timing analysis, deterministic execution, latency-sensitive communication, or real-time performance optimization
• Experience using hardware debug tools, trace tools, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, or similar lab-based debugging equipment
• Experience developing Python scripts or automation tools to support debugging, testing, integration, or workflow improvement
• Prior experience in aerospace, defense, avionics, automotive, industrial controls, or other regulated embedded systems environments
• Experience in the adoption and/or integration of emerging technologies (e.g., generative AI, automation platforms, digital assistants) into day-to-day operations to drive continuous improvement
• Active security clearance or the ability to obtain a clearance

Qualifications

Must Haves

• U.S. citizenship is required
• Bachelor's degree in software engineering or a related engineering discipline
• 4+ years of relevant Software Engineering experience in avionics or electronic controls embedded development in a safety or mission critical environment (ie: aerospace, military)
• Demonstrated expertise in low‑level embedded software development using C, C++, and assembly
• Strong background in SoC initialization, hardware, board bring‑up, and system-level hardware/software integration
• Hands-on experience interfacing with FPGA/ASIC logic and working with timing‑critical embedded communication
• Practical knowledge of avionics and deterministic communication protocols, including TSN, PCIe, and AFDX
• Proven experience developing software for avionics, safety‑critical, or other deterministic real‑time systems
• Proficiency with ARM DS IDE, DSTREAM hardware debug tools, and Python for automation and tooling

Nice to Haves

• Experience developing board support packages, boot code, device drivers, or other platform-level embedded software
• Hands-on experience with new board bring-up, processor initialization, hardware debug, and early-stage system integration
• Experience supporting DO-178C, DO-254, or other safety-critical development and verification processes
• Familiarity with timing analysis, deterministic execution, latency-sensitive communication, or real-time performance optimization
• Experience using hardware debug tools, trace tools, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, or similar lab-based debugging equipment
• Experience developing Python scripts or automation tools to support debugging, testing, integration, or workflow improvement
• Prior experience in aerospace, defense, avionics, automotive, industrial controls, or other regulated embedded systems environments
• Experience in the adoption and/or integration of emerging technologies (e.g., generative AI, automation platforms, digital assistants) into day-to-day operations to drive continuous improvement
• Active security clearance or the ability to obtain a clearance

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical/dental/life and disability coverage
• 401(k) with employer match
• Professional development support
• A flexible, friendly workplace