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Embedded Software Engineer - Firmware

Kent, Washington

At Stoke, we believe a thriving space economy will enable a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable future here on Earth. That is why we’re building Nova, our fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle. Designed for daily flight, Nova tackles the core challenges of space transportation by reducing cost, increasing availability, and improving reliability. By radically lowering launch costs and increasing flight cadence, we’re helping create a truly scalable space industry.

Our team is mission-driven, collaborative, and empowered to take ownership of their work. If you want to work alongside some of the most dedicated and talented people on Earth, we’d love to have you join us.

Description

Reusable launch systems are the key to seamlessly connecting Earth and space. Rockets can only be built on rock solid foundations, and for Vehicle Software, that foundation is our firmware. A predominant number of components on our launch vehicle are controlled by our in-house firmware, playing an essential role in the hardware software interface. As a Firmware Engineer, you will develop, test, and deploy code that can reliably support mission operations. 
 
If you are a software engineer that loves bits and bytes, moving electrons, and making fire, then this is the role for you. This job is multidisciplinary. Some days, you will be probing signals on a PCB, others you will be developing and testing new code, and others still you may be at the test site, installing and checking out a board being integrated onto an engine.

Responsibilities

  • Own firmware for multiple avionics boards 
  • Collaborate with other embedded software engineers to develop a scalable stack and maintain a coherent interface with adjacent systems 
  • Work with electrical engineers to bring up boards, write firmware that meets mission requirements, and test boards to these requirements 
  • Debug failures or issues that live at the intersection of hardware and software 
  • Support teams that are using the firmware you've written by providing technical knowledge and documentation 
  • Contribute to the vehicle's electrical and software architecture 

Qualifications

  • BSE in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related degree 
  • 2+ years of experience developing, testing, and deploying embedded systems (project teams, personal projects, and research can count for this) 
  • Experience in Rust 
  • Experience using electrical lab equipment, such as oscilloscopes and logic analyzers 
  • Strong systems thinking and debugging skills 
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal 
  • Rigorous attention to detail 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with reading and writing electrical schematics, preferably in Altium 
  • Familiarity with networking concepts such as UDP, MAC layer, subnets  
  • Demonstrated ability to write embedded rust, such as embassy 
  • Experience with RTOS and real time systems 
  • Familiarity with data acquisition systems (DAQ) 

Benefits

  • Equity – We know that our employees are the reason we succeed. To give everyone a stake in our future, we are pleased to offer equity in the form of stock options to all regular, full-time employees. 
  • Comprehensive benefits program including subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance 
  • Company-paid life and disability insurance 
  • 401(k) plan with employer match 
  • 4 weeks’ Paid Time Off  
  • Holidays – 10 days (including an end-of-year closure) 
  • Paid Family/Parental Leave  
  • On-site gym or monthly wellness stipend (depending on location) 
  • Dog friendly offices! 

Compensation

Target Levels:

  • Level 1 Range: $98,805 - $148,155
  • Level 2 Range: $123,480 - $185,220
  • Level 3 Range: $154,350 - $231,525

Our job posts are intentionally written to attract a wide variety of experience levels, and we make decisions about the right fit on a per-candidate basis. 

Your actual level and base salary will be decided based on your specific experience and skill level.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal Opportunity 

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including with respect to disability and veteran status.  It is committed to compliance with all equal opportunity laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Title VII.   It does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, citizenship, immigration status, or any other protected class when it comes to employment practices, including hiring. 

Employment at the Company is contingent upon satisfactory completion of reference and background checks, and on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company.  Employees must comply with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services employment verification requirements, and, therefore, they must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 at the start of employment and re-verify authorization to work periodically.

Separate from this I-9 process, this position entails access to certain technology and technical data that is restricted under U.S. export control laws and regulations.  Employment or continued employment may be conditioned on your legal authorization to work with or have access to export control materials as necessary to perform your job.

Candidate Rights & Accommodations

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or participate in the interview process, please contact careers@stokespace.com. Requests will be handled in accordance with applicable laws. Please do not include medical or other confidential information in your initial request.

For more information about your rights, please refer to the "Know Your Rights" notice here. 

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