Principal RF Embedded Software Engineer, Impulse Space
$195-240k
Office located in Redondo Beach, CA
In-space mobility company
Job no longer available
In-space mobility company
201-500 employees
Job no longer available
$195-240k
Office located in Redondo Beach, CA
201-500 employees
Company mission
To accelerate humanity's future in space through efficient transportation anywhere.
Role
Who you are
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related technical field
- 10+ years experience in writing software for wireless systems in critical applications
- Good debugging skills
- Ability to work in the lab with RF equipment including spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and software defined radios
- Proficient in writing embedded C/C++ code
- Experience with FPGA development in Verilog/VHDL
Desirable
- Experience integrating and troubleshooting FPGA's with embedded Linux
- Experience writing and debugging communication modem software such as Symbol Synchronizers, multi-rate resamples, PLL's, and Frame Synchronizers
- Experience implementing baseband software for systems using PSK, GFSK, or APSK
- Experience with common RF protocols like SRS4, DVBS-II, and CCSDS
- Experience writing software or firmware for a space environment (space link budgets, ground station integration)
- Experience designing real-time DSP pipelines on Xilinx Ultrascape+ MPSoCs
- Experience with GNU radio flowgraph development and troubleshooting
- Familiarity with satellite spectrum licensing laws, agencies, and standards
- Experience in a startup or agile development environment
- Strong understanding of the major blocks of RF signal modulation/demodulation
- Proficient in testing and troubleshooting RF devices
What the job involves
- As an Principal RF Embedded Software Engineer your core responsibility will be to own the design, testing, and delivery of flight RF software systems for space missions anywhere from low earth orbit to mars
- Work with a cross-disciplinary team to define and implement RF software communications requirements on a mission-by-mission basis, implement RF software architectures, and bring up RF systems
- Guiding a team through algorithm implementation, debugging DSP issues, and making architectural decisions on system performance, latency, and precision
- Development of algorithms for RF digital signal processing and calibration
- Design state of the art data processing pipelines to support high speed communication modems
- Work with ground software teams to develop and test satellite to ground data pipelines
Application process
- Application Received
- Resume Review
- Intro Phone Interview
- Technical Phone Interview(s)
- Onsite Inteview
- Offer!
Our take
Impulse Space is developing a line of orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs) that enhance satellite manoeuvrability in space. The company offers products like Mira, for last-mile satellite deliveries and Helios, which can move spacecraft from low Earth orbit to geosynchronous orbit in under 24 hours.
Recognizing the strategic value of manoeuvrable spacecraft, the US Space Force awarded Impulse a $34.5M contract for two missions set for 2026. These missions, Victus Surgo and Victus Salo, will demonstrate in-space operations and enhance space domain awareness, showcasing the Space Force's focus on quickly responding to threats in a congested space environment.
Alongside this, the company secured substantial funding that will allow it to expand its operations and advance its OTV technology. With a proven track record of successful missions and strategic partnerships with the Department of Defense, Impulse is well-positioned to lead in the growing market for responsive satellite services.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Company
Funding (last 2 of 7 rounds)
Jun 2026
$500m
SERIES D
Jun 2025
$300m
SERIES C
Total funding: $1.1bn
Company 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
Company HQ
South Redondo, Redondo Beach, CA
Leadership
Thomas Mueller
(Founder, CEO & CTO)Prior to founding Impulse Space in 2021, they spent almost 2 decades at SpaceX, initially as a VP of Propulsion Engineering before becoming the Propulsion CTO.
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