Embedded System Validation Engineer Jobs in Santa Barbara, CA

Umbra is an American space technology company delivering advanced systems, from sensors to spacecraft, that empower customers worldwide with unmatched access to critical information from space. Our mission is simple and ambitious: redefine space—for people, systems, and missions in every domain. Umbra’s ecosystem operates through three business units: Remote Sensing (the data), Space Systems (the components), and Mission Solutions (the platforms).Together, our teams develop capabilities that deliver persistent access, resilient performance, and mission-ready solutions, advancing U.S. space leadership while keeping the world safe and informed.

About the Team

Space Systems – The Components

Space Systems is where Umbra turns hardware and software designs into on-orbit realities; developing, implementing and iterating mission-ready core technology, while simultaneously advancing the next generation of our own satellite constellation. Space Systems is vertically integrated across the satellite architecture, thus the team designs, builds, and tests an array of critical components and subsystems, including power systems, communications, control systems, deployment hardware, avionics, and payloads, as well as the flight software, firmware and digital design solutions to support the entire hardware stack. Our focus is on first principles engineering, and our mandate is simple: it has to work when it counts. Every bolt, board, and binary is proven on our own SAR constellation, ensuring flight-proven reliability where failure is not an option.

If you want to work on cutting edge space technology while maintaining the highest standard for innovation and mission ready performance, you belong here at Umbra.

About the Job

Umbra is seeking an Embedded Systems Engineer with a strong firmware background to support development of mission-critical satellite systems. This role focuses on bare-metal embedded development, system integration, and hardware bring-up, with opportunities to contribute across the full lifecycle—from prototype to flight-ready systems.

You will work closely with electrical, software, and systems engineers to build and validate embedded solutions on real hardware. This role is ideal for someone who can take well-defined problems, execute quickly, and contribute to improving firmware infrastructure, tooling, and system reliability.

This position is based on-site in our Santa Barbara/Goleta, CA office.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and debug low-level drivers (SPI, UART/RS-485, GPIO, timers, interrupts).
• Participate in code reviews and MR support, ensuring code quality and maintainability.
• Contribute to architecture/design documentation (e.g., RFCs, ADRs, timing diagrams, interface definitions).
• Develop embedded firmware in C and Rust for bare-metal and RTOS-based microcontroller systems.
• Bring up and debug hardware systems, including board-level validation and peripheral integration.
• Support system integration and verification across avionics, radios, and other spacecraft subsystems.
• Define and execute test plans for firmware and hardware validation.
• Troubleshoot issues across firmware, hardware, and system interfaces.
• Contribute to shared firmware infrastructure, including HALs, drivers, and reusable libraries.
• Improve development workflows through contributions to repository structure, CI/CD, and test infrastructure.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with electrical, systems, and flight software engineers.
• Document designs, test procedures, and debugging processes to ensure repeatability and reliability.
• Support test campaigns and mission-critical milestones as needed.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of professional experience in embedded systems or firmware development.
• Experience developing and debugging embedded communication and control interfaces, including SPI, UART/SCI (e.g., RS-485), and GPIO/interrupts.
• Strong proficiency in embedded C and/or Rust programming.
• Experience working with bare-metal microcontrollers.
• Hands-on experience with hardware bring-up and debugging on physical systems.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and data sheets.
• Experience with debugging tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and debuggers (e.g., JTAG/SWD).
• Experience with system integration and verification.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) and collaborative development workflows.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to execute independently.
• Effective communication and ability to work in a cross-functional team environment.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with RTOS-based embedded systems.
• Familiarity with hardware/software integration at the system level.
• Experience contributing to CI/CD pipelines or automated test infrastructure for embedded systems.
• Experience developing or maintaining HALs, drivers, or shared firmware libraries.
• Background in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability environments.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, hardware-centric development environment.
• Demonstrated ownership of projects from concept through validation.
• Experience working in Agile/PI planning environments.
• Experience supporting system-level testing or qualification efforts.

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off, Sick, Family & Medical Leave
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD, STD (employer funded)
• Vol Life, Critical Illness, Accidental, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance (employee funded)
• 401k with 3% non-elective company contribution
• Stock Options
• Free Parking
• Free lunch in office daily

Umbra is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Employment Eligibility Verification

In compliance with federal laws, all hired persons will be required to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) upon hire.

ITAR/EAR Requirements

This position may include access to technology and/or data that is subject to U.S. export controls pursuant to ITAR and EAR. To comply with federal export controls, all persons hired must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee or asylee as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), or must otherwise be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or U.S. Department of Commerce as applicable.

Pay Transparency
This job posting may cover multiple career levels. To ensure greater transparency, we provide base salary ranges for all roles, regardless of location. Our standard pay ranges are based on the role’s function and level, benchmarked against similar growth-stage companies. Compensation may vary based on geographical location, as certain regions may have different cost-of-living factors. The final offer will also be influenced by the candidate's skills, responsibilities, and relevant experience.

Compensation Range

The Compensation Range for this role is $150,000 - $180,000 DOE.