Freelance Embedded System Software Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts

Job Title: Specialist, Embedded Software Engineer - (Aerospace Flight) : Sign-on bonus ($15K max)

Job Code: 39272

Job Location: Wilmington, MA

Job Schedule: 9/80 (Every other Friday off!)

Relocation: Relocation assistance is available to qualified applicants

Sign-On Bonus: A sign-on bonus of up to $15K may be included as part of an offer package for this level

Job Description: 

L3Harris Space and Mission Systems is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer for our Wilmington, MA location to join a team of experts developing Embedded Flight Software for space-based imaging payloads.  This role requires an experienced Embedded Software Engineer to support the design, implementation, and optimization of real-time embedded control software for high-performance systems. This role focuses on bare-metal C programming, development of complex servo control functionality, and close collaboration with control algorithm engineers to translate advanced concepts into reliable embedded implementations.

We look forward to reviewing your application!

Essential Functions: 

• Design, develop, test, and maintain real-time embedded software in C for bare-metal hardware platforms, with an emphasis on deterministic behavior, performance, and reliability.
• Implement and optimize complex servo control algorithms operating at update rates up to 1 kHz, ensuring precise timing, stability, and responsiveness.
• Integrate control algorithms with low-level hardware interfaces, including processors, peripherals, and communication paths, to support closed-loop system performance.
• Partner closely with the algorithm development team to evaluate system behavior, review collected data artifacts and refine control implementations based on empirical results.
• Analyze test data, debug real-time performance issues, and support iterative improvements to servo loop behavior, latency, and robustness.
• Participate in system bring-up, troubleshooting, and validation activities for embedded hardware and software in lab and prototype environments.
• Contribute to software architecture, code reviews, and best practices for embedded development, with attention to maintainability and verification.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and minimum 4 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 2 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 8 years of prior related experience.
• Ability to obtain a TS/SCI security clearance.
• Professional experience with embedded development on aerospace systems using C/C++.
• Professional experience programming bare-metal embedded systems without reliance on a full operating system.
• Professional experience working with timing constraints, interrupt-driven design, memory-mapped I/O, and performance optimization in resource-constrained environments.
• Experience utilizing DevOps practices, Jenkins, and continuous integration tools.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Active Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance is highly preferred
• Expertise in full spaced-based System lifecycle including requirements flow down and allocation, design, development, test, and sell-off.
• Experience in embedded flight software development, system design, debugging, and integration of flight-like hardware
• Experience implementing or supporting servo control algorithms in embedded environments.
• Exposure to FPGA-adjacent or soft-core processor environments such as MicroBlaze.
• Familiarity with data collection, signal analysis, and debugging tools used to evaluate real-time embedded system performance.
• Experience in Command & Control Software, Sensor Processing Systems, and Optical Systems/telescopes.
• Knowledge of microprocessor/microcontroller architecture and programming, and familiarity with FPGAs.
• Familiarity with real-time control systems, servo loops, or other closed-loop embedded applications.
• Knowledge of MBSE tools (e.g., Cameo) and wideband/narrowband telemetry and messaging.
• Working knowledge of image processors, visible cameras, IR detectors, servo motors, actuators and focus mechanisms.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, and the Greater D.C, Denver, or NYC areas is $97,000.00 - $180,000.00. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.