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Lead Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in California

Array Labs

Embedded Software Engineer

Redwood City, CA

$150K - $250K/yr

About the Job As an Embedded Software Engineer , you will develop the embedded software that enables Array's radar sensors, communication links, and flight systems to operate reliably in orbit. Your ...

Array Labs

Embedded Software Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$161K - $211K/yr

About the Job As an Embedded Software Engineer , you will develop the embedded software that enables Array's radar sensors, communication links, and flight systems to operate reliably in orbit. Your ...

Array Labs

Embedded Software Engineer

Redwood City, CA

$161K - $211K/yr

About the Job As an Embedded Software Engineer , you will develop the embedded software that enables Array's radar sensors, communication links, and flight systems to operate reliably in orbit. Your ...

General Matter

Embedded Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$100K - $180K/yr

We believe abundant nuclear energy will lead to a post-scarcity society. We were incubated inside ... About This Role As a General Matter Embedded Software Engineer, you will develop performant, safe ...

General Matter

Embedded Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$100K - $180K/yr

We believe abundant nuclear energy will lead to a post-scarcity society. We were incubated inside ... About This Role As a General Matter Embedded Software Engineer, you will develop performant, safe ...

Viasat, Inc.

Embedded Software Engineer

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$145K - $218K/yr

What you'll do This is a role for a Embedded Software Engineer within Secure Netowrk Systems (SNS) - Viasat Government who is eager to contribute to a small, fast-paced team. You will develop ...

Viasat, Inc.

Embedded Software Engineer

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$145K - $218K/yr

What you'll do This is a role for a Embedded Software Engineer within Secure Netowrk Systems (SNS) - Viasat Government who is eager to contribute to a small, fast-paced team. You will develop ...

KLA Corporation

Embedded Software Engineer

Milpitas, CA

$153K - $201K/yr

We are seeking a highly motivated Embedded Software Engineer to join our team within the RAPID division. In this role, you will take end-to-end technical ownership of embedded software that powers ...

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All JobsLead Embedded Software Engineer JobsLead Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in California

Lead Embedded Software Engineer information

See California salary details

$14.3K

$131.5K

$180.1K

How much do lead embedded software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead embedded software engineer in California is $131,548.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $112,000.00 and $153,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Lead Embedded Software Engineer vs Embedded Software Engineer?

AspectLead Embedded Software EngineerEmbedded Software Engineer
ResponsibilitiesLeading development teams, designing system architecture, overseeing project executionWriting and testing embedded software, implementing features, debugging
Required SkillsAdvanced programming, leadership, system design, communication skillsProficient in C/C++, RTOS, hardware integration, debugging
Experience5+ years, leadership experience preferred1-3 years, technical focus
Work EnvironmentCollaborative teams, project management, client interactionDevelopment labs, hardware testing, coding

The main difference between a Lead Embedded Software Engineer and an Embedded Software Engineer lies in leadership and project scope. The lead role involves guiding teams and overseeing system design, while the embedded engineer focuses on coding and testing. Both roles require strong technical skills, but the lead position demands additional experience in management and architecture.

How does a lead embedded software engineer typically collaborate with hardware and cross-functional teams during project development?

As a Lead Embedded Software Engineer, close collaboration with hardware engineers and cross-functional teams is essential throughout the product lifecycle. You'll regularly participate in design reviews, align software implementation with hardware specifications, and troubleshoot integration issues. Effective communication and coordination are vital to ensure that firmware interacts seamlessly with hardware components and meets performance goals. You'll also mentor junior engineers and often act as a technical liaison between software, hardware, and product management teams.

What does a lead embedded software engineer do?

A Lead Embedded Software Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software that runs on embedded systems, such as microcontrollers or specialized hardware. They lead a team of engineers, oversee project timelines, and ensure software quality by following best practices in coding, testing, and documentation. Their role often involves collaborating with hardware engineers to optimize system performance and integrating software with hardware components. They also mentor junior team members and contribute to technical decision-making throughout the product development cycle.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a lead embedded software engineer?

To thrive as a Lead Embedded Software Engineer, you need expertise in embedded systems development, proficiency in languages such as C/C++, and a strong background in computer science or electrical engineering. Familiarity with embedded operating systems (like RTOS), version control systems (such as Git), and industry certifications (e.g., Certified Embedded Systems Engineer) are typically expected. Leadership, problem-solving, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for managing teams and collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders. These capabilities ensure robust product development, successful project delivery, and innovation in complex technical environments.

What are popular job titles related to Lead Embedded Software Engineer jobs in California?

For Lead Embedded Software Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Lead Embedded Software Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Lead Embedded Software Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Lead Embedded Software Engineer jobs in CA?

For Lead Embedded Software Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Lead Embedded Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lead Embedded Software Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $131,548 per year, or $63.2 per hour.

Embedded Software Engineer

Array Labs

Redwood City, CA

$150K - $250K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago

Job description

Array Labs builds advanced radar systems to help humanity understand and respond to changes across the physical world. 
 
We’re launching a coordinated fleet of radar satellites to create a high-resolution 3D map of the Earth – updated in real time – enabling faster, smarter decision-making for government and commercial organizations supporting disaster response, infrastructure resilience, and mission-critical geopolitical intelligence.
 
We design and build our satellites end-to-end, producing the world’s most advanced earth observation satellites. Our fleet will deliver unprecedented levels of accuracy, coverage, and responsiveness to power critical insights precisely where they’re needed most.
 
About the Job
As an Embedded Software Engineer, you will develop the embedded software that enables Array’s radar sensors, communication links, and flight systems to operate reliably in orbit. Your work will include board bring-up of Linux-based platforms, high-performance data movement between sensors and compute elements, integration with FPGA and RF subsystems, and the development of safety-critical control and FDIR algorithms.
 
You will collaborate closely with signal processing, hardware, and GNC engineers to prototype, evaluate, and deploy software architectures that meet demanding latency, throughput, and reliability requirements. The software you build will directly influence radar performance, system robustness, and mission resilience on orbit.
 
As part of our quickly growing engineering team, you will play a critical role in the design of the world’s most advanced radar satellite constellation—one that will significantly improve humanity’s ability to rapidly and comprehensively understand our changing planet.
Responsibilities:
  • Develop highly reliable and available software systems for our low-latency, high-capacity radar sensor, communication system, and flight control system
  • Board bring-up of a Linux-based platform that integrates radar sensors, flight computers, RF transceivers, and navigation sensors
  • Work collaboratively with signal processing, hardware, and GNC engineers to build performant and reliable embedded software for our payload
  • Rapid prototyping and evaluation of key architectural choices and design constraints
  • Implement high-efficiency data movement between our radar sensor, FPGA fabric, microprocessors, networking interfaces, and storage peripherals.
  • Develop safety-critical system-level software for hardware components and develop FDIR (fault detection, isolation, and recovery) algorithms for mission-critical systems
  • Debug complex, system-level, multi-component issues that typically span across multiple layers from kernel to driver to application
 
 
Basic Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or related field
  • 4+ years of embedded software experience
  • Good understanding of Embedded Systems and OS concepts (Linux/RTOS).
  • Experience in one or more of the following areas: BSP/Board Support Package, Operating Systems, RTOS, Bootloader, Power Management, Linux, MCU (Microcontroller).
  • Excellent teamwork and communication skills
  • Learns new concepts rapidly, completely, and in a self-directed manner
  • High levels of self-motivation and personal accountability
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment under significant time constraints
  • Experience programming in C or C++ in embedded environments and in Python to support development, automation, and testing.
 
 
Preferred Skills and Experience:
  • Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or related field
  • Experience with aerospace or space projects (flight control/GNC)
  • Experience in the automotive, medical robotics, or similar regulated embedded device industry with a focus on safety and high availability
  • Good understanding of multi-threaded embedded system concepts including tasks, priorities, and deadlocks 
  • Embedded software debugging experience including clock-level issues, bridges, delays, interrupts, clock gating, and polling using debuggers (Keil, J-Link)
  • Experience building software for complex embedded systems or custom SoCs 
  • Hands-on coding experience with peripherals with interfaces such as UART, SPI, CSI-2, i2c, GPIO, USB, and PCIE
  • Experience developing with modern Real-Time Operating Systems  (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, ThreadX, VxWorks) 
  • Experience with embedded software design and debugging of boards with multiple processors (ARM/RISC-V, DSPs, MCUs) and a large array of peripherals using a multitude of interfaces (SPI, UART, GPIO,  I2C, Ethernet)
  • Experience with a variety of microprocessors (ARM,Nordic, Microchip, STM, etc) and hardware modules
  • Working knowledge of networking stack (Ethernet, TCP/IP suite) desired
  • Ability to read and interpret schematic diagrams
 
 
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 Employer:
  • Array Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made on the basis of merit, competence, and job qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by gender, color, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, gender identity, veteran status, disability status, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
 
 
Interview Process
We will conduct interviews via Google Meet; the typical process takes around 2-4 weeks to complete from start to finish.
 
Hiring and Compensation Strategy
Our hiring and compensation strategy is simple:
 
1) find uncommonly good people
2) pay them uncommonly well
 
You can anticipate competitive pay, with high flexibility between salary and equity-based compensation.
 
Why Join Array Labs?
Array Labs is launching a constellation of satellites to create the first high-resolution, real-time, three-dimensional model of Earth. Our next-generation satellite technology will offer image quality 60x greater than traditional techniques, profoundly expanding humanity’s ability to understand and respond to events on a global scale.
 
In forging an affordable, accessible, accurate representation of Earth, our work has the potential to transform the face of dozens of fields, including autonomy, telecommunications, disaster relief, gaming, climate science, defense and construction.