About this opportunity
LMK Recruiting Solutions lists this Senior Embedded Systems & Controls Software Engineer, Flight Systems opportunity in orange county, California. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
Write the software that decides how an aircraft behaves
Our client is a fast-growing aerospace company building flight-critical systems, and they're rethinking how aircraft get designed, built, and scaled. They combine startup speed with real aerospace discipline, using automation, AI-driven tools, and a connected digital backbone to go from concept to flying hardware faster than legacy programs can. Your code will run on an aircraft that flies.
The role
You'll design and own the supervisory control layer: the logic that coordinates actuators, motor drives, power, and flight-level systems. You'll define how the system powers up, operates, and recovers when something goes wrong. The focus is system behavior and correctness, not inner-loop control tuning.
You won't write code and hand it off. You'll be in the lab, running your logic on real flight controller hardware, and you'll own it from architecture through bring-up.
What you'll do
Architect the state machines, sequencing, and mode management for power-up, normal operation, degraded modes, and fault recovery
Write safety-critical embedded code in C/C++, and use MATLAB/Simulink for model-based design and MIL/SIL/HIL validation
Bring up hardware alongside EEs, debugging with scopes and logic analyzers until behavior is predictable
Define how subsystems communicate over CAN, SPI, and Ethernet, and document the interfaces
Shape the software architecture and process as the team grows, with real influence on system-level decisions
What you bring
5+ years of embedded software on real-time hardware, with time spent on physical systems and not only simulation
Strong C/C++ and real-time software architecture
Experience with MATLAB/Simulink and model-based design
Solid grasp of CAN, SPI, or similar protocols, including fault handling
Comfort in the lab, and a habit of chasing problems across software, hardware, and system boundaries
Bonus: TI C2000, NXP, or similar real-time MCUs; background in EVs, robotics, aviation, or other safety-critical systems (ISO 26262, DO-178C, ARP4754); motor control, BMS, or vehicle control experience. Automotive and industrial safety-critical backgrounds are welcome.
Why this role
Real ownership: you own system behavior, not a ticket queue
Real hardware: watch your logic run on an actual flight controller
Real impact: a foundational role in bringing flight-ready control systems from concept to deployment
Comp: $150K-$170K plus equity, health/dental/vision, and a 401(k) with company match
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.