Software Engineer (Embedded)

Los Angeles, CA At Heart Aerospace we are developing the ES-30, a regional hybrid-electric airplane with a capacity of 30 passengers, an electric zero-emission range of 200 km and an extended hybrid range of 400 km. Heart is targeting type certification of the ES-30 by the end of the decade. Your mission As an early – mid level Software Engineer on the Flight Software Team, you are responsible for all aspects the development of the software on the aircraft. You will interface with other engineers to develop and understand requirements, architect and writing high quality code, build tests and test infrastructure, documentation, and provide support through the software lifecycle. Part of your responsibility will be to lay the technological foundation for the aircraft software and supporting systems, including but not limited to implementing aircraft control functions on embedded systems, developing aircraft models and simulation tools, implementing critical fault tolerance mechanisms, and building hardware and software test systems. You will report to the Manager of Flight Software and collaborate with other engineers as part of a multi-functional team. Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to: * Design, develop, test, and maintain embedded software for safety-critical vehicle and industrial systems. * Write reliable, maintainable code for embedded environments including microcontrollers, bare-metal systems, RTOS, and embedded operating systems. * Collaborate cross-functionally with systems, hardware, flight sciences, and quality teams. * Contribute to verification and validation activities including unit testing, integration testing, and system-level testing. * Support simulation, modeling, and test activities. * Document designs, requirements, and test results clearly and effectively. You'll Bring These Qualifications as a Software Engineer I: * 0–2 years of professional experience (internships, co-ops, academic project work) in structural design, aerospace engineering, or a related field. * Writing production-quality code in systems languages such as Rust, C, C++, or Python. * Develop embedded software under close mentorship and guidance. * Learn safety-critical development processes and certification standards. * Implement embedded software features with moderate guidance. * Contribute to fault tolerance, fault mitigation strategies, unit tests, CI/CD pipelines, integration testing, well-defined features, test development, and documentation. * Participate in system modeling and simulation efforts. * Strong verbal and written communication skills in English. You'll Bring These Qualifications as a Software Engineer II: * 2+ years of professional industry experience. * Writing production-quality code in systems languages such as Rust, C, C++, or Python. * Own medium-complexity features and subsystems end-to-end. * Apply strong systems design fundamentals to embedded software architecture. * Contribute to fault tolerance, fault mitigation strategies, unit tests, CI/CD pipelines, integration testing, well-defined features, test development, and documentation. * Actively participate in design reviews and cross-discipline technical discussions. * Establish well-defined features, test development, and documentation. * Strong verbal and written communication skills in English. Education: * Obtaining and/or obtained a minimum Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline These Qualifications Would Be Nice to Have: * Passion for aircraft, vehicles, and the company mission. * Experience with embedded execution environments (microcontrollers, bare metal, RTOS, embedded OS). * Experience modeling cyber-physical systems (e.g., 6-DoF simulators, Monte Carlo simulations, battery pack models). * Experience with software and hardware test development: Unit tests, CI/CD pipelines, integration testing, automated testing, fuzzing, data collection, and report generation. * Support development under functional safety–compliant processes (e.g., DO-178C, ISO 26262, IEC 61508). Base Pay Range: * Software Engineer I: $119,000—$149,000 USD. * Software Engineer II: $137,000—$171,000 USD.

SOFTWARE ENGINEER Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software, hardware, and physics to produce industrial-scale parts at the speed of human ideation. By treating manufacturing as a single integrated system, we unlock a new era of innovation where complex hardware is designed, built, and scaled without limits. As a Software Engineer at Freeform, you will play a key role in developing and deploying the software systems that power our autonomous metal 3D printing factories. You’ll work with a talented engineering team from some of the world’s most innovative companies across a range of projects including controls, high-speed data acquisition, high-performance computing (GPU’s and FPGA’s), and geometry processing pipelines that enable precise and fully automated manufacturing at scale. Your work will directly impact the performance, reliability, and scalability of our factory systems. The ideal candidate thrives in ambiguity, takes initiative on complex technical problems, and works collaboratively across disciplines to deliver robust, high-performance software solutions. This is an opportunity to build foundational systems for a new category of manufacturing technology - where your code doesn’t just run, it drives physical innovation.  3D printing experience is not required to be successful here - rather we look for smart, motivated, collaborative engineers who love solving hard problems and creating amazing technology!  Responsibilities:   * Architect and develop software for an advanced, production-scale metal 3D printing factory  * Work with process, control, and mechanical engineers to integrate control algorithms into production software  * Improve and scale out high-rate data acquisition, storage, and retrieval systems  * Implement processes for converting customer part geometries into machine print instructions  Basic Qualifications:  * Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics, or physics * Proficiency in a systems level programming language such as C/C++ or Rust * Experience with high-performance systems software such as hardware control software, embedded software, high-volume telemetry systems, graphics rendering, or similar Nice to Have:   * Experience interfacing with microcontrollers, FPGA, or GPU computing hardware  * Experience developing embedded or real-time software systems  * Experience writing software for industrial automation systems, rockets, spacecrafts, robotics, or related hardware that operates with the physical world  * Experience working in a Linux or RTOS environment  * Comfortable working in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and iterating quickly (comfortable building the plane as we fly it)  * Strong communicator who collaborates across disciplines and proactively seeks support when needed  * Willing to take ownership of tasks big and small, with a hands-on, problem-solving mindset  * Strong work ethic with a refuse-to-fail mindset  * Demonstrated indicators of excellence and/or achieving success against adversity (i.e. top academic performance, leadership in engineering clubs, first-generation college student, or other examples of resilience and achievement)  Location:   * Based in Hawthorne, our vertically integrated facility brings technology development, R&D, and production together under one roof. We operate at the center of LA’s deep tech ecosystem, surrounded by some of the most ambitious hardware innovation happening anywhere in the country. * Our fast-paced, cross-functional environment is built on close collaboration, and as such, this role requires full-time onsite presence (five days a week), with very limited exceptions. What We Offer:   * We have an inclusive and diverse culture that values collaboration, learning, and making deliberate data-driven decisions.  * We offer a unique opportunity to be an early and integral member of a rapidly growing company that is scaling world-changing technology.   * Benefits   * Significant stock option packages  * 100% employer-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance (premium PPO and HMO options)  * Life insurance  * Traditional and Roth 401(k)  * Relocation assistance provided  * Paid vacation, sick leave, and company holidays  * Generous Paid Parental Leave and extended transition back to work for the birthing parent  * Free daily catered lunch and dinner, and fully stocked kitchenette  * Casual dress, flexible work hours, and regular catered team building events  * Compensation   * Our intent is to offer a salary that is commensurate for the company’s current stage of development and allows the employee to grow and develop within a role.  * In addition to the significant stock option package, the estimated salary range for this role is $115,000-$150,000. The upper end of the range is reserved for individuals who demonstrate exceptional experience, deep domain mastery, and a proven history of high performance and impact. * Freeform is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity; employment with Freeform is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.