Embedded Software Engineer

Actalent is hiring an Embedded Software Engineer for a mission-critical aerospace embedded software team based in Frederick, MD (fully onsite). This contract to hire role blends hands-on implementation, laboratory testing, and safety/compliance work, with the opportunity to mentor fellow embedded engineers and partner across software, systems, and hardware.

What you’ll do

• Act as both an individual contributor and a mentor, delivering technical guidance and career development support to embedded software engineers.
• Work with senior technical leadership to architect and implement embedded software solutions for aerospace and defense program requirements.
• Design, develop, and maintain embedded software primarily in C, with additional development in C++, Python, and other languages as needed.
• Ensure software compliance with aerospace and defense standards, including AS9115 and DO-178C, emphasizing system safety and reliability.
• Own assigned tasks end to end: monitor and report progress to team leaders, adjust priorities as needed to meet schedule and budget constraints.
• Perform thorough code reviews, enforce coding standards, and maintain software quality across the embedded codebase.
• Coordinate with systems engineering and hardware teams to ensure smooth integration with the overall system architecture.
• Initiate, plan, and execute laboratory testing to validate embedded software functionality, performance, and safety.
• Support safety-compliant software and system safety processes aligned with MIL-STD-882.
• Participate in requirements and compliance management, using appropriate modeling and tools to trace and verify requirements.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field.
• 5+ years of embedded software development experience for defense or aerospace systems.
• Strong proficiency in Embedded C, including experience on bare-metal platforms and real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• Experience with C++, with additional scripting or development experience in Python.
• Hands-on experience with microcontroller-based embedded systems and low-level software development.
• Experience using embedded development tools such as compilers, debuggers, and version control systems.
• Ability to perform and participate in code reviews and enforce coding standards.
• Strong communication skills across software, systems, and hardware teams.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills to manage tasks, track progress, and adjust priorities.
• Experience in mission-critical, safety-focused aerospace and defense applications using established processes and standards.
• Familiarity with aerospace/defense standards such as AS9115 and DO-178C for system safety.
• Safety-critical systems development experience and familiarity with safety processes in compliance with MIL-STD-882.
• Experience developing embedded software for System-on-Chip (SoC) designs, including RFSoC and similar platforms.
• Background in embedded software for advanced systems, RF front ends, mixed-signal, and digital solutions.
• Experience with requirements and compliance management tools such as DOORS, Visure, or similar platforms.
• Hands-on experience with aerospace/defense embedded platforms and associated test environments.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and provide technical oversight to embedded software team members.
• Familiarity with mission-critical, high-reliability systems and verification and validation practices.

Technologies

C, C++, Python, Embedded C, RTOS, bare-metal platforms, microcontroller-based embedded systems, System-on-Chip (SoC) designs, RFSoC, AS9115, DO-178C, MIL-STD-882, DOORS, Visure

Compensation and benefits

Pay range: $72.11 - $96.15/hr (hourly). This role is contract to hire and located in Frederick, MD (onsite).

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application deadline: This position is anticipated to close on Sep 21, 2026.