Embedded Software Engineer

XTEND Tampa is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to support the development, integration, and production of autonomous drone systems.

This role focuses on hands-on embedded software and firmware development for tactical UAS platforms, including low-level driver development, hardware/software integration, communication interfaces, and embedded system debugging. The engineer will work closely with electrical, mechanical, software, and production teams to ensure reliable, manufacturable, and field-ready drone systems.

Main Responsibilities

Embedded Software & Firmware Development

• Develop, maintain, and improve embedded software and firmware for autonomous drone systems using C, with occasional support using C++ and Python.

Hardware / Software Integration

• Work directly with hardware components, embedded processors, co-processors, sensors, payload interfaces, and peripheral devices to ensure reliable system-level integration.

Low-Level Driver Development

• Develop and support low-level drivers and communication interfaces, including I2C, UART, SPI, GPIO, and other embedded hardware protocols.

Microcontroller Development

• Support embedded development on STM ARM microcontroller-based platforms, including firmware implementation, debugging, and hardware bring-up.

System Integration Support

• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, software, and production teams during prototype development, system integration, and production troubleshooting.

Debugging & Troubleshooting

• Troubleshoot firmware, hardware, PCB, and interface-level issues using engineering tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, debuggers, and schematics.

Core Operating System Support

• Contribute to the development and refinement of XTEND’s embedded software architecture and core operating environment for drone and payload systems.

Testing & Validation

• Support bench testing, hardware-in-the-loop testing, system integration testing, and field validation of embedded systems.

Documentation

• Develop and maintain embedded software documentation, interface descriptions, test procedures, troubleshooting guides, and integration notes.

Requirements

Education - B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical discipline.

Experience - 5+ years of hands-on experience in embedded software or firmware development.

Embedded Programming - Strong experience developing embedded software in C.

Hardware Integration - Experience debugging and integrating software directly on hardware platforms.

Communication Protocols - Experience implementing or troubleshooting embedded communication protocols such as I2C, UART, SPI, GPIO, or similar interfaces.

Microcontrollers - Experience working with STM ARM microcontrollers or similar embedded processor platforms.

Debugging Tools - Proficiency using oscilloscopes and other bench-level debugging tools to troubleshoot embedded systems, PCBs, and hardware interfaces.

Schematics & Board-Level Understanding - Ability to read schematics, understand board-level design intent, and support hardware/software troubleshooting.

Hands-On Engineering - Comfortable working directly with hardware, prototypes, production systems, and fielded equipment.

Team Collaboration - Strong communication skills with the ability to work across embedded software, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, production, and field support teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with C and/or Python.
• Experience with Linux kernel development or embedded Linux environments.
• Familiarity with ROS2.
• Experience using Git or similar software configuration management tools.
• Experience with drone systems, robotics, autonomous systems, aerospace systems, or defense-related products.
• Experience supporting prototype builds, production environments, or fielded hardware systems.
• Familiarity with real-time systems, sensor integration, payload control, or communication modules.