Real - Time Embedded Engineer

About Starbird AI

Starbird AI develops advanced defense technologies focused on GPS-denied navigation and autonomous systems. We combine cutting-edge hardware, signal processing, and AI-driven algorithms to enable reliable operation in the most challenging RF environments — where traditional navigation systems fail.

Role Overview

We are looking for an Embedded Software Engineer to join our hardware team and take part in developing the software layers that bring our systems to life. You'll work on ARM-based SoC platforms alongside FPGA and hardware engineers, covering everything from low-level drivers and hardware interfaces to networking and system integration. This is a hands-on role with real ownership across the embedded stack.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain embedded software on ARM-based platforms, including bare-metal and RTOS environments
• Implement and integrate hardware interfaces and communication protocols: SPI, I2C, UART, RS-422, and Ethernet/TCP
• Work on PS-PL integration — AXI-based hardware abstraction, DMA control, and hardware status monitoring
• Manage flash and RAM memory resources — layout, allocation, and optimization for embedded targets
• Design and implement task scheduling for time-critical systems with strict real-time requirements
• Participate in the full development cycle: design, implementation, testing, and debugging
• Collaborate with FPGA and hardware engineers for seamless HW/SW integration
• Support system bring-up, diagnostics, and field debugging across embedded subsystems
  
  

• B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field
• 3–5 years of hands-on embedded software development in C/C++
• Experience with ARM-based embedded platforms, including bare-metal, RTOS, and SoC environments
• Familiarity with RF systems or signal processing concepts (DSP)
• Solid understanding of embedded communication protocols and hardware interfacing
• Comfortable with low-level debugging: JTAG, logic analyzer, oscilloscope, serial consoles
• Ability to work independently within a team across a multidisciplinary environment
  
  

• Experience with Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ or similar SoC FPGAs and the Vitis toolchain
• Familiarity with TCP/IP networking in embedded environments (lwIP or similar)
• RTOS experience (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or equivalent)
• Embedded Linux experience (kernel, device drivers, BSP)
• Background in defense, aerospace, robotics, or autonomous systems