Embedded Software Engineer

Job Title: Embedded Software Engineer Job Description
This role focuses on designing, developing, and maintaining embedded software for military avionics display systems in a safety-critical aerospace environment. You will work primarily with Embedded C++ on bare-metal platforms, supporting the full software development lifecycle from requirements analysis through implementation, integration, testing, and certification in accordance with DO-178C standards. You will collaborate closely with systems, hardware, and test engineers to ensure successful integration of avionics software and will contribute to verification, validation, and certification activities for high-integrity flight display systems.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and maintain embedded software for military avionics display systems using Embedded C++.
- Develop software in a bare-metal environment for safety-critical aerospace applications.
- Support software requirements analysis, ensuring traceability and clarity for safety-critical systems.
- Implement, integrate, and test embedded software components on target hardware platforms.
- Perform debugging and troubleshooting directly on target hardware in laboratory and integration environments.
- Contribute to software verification and validation efforts in accordance with DO-178C standards.
- Support the development and maintenance of software for DAL A or DAL B safety-critical applications.
- Collaborate with systems engineers to ensure software aligns with system-level requirements and architecture.
- Work closely with hardware and test engineers to ensure successful software and hardware integration.
- Participate in peer reviews and design reviews to improve software quality and maintain compliance with safety and certification standards.
- Support software certification activities, including documentation and evidence generation for regulatory compliance.
- Assist in laboratory and hardware integration efforts throughout the development lifecycle.
- Follow established processes and best practices for safety-critical software development in aerospace environments.
Essential Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Minimum of 1 year of professional embedded software development experience.
- At least 2 years of experience with Embedded C++.
- Minimum of 1 year of experience developing software in a bare-metal environment.
- Minimum of 1 year of experience supporting software developed in accordance with DO-178C standards.
- Minimum of 1 year of experience supporting DAL A or DAL B safety-critical software.
- Minimum of 1 year of experience performing software integration and debugging on hardware platforms.
- Experience developing embedded software in safety-critical aerospace or avionics environments.
- Experience working within a DO-178 software development environment.
- Experience supporting avionics or flight display software, including avionics displays, cockpit displays, or mission displays.
- Ability and willingness to travel or rotate to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as required.
- Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills on embedded target hardware.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with systems, hardware, and test engineering teams.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience in the aerospace, avionics, or defense industry.
- Experience supporting avionics displays, cockpit displays, or mission displays in safety-critical environments.
- Familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS).
- Experience with Green Hills Integrity or similar embedded environments.
- Knowledge of software verification and validation processes for safety-critical systems.
- Requirements-based development experience, including traceability from requirements to implementation and test.
- Active Secret Clearance.
- Interest in working on safety-critical embedded software, hardware, and certification services for aviation, space, and defense applications.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality, compliant software development.
- Effective communication skills for participation in peer reviews, design reviews, and certification discussions.
Work Environment
The role offers a hybrid work option, with a typical pattern of two weeks remote and two weeks onsite in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A fully onsite option is also available, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, five days per week. Work is performed in a professional aerospace and defense engineering environment focused on safety-critical embedded software, hardware integration, and certification activities. You will work closely with cross-functional engineering teams and interact regularly with laboratory and hardware integration setups, including target hardware for avionics display systems. Remote work flexibility may be considered on a case-by-case basis, aligned with project needs and coordination with the hiring team.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Phoenix, AZ.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $65.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

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)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Phoenix, AZ.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 4, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a hybrid position in Phoenix,AZ. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,
please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law
shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,
including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications
and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.