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Embedded Software Engineer (Image Processing Algorithms)
Job Location:
Job Location:
Redondo Beach, CA - USA
Yearly Salary:
$ 120000 - 155000
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
7 June 2026 (30+ days ago)
Posted:
Application Deadline:
4 September 2026
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
As an Embedded Software Engineer for Image Processing Algorithms at Impulse your primary responsibility will be to design implement validate and maintain onboard image processing software for spacecraft systems. You will work at the intersection of embedded software imaging sensors numerical algorithms estimation and guidance navigation and control systems. You will collaborate closely with avionics flight software GNC test and mission operations teams to deliver reliable image processing software capable of operating on microcontroller-class hardware in demanding space environments.
Responsibilities
- Develop onboard computer vision algorithms for image preprocessing thresholding filtering centroiding feature extraction target detection target tracking optical navigation star detection and attitude or pose estimation support.
- Support image conditioning techniques such as calibration distortion correction dark-frame correction thresholding exposure control filtering and image normalization.
- Work with GNC flight software and mission teams to define algorithm performance requirements including accuracy latency update rate robustness fault tolerance and compute/resource constraints.
- Develop test tools simulation environments and analysis scripts to evaluate algorithm performance using synthetic imagery lab imagery ground test data and flight-like datasets.
- Debug and tune vision software during sensor bring-up ground testing environmental testing and in-flight operations.
- Contribute to fault detection robustness and recovery logic for cases such as poor lighting stray light saturation blur dropped frames hot pixels occlusions image noise and unexpected scene content.
- Design algorithms and data pipelines that operate within constrained CPU memory storage bandwidth timing and power budgets.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering Computer Engineering Computer Science or related technical field.
- 2 years of experience writing C code for embedded systems preferably in imaging or robotic applications.
- Experience implementing image processing estimation numerical or signal processing algorithms.
- Experience with bare-metal or RTOS-based software development.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Ability to work closely with hardware flight software GNC and test teams to diagnose issues across software sensors timing image quality and system interfaces.
- Experience optimizing software for runtime memory usage deterministic execution and numerical stability.
- Familiarity with low-level hardware interfaces such as SPI I2C UART GPIO timers ADCs DMA and camera or image sensor interfaces.
- Strong understanding of linear algebra coordinate frames rotations quaternions camera models or geometric vision concepts.
- Experience debugging embedded systems using oscilloscopes logic analyzers hardware debuggers source-level debuggers logs and telemetry.
- Hands-on experience developing or testing computer vision optical navigation star tracker pose estimation target tracking inspection or perception algorithms on microcontroller-class hardware.
Additional Information:
Compensation bands are determined by role level location and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills education experience technical capabilities and internal addition to base salary for full-time hires you may also be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options and access to medical vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
Impulse Spaces spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e. U.S. citizen U.S. national lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder) an individual granted asylum in the U.S. or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State Commerce or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.
Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space 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.
Required Experience:
IC
