Embedded Software Engineer (DMV- Remote With Travel)

Fairwinds Technologies is an engineering firm specializing in satellite communications, RF transmission systems, network design, systems integration, and digital signal processing for defense and civilian agencies. The company is seeking a Mid to Senior Embedded Software Engineer to develop and deploy embedded Linux software on Xilinx UltraScale+ platforms, integrate FPGA and hardware systems, and support mission-critical communications and signal-processing applications through laboratory and field testing.

Responsibilities:

• Develop embedded Linux software for Xilinx UltraScale+ (Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC) platforms using PetaLinux (BSP creation, kernel configuration, rootfs customization, and image generation)
• Support hardware bring-up and integration on custom PCB designs, including board validation, peripheral checkout, and troubleshooting
• Implement and maintain device drivers and board support components (GPIO, I2C, SPI, UART, PCIe, Ethernet, DMA, etc.)
• Integrate FPGA logic with embedded software using AXI interfaces and Linux user-space access methods (UIO, mmap, sysfs, etc.)
• Build and optimize performance-critical embedded Linux applications (real-time data movement, streaming interfaces, latency tuning)
• Develop test utilities, diagnostics, and automation for lab and field validation
• Participate in system integration and testing in lab and field settings; debug cross-domain issues spanning hardware, FPGA, kernel, and user space
• Author technical documentation, software design descriptions, integration notes, and SBIR deliverables as required

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
• Minimum 8+ years of experience in embedded software development for Linux-based systems
• Must have hands-on experience with Xilinx UltraScale+ platforms
• Must have hands-on experience with PetaLinux (creating/customizing images, kernel/device tree configuration, rootfs management)
• Must have experience working with PCB-based embedded hardware (bring-up support, debug with lab tools, working directly with schematics/board constraints)
• Proficiency in C/C++ and scripting (Bash and/or Python) in embedded environments
• Proficiency in SVN, Git or other software configuration management tool
• Experience debugging Linux kernel/user-space interactions and hardware/software integration issues
• Comfortable using standard embedded debug tools (JTAG, UART console, logic analyzer/oscilloscope basics) and Linux tooling (gdb, strace, perf, dmesg)
• U.S. Citizenship and an active DoD Secret (or higher) security clearance (or ability to obtain)
• Must be willing to travel 25–30% when required
• Must be eligible to work in the US and possess or obtain a Secret level clearance
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; use fingers and hands to type or write; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception
• Experience with Xilinx toolchain workflows (Vivado integration context, Vitis/SDK familiarity helpful)
• Device tree and kernel driver development experience (platform drivers, char drivers, DMA, interrupt handling)
• Familiarity with real-time Linux concepts (PREEMPT_RT, CPU isolation, IRQ affinity, latency profiling)
• Experience integrating high-throughput datapaths (10GbE, PCIe, JESD-style streaming, RF front-end control planes)
• Understanding of secure boot, image signing, and hardening on embedded Linux platforms
• Experience with Yocto or Buildroot for generating Linux kernel and root filesystems
• Experience with RTOS/Bare metal programming of ARM Cortex microcontrollers
• Experience supporting DoD SBIR projects or similar government-funded R&D efforts