Embedded Jobs in California
Embedded jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in the defense, aerospace, automotive, and consumer electronics industries, with openings at every level from entry-level firmware engineer through senior systems architect. The highest hiring activity is in San Jose, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where companies like Qualcomm, Apple, and Northrop Grumman maintain deep engineering footprints and consistent demand for embedded talent. The most sought-after specialties in California are real-time operating systems, embedded Linux, and firmware development for wireless and automotive applications. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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About Varda
Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda's W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.
From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.
Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.
About This Role
The Senior Embedded Software Engineer on the Flight Software team is responsible for determining how our spacecraft behaves & operates in orbit and building reliable software to ensure it happens. They are responsible for all phases of development, starting from requirements capture through testing and flight operational support.
Responsibilities
- Develop reliable firmware to control how the spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule operate through the entire mission.
- Own all aspects of software development, from design, testing, and integration.
- Scope projects including requirements capture and initial design trades given open-ended problems.
- Write quality structured bare metal, RTOS, or Linux based software for embedded processors in C++.
- Build highly reliable and available software systems.
- Ensure system quality and performance through software test, verification, and validation (V&V) techniques.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, physics, engineering or equivalent technical experience in safety critical software.
- 5+ years of experience in the development of spacecraft or similar safety critical software.
- Experience developing and testing real-time embedded hardware / software systems.
- Experience with development in C++, along with a strong understanding of language concepts.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Experience with safety-critical software, especially for aerospace applications.
- Experience with additional programming languages such as Python or Rust.
- Strong understanding of computer architecture, operating systems, data structures, and computer networking.
Pay Range
- Salary range: Senior Software Engineer: $169,067 - $216,031/ per year.
- This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA.
- Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.
- You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.
Benefits
Consider your benefits covered for launch. At Varda, we invest in benefits and perks that support your health, financial well-being, and life beyond work. Benefits vary by position, with packages designed specifically for our regular full-time employees and interns.
Regular Full-Time Positions:
Health & Wellness
- Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
- 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
- Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
- $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
- 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
- Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
- Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents
Financial & Retirement
- Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
- 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
- Relocation support for new hires, if needed
Workplace Experience & Perks
- Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
- Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
Benefits for Internship Positions:
Health & Wellness
- Paid observed holidays.
- 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options.
- $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses.
- Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents.
Financial
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement.
- Up to $4,000 gross up in relocation support, if eligible
- Up to $850 commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible.
Workplace Experience & Perks
- Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
- Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
ITAR Requirements
Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire "U.S. persons" who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.
"US person" means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).
E-Verify Statement
Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice
Read more Read more
Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.
About Varda
Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda's W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.
From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.
Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.
About This Role
The Senior Embedded Software Engineer on the Flight Software team is responsible for determining how our spacecraft behaves & operates in orbit and building reliable software to ensure it happens. They are responsible for all phases of development, starting from requirements capture through testing and flight operational support.
Responsibilities
- Develop reliable firmware to control how the spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule operate through the entire mission.
- Own all aspects of software development, from design, testing, and integration.
- Scope projects including requirements capture and initial design trades given open-ended problems.
- Write quality structured bare metal, RTOS, or Linux based software for embedded processors in C++.
- Build highly reliable and available software systems.
- Ensure system quality and performance through software test, verification, and validation (V&V) techniques.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, physics, engineering or equivalent technical experience in safety critical software.
- 5+ years of experience in the development of spacecraft or similar safety critical software.
- Experience developing and testing real-time embedded hardware / software systems.
- Experience with development in C++, along with a strong understanding of language concepts.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Experience with safety-critical software, especially for aerospace applications.
- Experience with additional programming languages such as Python or Rust.
- Strong understanding of computer architecture, operating systems, data structures, and computer networking.
Pay Range
- Salary range: Senior Software Engineer: $169,067 - $216,031/ per year.
- This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA.
- Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.
- You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.
Benefits
Consider your benefits covered for launch. At Varda, we invest in benefits and perks that support your health, financial well-being, and life beyond work. Benefits vary by position, with packages designed specifically for our regular full-time employees and interns.
Regular Full-Time Positions:
Health & Wellness
- Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
- 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
- Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
- $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
- 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
- Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
- Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents
Financial & Retirement
- Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
- 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
- Relocation support for new hires, if needed
Workplace Experience & Perks
- Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
- Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
Benefits for Internship Positions:
Health & Wellness
- Paid observed holidays.
- 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options.
- $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses.
- Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents.
Financial
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement.
- Up to $4,000 gross up in relocation support, if eligible
- Up to $850 commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible.
Workplace Experience & Perks
- Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
- Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
ITAR Requirements
Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire "U.S. persons" who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.
"US person" means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).
E-Verify Statement
Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice
Read more Read more
Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.
See All 454+ Embedded Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Embedded JobsEmbedded Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Embedded Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Northrop Grumman25
- Tesla16
- Amazon15
- Google14
- Qualcomm13
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software33
- Manufacturing14
- Science & Research14
- Electronics & Hardware13
- Automotive8
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in embedded jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science
- Proficiency in C or C++ for low-level hardware and firmware development
- Experience with real-time operating systems such as FreeRTOS, VxWorks, or embedded Linux
- Familiarity with hardware communication protocols including SPI, I2C, UART, and CAN
- Hands-on experience debugging embedded systems using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, or JTAG tools
- Experience with version control systems and cross-platform toolchains for ARM or RISC-V targets
Embedded Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a embedded in California?
Most embedded roles in California require a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science, as there is no state-issued license specific to embedded engineering. California employers typically expect hands-on experience with embedded C or C++, microcontroller development, and at least one real-time operating system. Building a portfolio of firmware projects, contributing to open-source embedded repositories, or completing an internship at a California hardware company are the most direct paths to landing a first role.
Which companies hire embeddeds in California?
Employers hiring embeddeds in California right now include Northrop Grumman, Tesla, and Amazon, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's concentration of defense contractors, semiconductor companies, and consumer electronics firms makes it one of the most consistent states for embedded hiring year-round.
Which California cities have the most embedded jobs?
The cities with the most embedded openings in California are San Diego, Sunnyvale, and Los Angeles. San Jose and the broader Bay Area drive much of the volume through semiconductor and consumer electronics companies headquartered there, while San Diego's defense and wireless communications sector anchors strong demand in the south, and Los Angeles draws from its aerospace and automotive technology industries.
Are there remote embedded jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Embedded work is largely hands-on, requiring access to hardware, lab equipment, and physical prototypes, which limits remote options compared to purely software roles. About 35% of embedded openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those positions tend to focus on firmware review, software bring-up, or driver development that can be completed without a physical bench.
How can I get hired as a embedded in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to new-grad hardware or firmware engineering programs at large California employers like Qualcomm, Apple, or defense contractors in San Diego and Los Angeles that regularly recruit from California's engineering schools. Lateral entry from adjacent roles such as hardware test engineer, FPGA validation engineer, or electronics technician is common, since those positions build the bench skills embedded teams value. A GitHub portfolio demonstrating a completed microcontroller or RTOS project gives candidates without professional experience a concrete edge in the application process.
Where can I find and apply to embedded jobs in California?
You can find and apply to embedded jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from employers actively hiring in the state. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialty, then apply directly to each one through the listing.
See All 454+ Embedded Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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