Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Colorado
Embedded software engineer jobs in Colorado are among the most active in the country, concentrated in aerospace and defense, telecommunications, and advanced manufacturing sectors that anchor the state's engineering economy. The heaviest hiring runs through Denver, Colorado Springs, and Boulder, where employers such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Ball Aerospace maintain significant engineering workforces and recruit across experience levels from junior firmware developers to senior systems architects. The most in-demand specialties are real-time operating systems, RTOS firmware development, and safety-critical embedded systems for aerospace and defense applications. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 40+ Embedded Software Engineer jobs
About ExoTerra
ExoTerra is a world leader in solar electric propulsion systems and space exploration satellites. The company develops Hall Thrusters, propulsion modules, microsatellites, and launch vehicle upper stages. We have been awarded multiple propulsion module and satellite contracts.
Job Summary
ExoTerra is a rapidly growing small business specializing in Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Modules. We are seeking an Embedded Software Engineering Manager to lead a team of engineers. We are looking for a hands on technical leader who maintains high standards while handling delegation, motivation and organization. This is an onsite position.
Job Duties
- Lead and mentor a team of embedded software engineers, providing technical direction and code review while staying hands-on in firmware development
- Manage sprint planning, task prioritization, workload balancing, and performance feedback
- Design, develop, test, and debug embedded C/C++ applications, device drivers, and bootloaders for mission-critical power electronics hardware
- Architect real-time software on RTOS platforms with CAN-based networking, across 8-bit and 32-bit space-grade and radiation-tolerant processors
- Oversee supporting tools used for verification, production testing, and customer integration (primarily Python, plus JavaScript/HTML/CSS and Electron-based desktop applications)
- Own department documentation, including requirements, design documents, and test plans and reports for a regulated aerospace environment
- Develop schedules, staffing plans, and technical roadmaps with hardware, systems, product, and quality teams
- Manage configuration control, coding standards, and development best practices
- Recruit, onboard, and mentor engineers and interns, and run the internship program
- Support customer technical integration as needed
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field
- 5+ years leading an embedded software engineering team
- Significant embedded C/C++ experience, including drivers and/or bootloaders
- Experience with RTOS and embedded communication protocols common in industrial or aerospace applications
- Python experience for tools and utilities
- Hands-on experience with cross-compilers, build systems (e.g., CMake), and debug tools (e.g., JTAG/SWD)
- Experience with the software lifecycle in a regulated or safety-critical industry, with clear technical documentation (requirements, designs, test plans and reports)
- Experience with version control and issue tracking (e.g., Jira)
Preferred Qualifications
- Embedded software experience in space, aerospace, or other high-reliability hardware
- Experience moving code between 8-bit and 32-bit targets
- Experience with JavaScript/HTML/CSS, Electron, and database-backed data logging
- Exposure to Rust or interest in modern systems languages
- Experience supporting production test, verification, or customer integration
- Familiarity with AS9100, NASA/ESA, or similar quality standards
- Experience running an internship or early-career mentorship program
- Agile experience in a hardware-adjacent environment
Export Control Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $115,000–$190,000 per year (dependent on experience and qualifications)
ExoTerra offers a comprehensive total compensation package including competitive salary, a discretionary annual bonus plan, paid time off (PTO), comprehensive health benefits, and various other benefits. When you join our team, you become part of a dynamic community dedicated to innovation and excellence.
Equal Employment Opportunity
ExoTerra is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.
About ExoTerra
ExoTerra is a world leader in solar electric propulsion systems and space exploration satellites. The company develops Hall Thrusters, propulsion modules, microsatellites, and launch vehicle upper stages. We have been awarded multiple propulsion module and satellite contracts.
Job Summary
ExoTerra is a rapidly growing small business specializing in Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Modules. We are seeking an Embedded Software Engineering Manager to lead a team of engineers. We are looking for a hands on technical leader who maintains high standards while handling delegation, motivation and organization. This is an onsite position.
Job Duties
- Lead and mentor a team of embedded software engineers, providing technical direction and code review while staying hands-on in firmware development
- Manage sprint planning, task prioritization, workload balancing, and performance feedback
- Design, develop, test, and debug embedded C/C++ applications, device drivers, and bootloaders for mission-critical power electronics hardware
- Architect real-time software on RTOS platforms with CAN-based networking, across 8-bit and 32-bit space-grade and radiation-tolerant processors
- Oversee supporting tools used for verification, production testing, and customer integration (primarily Python, plus JavaScript/HTML/CSS and Electron-based desktop applications)
- Own department documentation, including requirements, design documents, and test plans and reports for a regulated aerospace environment
- Develop schedules, staffing plans, and technical roadmaps with hardware, systems, product, and quality teams
- Manage configuration control, coding standards, and development best practices
- Recruit, onboard, and mentor engineers and interns, and run the internship program
- Support customer technical integration as needed
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field
- 5+ years leading an embedded software engineering team
- Significant embedded C/C++ experience, including drivers and/or bootloaders
- Experience with RTOS and embedded communication protocols common in industrial or aerospace applications
- Python experience for tools and utilities
- Hands-on experience with cross-compilers, build systems (e.g., CMake), and debug tools (e.g., JTAG/SWD)
- Experience with the software lifecycle in a regulated or safety-critical industry, with clear technical documentation (requirements, designs, test plans and reports)
- Experience with version control and issue tracking (e.g., Jira)
Preferred Qualifications
- Embedded software experience in space, aerospace, or other high-reliability hardware
- Experience moving code between 8-bit and 32-bit targets
- Experience with JavaScript/HTML/CSS, Electron, and database-backed data logging
- Exposure to Rust or interest in modern systems languages
- Experience supporting production test, verification, or customer integration
- Familiarity with AS9100, NASA/ESA, or similar quality standards
- Experience running an internship or early-career mentorship program
- Agile experience in a hardware-adjacent environment
Export Control Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $115,000–$190,000 per year (dependent on experience and qualifications)
ExoTerra offers a comprehensive total compensation package including competitive salary, a discretionary annual bonus plan, paid time off (PTO), comprehensive health benefits, and various other benefits. When you join our team, you become part of a dynamic community dedicated to innovation and excellence.
Equal Employment Opportunity
ExoTerra is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.
See All 40 Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Colorado
Find roles in Colorado that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsEmbedded Software Engineer Jobs by City in Colorado
Where Colorado roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Embedded Software Engineer Job Market in Colorado
A snapshot from current Colorado openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Aerospace & Defense
What Colorado Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in embedded software engineer jobs across Colorado.
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science required
- Proficiency in C and C++ for low-level firmware and embedded application development
- Experience with real-time operating systems such as FreeRTOS, VxWorks, or similar
- Familiarity with hardware debugging tools including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG
- Experience with communication protocols such as CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, or Ethernet
- Active or eligible DoD security clearance preferred for aerospace and defense roles
Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Colorado: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become an embedded software engineer in Colorado?
Embedded software engineering in Colorado does not require a state-issued license, so the path starts with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science from an accredited institution. Colorado's aerospace and defense sector is the dominant hiring market, meaning candidates who build experience with RTOS, firmware development, and safety-critical systems are best positioned. A Professional Engineer credential, while not mandatory, adds credibility for senior roles at large Colorado defense contractors.
How much do embedded software engineers make in Colorado?
Embedded software engineers in Colorado earn a median of about $138,390 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $96,480 for the lowest 10% to over $213,010 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire embedded software engineers in Colorado?
Companies currently hiring embedded software engineers in Colorado include CesiumAstro, BAE Systems USA, and Urban sky, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Colorado's aerospace corridor along the Front Range means many of the largest employers are defense contractors and space systems firms with long-term, stable engineering headcounts.
Which Colorado cities have the most embedded software engineer jobs?
Broomfield, Denver, and Golden account for the largest share of embedded software engineer openings in Colorado. Denver and its suburbs drive volume through a broad mix of aerospace primes, defense contractors, and telecommunications firms, while Colorado Springs hosts a dense cluster of military installations and their private-sector partners, and Boulder attracts embedded talent through aerospace startups and university-linked technology companies.
Are there remote embedded software engineer jobs in Colorado?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely software-focused fields because embedded engineering frequently requires hands-on hardware access, lab work, and secure facilities. About 75% of embedded software engineer openings tied to Colorado are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote options appearing most often in roles focused on firmware architecture, code review, or simulation work that does not require physical hardware access.
How can I get hired as an embedded software engineer in Colorado with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a new-graduate or associate engineer role at one of Colorado's large defense and aerospace employers, which run structured entry-level programs for candidates with relevant academic projects rather than commercial experience. Building a portfolio of firmware projects on development boards, contributing to open-source RTOS or microcontroller projects, and targeting roles titled junior firmware engineer or associate embedded developer at Colorado Springs or Denver-area defense primes gives candidates the clearest foot in the door.
Where can I find and apply to embedded software engineer jobs in Colorado?
You can find and apply to embedded software engineer jobs in Colorado on Migrate Mate, which lists current Colorado openings in one place. Search the listings for roles that fit your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 40 Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Colorado
Find roles in Colorado that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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