Digital Electrical Engineer – Embedded Controls

Digital Electrical Engineer – Embedded Controls

About Busek

Busek Co. Inc. is a pioneer in advanced space propulsion and technology. Located in Natick, MA, we develop innovative solutions that enable the future of space exploration. Our products and technologies include electric propulsion systems, chemical propulsion, and advanced material development. Join our team to work on cutting-edge projects that shape the space industry.

Position Overview

Busek is seeking a Digital Electrical Engineer with strong embedded firmware, digital controls, and microcontroller experience to support the development of spacecraft and propulsion electronics.

This position will focus on developing Digital Control Interface Units (DCIUs), embedded firmware, control interfaces, and supporting electronics for advanced propulsion systems. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working at the register level of embedded processors, developing state-machine-based firmware, interfacing with spacecraft and power processing electronics, and developing operator-facing control software.

This is an opportunity to build and expand Busek's internal digital engineering capabilities while working closely with electrical, software, propulsion, and systems engineers on flight and development hardware.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and debug embedded digital control systems for spacecraft and propulsion applications.
• Develop firmware in C or C++ for microcontrollers and embedded processors.
• Program at the register level without relying on hardware abstraction layers (HALs) when required.
• Develop robust state machines for flight firmware, control sequences, and operational modes.
• Develop interrupt-driven firmware, including non-blocking interrupt routines for safety and fault conditions.
• Develop command/response interfaces for communication between embedded systems and external equipment.
• Implement and troubleshoot RS-485 communication interfaces.
• Develop mathematical functions to transform, manipulate, monitor, and convert engineering data, setpoints, and telemetry.
• Develop front-end control and monitoring interfaces using Python or similar programming languages.
• Create deployable/executable software that can be installed and operated across multiple engineering workstations.
• Develop software interfaces for commanding and communicating with Power Processing Units (PPUs) and spacecraft systems.
• Support the development of DCIUs and related electronics, including schematic development and board-level design.
• Design and review PCB layouts with consideration for space-grade embedded components, signal integrity, power distribution, and critical design requirements.
• Apply knowledge of microcontrollers, including architectures such as Vorago ARM-based processors, and FPGA-based systems where applicable.
• Evaluate MRAM, power-rail requirements, reset circuitry, and proper processor shutdown behavior.
• Apply knowledge of ADC and DAC operation and their integration into embedded control systems.
• Debug complete embedded systems by tracing firmware execution, state-machine transitions, interrupts, communications, and hardware interactions.
• Support integration and testing of embedded electronics with propulsion systems and other spacecraft subsystems.
• Develop test procedures and perform hardware/software integration testing.
• Troubleshoot hardware and firmware issues and identify root causes.
• Work closely with Electrical, Software, Systems, and Propulsion Engineering teams to develop and qualify flight and ground-support hardware.
• Document designs, test results, software functionality, and engineering decisions.

Required Qualifications

• Strong experience developing embedded firmware in C or C++.
• Demonstrated understanding of microcontroller architecture and register-level programming.
• Experience developing state machines and embedded control logic.
• Strong understanding of interrupts and non-blocking firmware, particularly for safety and fault-handling functions.
• Experience with RS-485 or similar serial communication protocols.
• Experience implementing command/response communication structures.
• Ability to develop mathematical algorithms for engineering data, telemetry, monitoring, and setpoint conversion.
• Experience with embedded hardware development, including microcontrollers and supporting circuitry.
• Understanding of ADC/DAC operation and integration.
• Understanding of power rails, reset circuitry, memory, and processor startup/shutdown behavior.
• Ability to debug embedded systems across both hardware and firmware.
• Experience developing software tools or graphical user interfaces using Python, LabVIEW, or similar technologies.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary engineering environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing electronics or firmware for spacecraft, aerospace, defense, or other safety-critical systems.
• Experience with FPGA development and digital logic.
• Experience with Vorago or other radiation-tolerant/radiation-hardened microcontrollers.
• Experience with MRAM or other non-volatile memory technologies.
• Experience designing or reviewing PCB schematics and layouts for space-grade electronics.
• Experience developing flight firmware, flight operations software, or command and telemetry systems.
• Experience with Power Processing Units (PPUs), propulsion electronics, or spacecraft electrical interfaces.
• Experience developing Digital Control Interface Units (DCIUs) or similar embedded control electronics.
• Experience with Python-based engineering GUIs and deployable engineering applications.
• Familiarity with hardware/software integration and environmental or qualification testing.
• Experience working with safety-critical fault detection and protection systems.

Key Technical Skills

Embedded Firmware

• C / C++
• Register-level programming
• State machines
• Interrupts and non-blocking firmware
• Embedded debugging
• Flight firmware

Digital Communications

• RS-485
• Command/response protocols
• Telemetry and data handling
• Hardware/software communication interfaces

Embedded Hardware

• Microcontrollers / MCUs
• FPGA
• ADC / DAC
• MRAM
• Power rails
• Reset ICs
• Embedded processor architecture
• Space-grade components
• PCB schematic and layout

Software / Controls

• Python
• GUI development
• Engineering data conversion
• Monitoring and setpoint calculations
• Deployable/executable applications

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan
• Performance bonus opportunities
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• Paid vacation
• Paid sick time
• Paid holidays
• Opportunity to work on advanced space propulsion and spacecraft technologies

Work Environment

This position requires hands-on interaction with engineering hardware, laboratory equipment, electronics, and prototype systems. The engineer will work in a collaborative environment with electrical, software, mechanical, systems, and propulsion engineers.

U.S. Citizenship

U.S. Citizenship is required due to the nature of Busek's work and contractual requirements.