Senior Embedded Systems Engineer; Technical Lead Security Clearance

Position: Senior Embedded Systems Engineer (Technical Lead) with Security Clearance
About Us Forward Edge-AI, Inc. is a leader in AI, cybersecurity, and advanced technology solutions for national security, defense, and aerospace markets. We design and deliver cutting-edge electronic systems that meet the world's most demanding standards. Our engineers work at the forefront of hardware innovation, from secure compute modules to mission-ready networking systems. Position Summary We are seeking a Senior Embedded Systems Engineer (Technical Lead) to lead and mentor an embedded systems engineering team while remaining deeply hands-on in system design, development, and integration.

This role combines technical leadership with embedded C development, Linux kernel and driver work, encryption software development, and board-level hardware bring-up for security-critical systems. The ideal candidate is a strong technical authority who can guide architecture and implementation decisions, unblock complex technical challenges, and set engineering standards-while still actively contributing code, debugging hardware, and working in the lab. This role bridges hardware, embedded firmware, secure Linux applications, and team leadership, with ownership of both technical outcomes and team execution.

Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership & Team Ownership
* Serve as the technical lead for the embedded systems engineering team
* Set technical direction, coding standards, and best practices
* Review designs, code, and architecture decisions for quality and security
* Mentor and guide junior and mid-level engineers
* Coordinate task prioritization and technical execution across the team
* Act as the escalation point for complex technical issues Board Bring-Up & Hardware Integration
* Lead debug and validation of custom boards using schematics, layouts, and datasheets
* Perform and oversee board bring-up, peripheral testing, and root-cause analysis
* Design and implement simple PCBs for test fixtures, debug tools, and auxiliary modules Embedded Software Development
* Design, write, optimize, and debug C firmware for SoCs, MCUs, and networked embedded systems
* Lead development across Linux, RTOS, and Embedded Linux, with emphasis on Yocto-based builds
* Modify and extend the Linux kernel, including development of networking and I/O device drivers
* Optimize kernel user space communication, especially for Ethernet and NIC interfaces Encryption Software Development
* Lead contributions to a Linux user-space encryption software stack
* Design and implement new cryptographic features and optimizations
* Perform profiling, performance tuning, and system-level integration Networking & System Performance
* Provide technical leadership for high-speed Ethernet and secure networking interfaces
* Debug and optimize low-level driver behavior for throughput, latency, and reliability Cross-Functional Engineering Leadership
* Collaborate closely with digital, PCB, mechanical, and systems engineers
* Drive hardware/software co-design decisions
* Support enclosure and prototype development using 3D modeling tools
* Communicate technical risks, tradeoffs, and recommendations to leadership Testing & Validation
* Lead system-level validation, stress testing, and debug efforts
* Use oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG, and related tools for low-level analysis Qualifications Required
* Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
* U.S. Citizenship required
* Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance
* 7+ years of embedded systems engineering experience with both hardware and software responsibilities
* Prior experience serving as a technical lead, mentor, or team lead
* Expert-level proficiency in C programming for embedded systems
* Deep experience with Linux kernel development, device drivers, RTOS, and Yocto-based Embedded Linux
* Strong understanding of kernel user space interaction, particularly for networking
* Experience leading development of encryption software in Linux user space
* Experience with Ethernet stacks, NICs, and driver-level tuning
* Proven expertise in board bring-up, schematic reading, and PCB-level debugging
* Hands-on PCB design experience for simple boards (Altium preferred)
* Proficiency with Git and collaborative development workflows Preferred
* Prior leadership of secure networking or cryptographic system development
* Familiarity with U-Boot, secure boot chains, watchdogs, anti-tamper mechanisms
* Experience in defense, aerospace, or mission-critical environments Application Process Interested candidates should submit:
* A cover letter describing leadership experience and technical accomplishments
* A detailed resume or CV highlighting relevant projects and systems Visa Statement:
This role is restricted to U.S. citizens due to the nature of the work and applicable government regulations. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without any immigration sponsorship now or in the future,…