Embedded Software Engineer - Airborne Stabilized Optical Systems

Job Description
Embedded Software Designer Airborne Optical Systems Burlington ON – Hybrid

** Please note that to be considered for any position at PV Labs, all candidates must be eligible to meet the requirements of the Canadian Controlled‑Goods Program of the Defense Production Act and be able to hold and maintain a Canadian Security Clearance. If you are not clear about your eligibility, please consult the Government of Canada website HERE*
* About the Role
This is not a narrow, stay-in-your-lane software role.

As an Embedded Software Designer at PVLabs, you design and build real‑time software systems that sit at the core of our airborne optical platforms. Your work spans the full lifecycle—architecture, design, implementation, verification, debug, deployment, and long‑term evolution—of software that directly controls flight‑proven, stabilized gimbals and ISR payloads.

We treat software as a product, not a by‑product. Our architecture is modular, component‑driven, and intentionally designed for change. You’ll work on distributed, multi‑processor real‑time systems where clarity, testability, and long‑term maintainability matter as much as raw performance. Monolithic codebases and just‑make‑it‑work thinking don’t survive here.

You’ll collaborate closely with systems, electrical, mechanical, and optical engineers—not as support, but as a peer—bringing software judgment to the table as we solve hard problems in stabilization, sensing, and control within demanding operational environments.

What You’ll Be Responsible For
Reporting to the VP, New Product Introduction, and working closely with Program and Project leads, you will:

Architect, design, implement, and verify complex real‑time embedded software in C++ (with some legacy

C) across multi‑processor systems

Actively participate in—and often lead—design and code reviews with a critical, constructive mindset

Work with cross‑disciplinary teams to ensure requirements are understood, documented, and traceable

Develop software aligned with military‑class development and verification standards

Maintain source control, build artifacts, and package integrity to meet both internal and customer expectations

Contribute to—and improve—our engineering standards, knowledge bases, and development workflows

Technical Skills You’ll Need

Strong C++ and C experience in real‑time embedded systems

Multi‑process and multi‑threaded application development

Embedded development on microcontroller and FPGA SoC platforms

Proficiency with debugging tools (e.g., GDB)

Comfort in Linux‑based, command‑line development environments

Experience with common embedded communication protocols (UART, I²C, SPI, CAN, Ethernet)

Scripting with Bash and Python; fluent with Git

Ability to read and understand electrical schematics

High‑Value (Nice‑to‑Have) Skills

Board Support Package (BSP) porting to new hardware

Linux driver development

Designing for aircraft safety and certification constraints

GPU architecture and CUDA programming

MATLAB experience

About You as an Embedded Software Engineer
At PVLabs, how we work matters as much as what we build.

We’re looking for engineers who combine deep technical skill with professional maturity and strong judgment. You’re curious, detail‑driven, and motivated by solving hard problems properly—not just quickly.

About You:

Bring creativity, curiosity, and a disciplined approach to problem‑solving

Step into ownership naturally and aren’t afraid to lead when needed

Communicate technical ideas clearly—and know when to ask for help

Take a continuous‑improvement mindset to code, process, and tooling

Participate in requirements development and provide realistic cost and schedule estimates

Drive design and code reviews rather than observing from the sidelines

Give and receive feedback constructively—we succeed as a team

Prefer small, highly communicative teams over rigid silos

Manage your time and priorities with professionalism and autonomy

Qualifications

Eligibility to meet Controlled Goods Program requirements and hold a Canadian Security Clearance

Degree or technical diploma in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience

What’s in It for You
You’ll…