Computer Systems Engineer 4
Computer Systems Engineer 4 — 12-month onsite contract in El Segundo, CA at $106/Hour — through CTS International. Must be able to obtain a Secret Clearance. US Citizenship Required.
We are seeking a Computer Systems Engineer with 5–9 years of professional experience to support the development and integration of space payload emulators in El Segundo, CA. In support of Company Defense Systems next-generation space programs, this role focuses on hands-on hardware/software development for embedded systems (Xilinx SoC/FPGA) and front-end UI/UX control interfaces.
This position is tailored for an engineer who thrives in a hands-on lab environment, working side-by-side with multidisciplinary teams (hardware, firmware, software, and test engineers) to bring up hardware, integrate software/logic, and build intuitive emulator interfaces.
Key Responsibilities
Embedded Software & FPGA Platform Integration
Develop, configure, and maintain embedded software and firmware on Xilinx SoC platforms (Zynq UltraScale+, Versal).
Implement and debug Processing System to Programmable Logic (PS/PL) interfaces, AXI interconnects, and memory maps.
Develop and validate Board Support Packages (BSP), PetaLinux/embedded Linux distributions, device drivers, and low-level communication interfaces (PCIe, Ethernet, SPI, I2C, UART).
Lead hands-on board bring-up, hardware/software integration, and system-level debugging in a lab environment using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers.
Front-End GUI & Operator Interface Development
Design and implement responsive, reliable front-end graphical user interfaces (GUIs) using Java or modern JavaScript frameworks (e.g., React, Vue, Angular, or JavaFX/Electron).
Build control dashboards, telemetry displays, and command interfaces for payload emulation testbeds and operational teams.
Integrate UI applications with embedded back-end services, APIs, and hardware endpoints for real-time monitoring and control.
Multidisciplinary Lab Collaboration & Hardware/Software Integration
Partner closely with FPGA logic designers, hardware engineers, and systems testers in a collaborative lab environment to diagnose issues and validate end-to-end emulator functionality.
Drive rapid prototyping, root-cause troubleshooting, and iterative testing on lab benches and test fixtures.
Provide technical leadership during hardware/software co-design and integration milestones.
Software Quality & Workflow Optimization
Utilize Xilinx toolchains (Vivado, Vitis, PetaLinux, SDK) for software build pipelines, profiling, and debugging.
Follow modern software engineering practices, including code reviews, documentation, and version control using Git/GitLab.
Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
Experience: 5–9 years of professional experience in embedded hardware/software development and integration.
Embedded Xilinx Platforms: Hands-on experience developing for Xilinx SoC/MPSoC architectures (Zynq UltraScale+, Versal).
Xilinx Toolchains: Demonstrated proficiency with Xilinx design and development tools (Vivado, Vitis, PetaLinux, SDK).
PS/PL & Driver Integration: Proven experience with PS/PL integration, embedded Linux / RTOS, board bring-up, and device driver development.
Front-End Development: Practical development experience creating user interfaces and GUIs using Java (e.g., JavaFX/Swing) or JavaScript (e.g., React, Node, Vue, Electron) frameworks.
Lab & Debugging: Strong hands-on lab troubleshooting and debugging skills using lab test equipment (logic analyzers, DMMs, oscilloscopes, JTAG debuggers).
Team Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and collaborate proactively in multidisciplinary, lab-centric engineering teams.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience developing custom FPGA IP, working with High-Level Synthesis (HLS), or interfacing with custom hardware peripherals.
Experience with high-speed serial protocols and network communications (10GbE, PCIe, Aurora, SpaceWire, MIL-STD-1553).
Experience building real-time data streaming and command-and-control (C2) visualization tools for space or aerospace test systems.
Familiarity with CI/CD build pipelines, automated testing, and containerized workflows (Docker) for embedded targets.
Demonstrated technical leadership during complex hardware/software integration campaigns.
Bachelor's and 9 or more years' experience, Master's with 7 or more years' experience or PhD with 4 or more years' experience. Bachelor, Master or Doctorate of Science degree from an accredited course of study, in engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics or chemistry.
Job Location: El Segundo, CA
Rate: Up to $106.00/Hour
Duration: 12+ months
Start Date: ASAP
Input Date: 09/16/2026
Address: 160 NW GILMAN BLVD STE 250
City, State: ISSAQUAH, WA 98027
Phone: 425/451-0051
Fax Phone: 425/635-7630
Email: cjhunter@ctsinternational.com
Website: www.ctsinternational.com
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