Embedded Systems Engineer
Preferred Location: Ottawa
Reports to: COO
Type: Full-Time
About Dominion Dynamics
Dominion Dynamics is building Canada’s first modern defence prime: software-defined, attritable, and sovereign.
We believe tomorrow’s military power won’t hinge on exquisite platforms, but on the seamless coordination of adaptable, AI-driven capabilities across every domain. We’re building that family of systems, fielded with operators, sovereign by design, and accountable to Canada’s democratic values.
We move fast, deploy with the CAF, especially in the Arctic, and operate with uncompromising respect for Canadian law, treaty obligations, and the CAF community.
Our founding team includes former operators from Anduril, Google, Amazon, and the Canadian Armed Forces. We’re building hard tech in hard places, and we're looking for system-level thinkers who thrive at the intersection of autonomy, aerospace, and national security.
Why This Role Matters
Real missions require embedded systems that survive constrained links, harsh environments, and rapid iteration cycles; delivering that reliability saves time, risk, and cost in deployment. This role supports critical firmware, communications, and diagnostics work so Dominion Dynamics systems remain operational and supportable in the field.
The Role: Embedded Systems Engineer
As an Embedded Systems Engineer, you’ll join our engineering cohort focused on integrating cutting-edge hardware platforms with secure, resilient software systems in extreme field environments. Your work will enable real-time interoperability between uncrewed systems, edge nodes, sensors, and command interfaces. You’ll play a critical role in ensuring that distributed software and hardware elements function and communicate reliably in the Arctic, and meet both defence and civilian dual-use demands.
What You’ll Do
Design and build integration layers across hardware, sensors, and communication systems.
Implement and manage messaging and control protocols using DDS and JAUS standards.
Develop and maintain plug-ins and interface modules for ATAK (Android Team Awareness Kit).
Integrate robotic and sensing platforms using ROS 2 and sensor fusion middleware.
Collaborate with software and hardware teams to ensure seamless operation between the software stack and field-deployed platforms.
Design and maintain telemetry, control, and visualization interfaces for forward-deployed operators.
Develop test harnesses, simulators, and diagnostic tools for real-world and lab environments.
Participate in field deployments and systems validation in the Arctic or remote test sites.
What You’ll Bring
2-5 years developing and integrating firmware/systems; 5+ years in robotics/defence/industrial automation is a plus.
Strong firmware skills in C/C++ with practical scripting in Python; familiarity with JavaScript is helpful for tooling/visualization.
Embedded Linux and RTOS (e.g., FreeRTOS) fundamentals; cross-compilation, startup/init, and service management.
Build and toolchain proficiency: CMake, Make, reproducible builds, version control (Git/GitHub).
Interfaces and protocols: CAN, SPI, I²C, TCP/IP; serial comms and message framing.
Debugging across HW/FW: JTAG, GDB, vendor IDEs; board bring-up, fault tracing, and performance profiling.
Microcontrollers: STM32 and TI families; drivers, HALs, and peripheral integration.
Robotics integration platforms: ROS 2, DDS, JAUS, TAK/ATAK (Android/Windows or similar); experience deploying any of these in real scenarios is strongly preferred.
Perception/sensor tooling: exposure to OpenCV, sensor-fusion stacks, and telemetry/visualization flows.
Cloud/dev tooling familiarity: GCP (or similar), CI basics, artifact packaging.
Traits: pragmatic and test-driven, comfortable in high-ambiguity startup environments, collaborative and low-ego, mission-aligned with building sovereign capability.
Eligibility for Canadian security clearance preferred; Canadian citizenship an asset.
Why Join Us
At Dominion Dynamics, we’re designing systems that work where others fail, in the most extreme environments on Earth.
At Dominion Dynamics you’ll:
Shape the future of Canada’s sovereign defence.
Build real capability in fields with CAF and allies.
Move fast, field fast with small teams, high trust, and rapid iteration.
Operate with integrity under Canadian law and treaty obligations.
Have impact from day one with equity, responsibility, and direct access to leadership.
If you’re driven by innovation, adaptability, and the opportunity to make a strategic impact, this is where you belong!
Compensation
We offer competitive salary and meaningful equity participation.
