Overview

The Payload Firmware Design Lead is primarily responsible for Payload Controller Flight Software. This role involves developing firmware to support payload-specific operations, ensuring effective data acquisition, processing, and communication.

Responsibilities

• Develop and integrate a reliable, high-performance onboard payload firmware system
• Regularly meet with subsystems to develop and integrate drivers to their requirements
• Direct and support a team of highly-dedicated Firmware members in developing software
• Coordinate and maintain a schedule of “builds” to meet launch requirements
• Document information needed to operate and control the onboard software, during integration and flight
• Debug and regularly test code; use good embedded development practices
• Actively participate in lead and technical meetings, and UTAT recruitment promotions

Expected time commitment: 8-16 hours, varying by the week. Includes work sessions, technical discussions with the Firmware team and other subsystems, mandatory meetings (leads + systems + general), and miscellaneous tasks.

Skills

While not required, the following are a list of skills that would be beneficial to the applicant. You should expect to learn all of these skills as Firmware Lead:

• Programming
  • Embedded C (occasionally embedded C++)
  • Experience working with microcontrollers - we use STM32 (ARM32), but AVR, PIC, or using Arduinos are also a plus
  • Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS), like FreeRTOS or ZephyrRTOS
  • Serial and bus protocols (ex. SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, parallel camera data formats)
  • Version control systems, like Git (GitHub) or SVN
• Technical
  • Interpreting datasheets to find relevant and critical information
  • High-level understanding of PCB design and testing
  • Basic electronics prototyping (ex. using breadboards, soldering)
  • Electrical lab equipment (ex. multimeters, oscilloscopes)
• Leadership
  • Managing a team of fellow students (team/1-on-1 meetings, task assignment and followup, assistance when needed)
  • Participating in technical and non-technical discussion with other leads (promoting ideas, raising concerns, listening to others)
  • Using collaboration platforms (Notion, Slack, Google Workspace)

Note that the majority of responsibilities and skills overlap with Firmware Design Lead

Payload Firmware Role Description (Dec 2022).pdf