Career Center

How You’ll Contribute

The Explorer Engagement group develops, elevates and empowers our network of National Geographic Explorers. These empowerment activities are led by a series of teams within Explorer Engagement, including Explorer Programs, International, and the National Geographic Exploration Technology Lab.

Reporting to the Senior Director of National Geographic Society’s Exploration Technology Lab (the Lab), the Embedded Systems Engineer takes a leading role in embedded system design for various electro-mechanical sensor systems created by Exploration Technology Labs. The Embedded Systems Engineer performs embedded system architecture, firmware, and software development as well as supports project management on architectural design, software design, coding, and testing. Seamlessly works as an individual contributor or manages project resources to achieve project goals. Participates in design reviews and prepares and maintains project documentation. Has excellent written and verbal communications skills to convey project requirements with stakeholders and manage expectations. Provides technical field support for Explorer expedition.

This position is a critical position with the Exploration Technology team to drive and facilitate in the creation, building, testing and successful deployment of bespoke sensor systems, as well as provide expert advice supporting Explorers technology needs. This position also provides technical leadership to our National Geographic engineers, driving innovations, standards and solutions in our bespoke products and projects.

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include

System Design: (65%)

• Hands on design of embedded systems for sensor-integration packages from an architectural level down to a component level. This will include conceptual design and architecture, prototyping, software development, and testing. 

• Works with Operations and fellow engineers to develop test methods to support experimentation, creation of test procedures, and fast, iterative prototyping.

• Supports product field deployments, from headquarters or in the field, as needed.  Must be comfortable leading the deployment of new technology in the field.

• Responsible for supporting  the design and integration of embedded-system components and sub components into systems and subsystems.

Technical Leadership and Project Management (30%)

• Acts as a technical project manager, as needed. Responsibilities include: tracking progress of overall system development and the completion of individual tasks, developing workflow to ensure on-time project completion, and maintaining documentation related to the project. 

• Authority on solving technical challenges and determining the technical feasibility of products and projects. 

• Promotes innovation, collaboration, communication and incubation to foster great ideas as a team. 

• Creates a culture of inclusion, respect, empowerment and accountability, while strongly promoting innovation and incubating and identifying ways to develop and implement great ideas. 

• Demonstrates a personal commitment to diversity, equity, leadership, performance, and inclusion within the Lab.

• Conducts research on a continuing and regular basis to ensure that National Geographic remains abreast of the latest developments in the fields of photography, audio, data collection, software and other relevant technologies. Attends technical conferences.

Reports and Presentations (5%):  

• Prepares reports and presentations on new or potential projects and technologies. Determines cost, schedule, and feasibility for new designs. Presents papers at technical conferences.

What You’ll Bring 

Educational Background

Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering (with software development emphasis) — or equivalent experience.

Minimum Years and Type of Experience

5+ years of experience as an Embedded Systems Engineer.  At least 3 years of experience with embedded systems software and RTOSs. 

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Practical experience developing Linux based embedded systems to include architecture design and development, real-time operating systems, firmware architecture, implementation, and board support packages

• Skilled in developing Linux software applications and APIs within an Agile software development process

• Code, test and troubleshoot embedded system software

• Hardware/software integration, HIL testing, and creating simulation environments

• Test planning, execution and documentation

• Use of AI/ML in embedded systems applications a plus

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with Linux, FPGA development, Arduino development, Logic Analyzer, and project management tools desired.

Supervision 

Interns or outside contractors.

Salary Information

As a leading nonprofit organization, National Geographic Society offers competitive salary and total rewards to attract, develop, and retain an innovative and dynamic workforce.

The salary range for this position starts at $115,000.

Job Designation

Resident - Our Resident category recognizes that certain staff need to be physically present at Base Camp to do their work. Some Resident staff must always be onsite to do their jobs, while others may only need to be physically present some of the time. Some Resident staff may need to come into Base Camp every day, some may need to come in to meet looming deadlines and to get work done, and others may require a more unique schedule. The days Resident staff come into the office will be determined by their teams and workflow, and they should work with their supervisors to determine their specific schedule. And throughout the year, their schedule can be adjusted based on cyclical work cycles, deadlines, and/or ebbs and flows of work. As a guideline, Resident staff will be in the office between 3-5 days a week.

We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We want to help you grow and in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.