Embedded Software and Firmware Design Engineer Jobs

Explore embedded software and firmware design engineer opportunities on Ladders, featuring vetted professional roles that pay $100,000 or more. These engineers build the software that enables devices and electronic systems to operate reliably, from low-level firmware to real-time applications.

What Embedded Software and Firmware Engineers Do

Embedded engineers design, develop, test, and maintain software that runs on dedicated hardware. Work may include writing firmware, integrating sensors and peripherals, optimizing performance, and troubleshooting software-hardware interactions. Engineers often collaborate with electrical, systems, product, and quality teams to deliver dependable products.

Skills and Technologies

Employers commonly seek experience with C and C++, microcontrollers, embedded Linux or real-time operating systems, device drivers, debugging tools, and hardware interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART, and CAN. Depending on the role, valuable strengths may include control systems, secure coding, networking, automated testing, and familiarity with development workflows such as Git and continuous integration.

Industries and Career Paths

Embedded software and firmware design engineers work across sectors including consumer electronics, automotive, aerospace, industrial automation, medical devices, telecommunications, and robotics. Career paths can lead to senior or staff engineering positions, firmware or embedded systems architecture, technical leadership, and engineering management.

Find Your Next Embedded Engineering Role

Browse Ladders listings to discover vetted embedded software and firmware design engineer openings with compensation of $100,000 or more. Compare role requirements, technologies, and leadership scope to identify opportunities that match your experience and career goals.

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$158K - $197K *

Join a team that's redefining engineering innovation through advanced structural and thermal-mechanical modeling. Lead high-fidelity simulations to drive next-gen interconnect technology, collaboratin...

Pennsylvania, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Elevate our software engineering capabilities by designing and building modern, cloud-native data pipelines. Collaborate with diverse teams to ensure seamless project delivery and advocate for best pr...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$105K - $215K *

Pioneer scalable innovations as a Senior Full-Stack Engineer, driving cross-functional collaboration and modern development practices to enhance operational excellence and deliver high-performance sol...

Seattle, WARemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$167K - $245K *

Empower software quality by developing testing strategies, frameworks, and automation. Collaborate with engineers to enhance functionality, reliability, and performance of complex software agents acro...

San Jose, CARemote

1 month ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$89K - $125K *

Partner with us to integrate new firms into our IT environment, managing Microsoft 365 migrations and Active Directory consolidations while collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$112K - $196K *

Unlock potential by leading the design and validation of complex electrical systems, driving hardware lifecycle efforts, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure production readiness an...

Scottsdale, AZRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$112K - $196K *

Join a team that's advancing the design and validation of intricate electrical systems for mission-critical hardware, owning the hardware lifecycle while tackling challenges in RF integration, mechani...

New York, NYRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$112K - $196K *

Develop innovative electrical systems for mission-critical devices, overseeing the entire hardware lifecycle. Lead design and validation efforts to ensure seamless integration, performance, and reliab...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$140K - $240K *

Transform cloud platforms by leading teams to deliver seamless agentic workload solutions. Foster collaboration, drive innovation, and mentor engineers while shaping a culture of technical excellence...

Georgia, USRemote

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$110K - $130K *

Engage with sales teams to identify prospects and demonstrate solutions that enhance organizational security. Educate clients on challenges and drive meetings to provide tailored solutions, ensuring e...

St. Louis, MORemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Empower a talented engineering team to develop innovative airgap-native software solutions. Drive product success in National Defense by ensuring seamless integration with UDS, fostering collaboration...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$148K - $215K *

Reimagine the future of financial engagement by leading innovative software development. Engage in full-stack responsibilities, collaborating across teams to enhance product experiences for educationa...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$120K - $145K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of power connector innovation, leading product development initiatives while driving cross-functional collaboration and mentoring engineering talent to deliver hig...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$130K - $155K *

Lead the charge in ensuring operational stability and incident management across multi-cloud environments. Drive automation and observability improvements while collaborating with cross-functional tea...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$140K - $240K *

Lead the development of innovative software solutions while mentoring a talented engineering team. Collaborate with cross-functional partners to enhance product quality and drive strategic vendor rela...

Georgia, USRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$98K - $155K *

Optimize mission-critical satellite communications systems through installation, testing, and maintenance. Collaborate with diverse teams to ensure operational readiness and reliability across global...

Virginia Beach, VARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$130K - $170K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of real-time media ingestion, designing and operating distributed services that enhance communication data processing for analytics and security. Lead projects and...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$139K - $188K *

Drive innovative IT solutions by leading multi-disciplinary teams, establishing operational policies, and collaborating with stakeholders to achieve strategic objectives that enhance overall organizat...

Minnesota, USRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$135K - $160K *

Lead the charge in designing and building a robust Cluster management platform. Collaborate with distributed teams to enhance observability and optimize performance, utilizing Go and modern telemetry...

North Carolina, USRemote

Reposted 1 month ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$85K - $200K *

Grow your career by building and optimizing a cloud-native platform for legal investigations. Collaborate with diverse teams to enhance Azure services, containerization, and IaC practices in a fully r...

Washington, USRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Unlock your leadership potential by guiding product engineers in creating exceptional developer experiences. This role blends technical expertise and product vision, enabling you to drive impactful in...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$167K - $245K *

Unlock the potential of software agents by driving innovative design, development, and deployment across diverse environments. Collaborate in an agile setting to enhance capabilities that enforce netw...

San Jose, CARemote

1 month ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$167K - $245K *

Execute the development and enhancement of runtime security features for Windows-based systems. Collaborate with teams to design efficient endpoints, contributing security and reliability across diver...

RemoteRemote

1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$125K - $150K *

Join a dynamic team to drive innovation and lead the transformation of complex systems into scalable, API-first solutions. As an Engineering Manager, you'll foster growth among engineers, ensuring qua...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$130K - $160K *

Lead the design and implementation of robust software for next-gen autonomous vehicle systems, enhancing safety and efficiency. Collaborate across teams to innovate and propel advancements in AI-drive...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 month ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does an embedded software or firmware design engineer do?question toggle

    They develop and maintain software that runs on dedicated hardware, including firmware, device drivers, and real-time applications. Their work often involves integrating hardware components, testing system behavior, and improving reliability and performance.

  • What qualifications are common for embedded software and firmware engineer jobs?question toggle

    Many roles seek a degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or a related field, along with practical embedded development experience. Requirements vary by employer and may emphasize C or C++, microcontrollers, RTOS, embedded Linux, debugging, and hardware interfaces.

  • Which programming languages and tools are used in embedded engineering?question toggle

    C and C++ are widely used, with some roles also using Python, Rust, or scripting languages. Common tools and technologies include microcontroller development environments, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG debuggers, Git, and automated test systems.

  • What industries hire embedded software and firmware design engineers?question toggle

    Hiring industries include automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics, industrial automation, medical devices, telecommunications, energy, and robotics.

  • How can I find embedded software and firmware design engineer jobs paying $100,000 or more?question toggle

    Search Ladders for vetted professional openings and review each listing’s compensation, experience requirements, technologies, and responsibilities. Job availability and salary depend on the employer, location, and seniority.