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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$88K - $136K *

Unlock the potential of nuclear instrumentation by overseeing manufacturing projects, ensuring compliance with standards, and collaborating with design teams to enhance product quality and supplier pe...

Supply, NCRemote

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$135K - $160K *

Accelerate progress at securing cloud environments by designing robust guardrails and automation. Collaborate with engineering teams to embed security into CI/CD pipelines and ensure compliance across...

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6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$140K - $260K *

Join our Enterprise team as a Full Stack Developer to create and enhance features empowering independent media founders. Collaborate across disciplines to innovate mobile experiences and drive user su...

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Reposted 1 month ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$96K - $120K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of digital banking by leading complex client implementations, resolving advanced technical issues, and ensuring successful delivery of innovative solutions that al...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $145K *

Innovate solutions in power systems engineering by leading consulting initiatives, enhancing client relationships, and driving strategic growth in protection and control services while ensuring high-q...

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2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$120K - $145K *

Champion innovative solutions by architecting a cutting-edge Command & Control system for large drone swarms, influencing design and implementation while collaborating with a dynamic team to tackle co...

San Francisco, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$135K - $160K *

Join our team to tackle complex payroll challenges by building intuitive software solutions that enhance operational efficiency and support thousands of businesses in managing their payroll processes...

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1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Optimize formal verification processes and collaborate with engineers to enhance digital design quality, ensuring robust performance and accuracy in complex processor architecture through proficient t...

Vancouver, BCRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Join a dynamic team to develop cutting-edge SoCs, enhancing validation processes and workflows ahead of silicon availability. Collaborate across disciplines to drive innovation using emulation technol...

Vancouver, BCRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Elevate quality and automation efforts for enterprise deployments. Collaborate with customers and engineering to develop a robust QA function using agentic tooling, ensuring consistent environments an...

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Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$143K - $196K *

Champion innovative solutions in healthcare coding by leading cross-functional teams, optimizing product strategies, and enhancing customer experiences through data-driven insights and agile methodolo...

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3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $130K *

Engage your expertise to lead complex HL7 integrations across healthcare systems, enhancing interoperability and data-sharing capabilities. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure successful implement...

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3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$500K+*

Pioneer the evolution of Netflix's Compute Platform, driving innovation in distributed systems and AI integration. Lead product strategy, enhance efficiency, and collaborate across teams to ensure rob...

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2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$135K - $160K *

Empower the future of patient care by leading the development of scalable referral systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design impactful software solutions that enhance partner and pati...

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3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$190K - $280K *

Engage with us to lead complex software initiatives, driving technical excellence and mentoring teams. You'll shape architecture, tackle challenges, and deliver high-performance solutions that support...

Florida, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$186K - $267K *

Take ownership of technical leadership within a dynamic engineering team, enhancing software solutions for workload security. Focus on scalability, performance, security, and reliability in complex en...

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Reposted 2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$140K - $180K *

Transform cancer care by developing AI biomarkers through collaboration with ML scientists and clinical partners, enhancing model robustness and interpretability across diverse datasets to improve pat...

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2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$114K - $152K *

Join a team that's redefining brand identity through innovative design. Lead high-impact creative projects, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and elevate visual storytelling in a dynamic enviro...

Massachusetts, USRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $178K *

Champion innovation by architecting cutting-edge AI and digital products that enhance customer experiences and drive meaningful business value through emerging technologies and agile development...

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Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$125K - $150K *

Shape the future of building operations by optimizing BAS effectiveness and energy management. Oversee service contracts, upgrades, and troubleshooting to ensure system reliability and enhance occupan...

Washington DC, USRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Drive the revitalization of classic games by designing and refining emulators for modern platforms. Collaborate with a talented team to enhance performance, compatibility, and player experience while...

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4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$124K - $195K *

Transform systems integration by designing and maintaining APIs, automating workflows, and optimizing SaaS tools. Collaborate across teams to streamline processes and provide technical support for com...

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Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Unlock the potential of NetBox Delivery by leading software design, enhancing production reliability, and mentoring engineers. Shape the technical direction and ensure seamless deployment on Cloud and...

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2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Architect the future of our GTM technology ecosystem, enhancing data integrity and operational excellence. Collaborate cross-functionally to drive scalable solutions that elevate marketing, sales, and...

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Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$175K - $220K *

Join a team that’s redefining cloud spend management by leading engaging technical sales cycles, crafting compelling product demos, and assisting clients across varied industries to achieve outstandin...

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Reposted 1 month ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise 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.