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Bare Metal Programming Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Cadence

Principal Firmware Engineer

Austin, TX

Be part of the Cadence DDR PHY IP Front End Design team responsible for - Develop firmware for DDR5 PHY using microcontrollers Developing firmware in C typically involving bare-metal programming and ...

CoreWeave

Bare Metal Support Engineer

Livingston, NJ · On-site

About the Role As a Bare Metal Support Engineer , you will be responsible for supporting, operating, and maintaining CoreWeave's extensive GPU fleet across our growing data centers in the U.S ...

AttoTude

Firmware Engineer

Menlo Park, CA

Familiarity with RTOS and bare-metal programming. Hands-on experience with hardware interfaces (SPI, IC, UART, USB, BLE, Wi-Fi, etc.). Proficiency with debugging tools (JTAG, GDB, oscilloscopes ...

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Bare Metal Programming information

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How much do bare metal programming jobs pay per hour?

As of May 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for bare metal programming in the United States is $19.40, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.07 and $21.15 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Bare Metal Programmer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Bare Metal Programmer, you need deep expertise in low-level programming languages like C or Assembly, strong knowledge of microcontroller architectures, and a background in electronics or computer engineering. Familiarity with hardware debuggers, in-circuit emulators, and version control systems is typically required, along with experience using IDEs tailored for embedded development. Attention to detail, problem-solving ability, and persistence are crucial soft skills for diagnosing complex hardware-software interactions. These competencies are essential for developing reliable, efficient, and high-performance code that interacts directly with hardware without the support of an operating system.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in bare metal programming roles, and how can they be addressed?

Bare metal programming often involves working without an operating system, which means developers must directly manage hardware resources, memory, and peripherals. Common challenges include debugging low-level hardware issues, ensuring code efficiency, and handling limited debugging tools compared to higher-level environments. To address these challenges, professionals frequently use hardware debuggers, in-circuit emulators, and thorough documentation from chip manufacturers. Collaborating closely with hardware engineers and maintaining clear version control can also help mitigate these difficulties and lead to successful project outcomes.

What is bare metal programming?

Bare metal programming refers to writing software that runs directly on hardware without the support of an operating system or intermediary layers. Programmers interact directly with the memory, processor, and peripherals, usually in languages like C or assembly. This approach is common in embedded systems, microcontrollers, and real-time applications where performance, low-level control, and minimal resource usage are critical. Bare metal programming requires a deep understanding of hardware architecture and is essential for building efficient, lightweight, and deterministic systems.

What is the difference between Bare Metal Programming vs Embedded Systems Developer?

AspectBare Metal ProgrammingEmbedded Systems Developer
Required CredentialsKnowledge of low-level programming, hardware interfacesIncludes embedded C, hardware knowledge, sometimes certifications
Work EnvironmentDirect hardware access, minimal OS, real-time constraintsEmbedded devices, RTOS, hardware integration
Industry UsageManufacturing, IoT, consumer electronicsAutomotive, medical devices, industrial automation
Search & Comparison IntentFocus on low-level hardware programmingBroader embedded system development

While both roles involve working close to hardware, Bare Metal Programming emphasizes writing code directly on hardware without an operating system, focusing on low-level control. Embedded Systems Developers typically work with embedded OS and develop software for complex devices. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job focus.

Infographic showing various Bare Metal Programming job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 3% Temporary, 3% Nights, and 1% Summer. Highlights an 88% Physical, 8% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $40,349 per year, or $19.4 per hour.

Information Security Engineer, Bare Metal

Fluidstack

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Fluidstack is focused on delivering powerful AI infrastructure to enhance human freedom. As an Information Security Engineer for Bare Metal, you will be responsible for ensuring the security of the physical fleet that supports critical AI workloads, implementing security measures from supply chain to operation and decommissioning.
Responsibilities:
• Fleet lifecycle security. End-to-end security for every server in our bare metal fleet — from supply chain and provisioning through hardening, operation, and secure decommissioning.
• Hardened OS images. Design and maintain the golden images that run our production and development environments, including automated vulnerability scanning, patch pipelines, and configuration drift detection.
• BMC security. Define and enforce the security model for baseboard management controllers: access control, credential rotation, audit logging, and firmware integrity. BMCs are one of the most under-defended surfaces in the industry; you'll make ours the exception.
• Network security. Partner with network engineering on micro-segmentation, IDS/IPS, and firewall architecture for the bare metal environment, with zero-trust principles applied from the ToR up.
• Storage and data protection. Implement data-at-rest encryption, key management, and secure access for local and networked storage at fleet scale.
• Security automation. Build the tooling that makes secure-by-default the path of least resistance: configuration management, policy-as-code, and continuous compliance checks across the fleet.
• Detection and response. Integrate monitoring tailored to bare metal infrastructure and act as a responder for incidents touching the physical fleet.
• Threat modeling and review. Lead security reviews and threat modeling for new hardware platforms, network designs, and infrastructure changes — shaping decisions before they're locked in.
Qualifications:
Required:
• 7+ years of experience in an Information Security or Infrastructure Engineering role, with a strong focus on bare metal, IaaS, or high-scale cloud infrastructure.
• Deep practical experience with Linux operating system hardening (e.g., SELinux, AppArmor, kernel-level security).
• Expert-level knowledge of network security principles, including TCP/IP, VPNs, firewall rulesets, and zero-trust concepts.
• Proven ability to implement and manage encryption technologies, including disk-level encryption (e.g., LUKS) and hardware-level encryption.
• Strong scripting and automation skills in languages such as Python, Go, or Rust, and experience with configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Chef).
• Understanding of hardware security modules (HSMs) and trusted computing concepts (e.g., TPM/TXT).
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across engineering teams.
Preferred:
• Experience with specific BMC platforms (e.g., OpenBMC, Dell iDRAC, HPE iLO).
• Familiarity with compliance standards relevant to bare metal environments (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001, FedRAMP).
• Experience with hardware-level root of trust and secure boot implementations.
• Relevant security certifications (e.g., CISSP, OSCP, CEH).
Company:
Fluidstack provides cloud infrastructure for AI with GPU clusters, orchestration, and monitoring for intensive workloads. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in New York, USA, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.

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