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Contract Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Gilroy, CA

Embedded Software Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$120K - $300K/yr

Debug complex hardware-software interactions using logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and JTAG ... engineers during board bring-up * Experience with embedded debugging tools and workflows Bonus ...

Debug complex hardware-software interactions using logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and JTAG ... engineers during board bring-up * Experience with embedded debugging tools and workflows Bonus ...

Identify, document, and track software defects using automated tracking systems; collaborate with embedded developers to analyze root causes and verify fixes. * Develop and maintain automated test ...

Sr. Embedded Software Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$140K - $170K/yr

Identify, document, and track software defects using automated tracking systems; collaborate with embedded developers to analyze root causes and verify fixes. * Develop and maintain automated test ...

Showing results 21-40

Contract Embedded Software Engineer information

See Gilroy, CA salary details

$74.1K

$162.3K

$184.1K

How much do contract embedded software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract embedded software engineer in Gilroy, CA is $162,318.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $139,200.00 and $183,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are typical day-to-day responsibilities for a contract embedded software engineer?

As a Contract Embedded Software Engineer, your daily tasks often include writing and debugging embedded code, integrating software solutions with hardware components, and working closely with hardware engineers to meet project requirements. You'll participate in code reviews, documentation, and sometimes testing or troubleshooting hardware-software interactions. Communication with project managers and cross-functional teams is also common to ensure project milestones and deadlines are met. This variety allows you to apply your technical expertise while gaining experience across different industries and applications.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the contract embedded software engineer position?

To thrive as a Contract Embedded Software Engineer, you need strong skills in C/C++ programming, embedded systems development, debugging, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with microcontrollers, real-time operating systems (RTOS), hardware interfaces, and tools like oscilloscopes or JTAG debuggers is often required, and certifications such as Certified Embedded Systems Engineer can be beneficial. Excellent problem-solving, adaptability, and communication skills help you collaborate on diverse projects and meet tight contract deadlines. These abilities are crucial for delivering reliable, high-quality embedded software solutions in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.

What is a contract embedded software engineer?

A Contract Embedded Software Engineer is a professional hired on a temporary or project basis to design, develop, and optimize software for embedded systems. These engineers work with microcontrollers, processors, and real-time operating systems (RTOS) to create software that operates hardware devices efficiently. They often specialize in industries like automotive, medical devices, aerospace, or consumer electronics. Contract roles can vary in duration and scope, offering flexibility and opportunities to work on diverse projects.

What job categories do people searching Contract Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Gilroy, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Contract Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Gilroy, CA are:
What cities near Gilroy, CA are hiring for Contract Embedded Software Engineer jobs? Cities near Gilroy, CA with the most Contract Embedded Software Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Contract Embedded Software Engineer job openings in Gilroy, CA as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, and 12% Part Time. Highlights an 82% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $162,318 per year, or $78 per hour.

Embedded Software Engineer

Hark

San Jose, CA โ€ข On-site

$120K - $300K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 20 days ago


Job description

About Hark
Hark is an artificial intelligence company building advanced, personalized intelligence. One that is proactive, multimodal, and capable of interacting with the world through speech, text, vision, and persistent memory.
We're pairing that intelligence with next-generation hardware to create a universal interface between humans and machines. While today's AI largely operates through chat boxes and decade-old devices, Hark is focused on what comes next: agentic systems that interact naturally with people and the real world.
To get there, we're developing multimodal models and next-generation AI hardware together - designed from the ground up as a single, unified interface for a new era of intelligent systems.
About the Role
You'll own critical pieces of the firmware stack that powers Hark's consumer products - from board bring-up and peripheral drivers to the runtime environment that hosts on-device intelligence. This isn't firmware in a vacuum. You'll work directly with the hardware team on new silicon and sensor integrations, with the agent team on model execution and memory constraints, and with products on experiences that ship to real users. The problems are real, the constraints are tight, and the work matters immediately.
Responsibilities
  • Develop and maintain embedded firmware in C/C++ targeting ARM-based SoCs and microcontrollers
  • Own BSP development, peripheral driver integration (SPI, I2C, UART, I2S), and RTOS task scheduling
  • Optimize power consumption and thermal performance for always-on, battery-powered operation
  • Build and maintain OTA update infrastructure for reliable field updates
  • Collaborate with the on-device AI team to support model inference within memory and latency budgets
  • Develop factory test and calibration firmware for manufacturing
  • Debug complex hardware-software interactions using logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and JTAG

Requirements
  • 3+ years of professional firmware or embedded systems development
  • Strong proficiency in C and/or C++ in resource-constrained environments
  • Experience with ARM Cortex-M or Cortex-A processors and associated toolchains
  • Hands-on experience with RTOS (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or similar)
  • Familiarity with wireless protocols (BLE, Wi-Fi, or Thread)
  • Comfort reading schematics and working alongside hardware engineers during board bring-up
  • Experience with embedded debugging tools and workflows

Bonus Qualifications
  • Experience with power optimization for battery-powered consumer devices
  • Familiarity with secure boot, firmware signing, or hardware root of trust
  • Exposure to ML inference runtimes on embedded platforms
  • Experience shipping consumer electronics through EVT/DVT/PVT milestones

Compensation
The US base salary range for this full-time position is between $120,000 - $300,000 annually.
The pay offered for this position may vary based on several individual factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package may also include additional components/benefits depending on the specific role. This information will be shared if an employment offer is extended.