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Contract Firmware Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

K2 Space

Senior Firmware Engineer, ASIC

$160K - $220K/yr

... in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers - we're mass-producing the ... The Role We are seeking a Senior Embedded Firmware Engineer to develop and enhance low-level ...

K2 Space

Senior Firmware Engineer, ASIC

Charleston, WV

$160K - $220K/yr

... in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers - we're mass-producing the ... The Role We are seeking a Senior Embedded Firmware Engineer to develop and enhance low‑level ...

Coherent Corp.

Senior Firmware Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$141K - $187K/yr

Develop GUI for firmware testing using Python or other programming languages. * Utilize instruments ... contracts and we are offering opportunities to leverage your technical experience and interpersonal ...

K2 Space

Senior Firmware Engineer, ASIC

Los Angeles, CA

$160K - $220K/yr

... in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers - we're mass-producing the ... The Role We are seeking a Senior Embedded Firmware Engineer to develop and enhance low‑level ...

II-VI Aerospace & Defense

Senior Firmware Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$141K - $187K/yr

Develop GUI for firmware testing using Python or other programming languages. * Utilize instruments ... contracts and we are offering opportunities to leverage your technical experience and interpersonal ...

K2 Space

Senior Firmware Engineer, ASIC

Seattle, WA · On-site

$160K - $220K/yr

... in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers - we're mass-producing the ... The Role We are seeking a Senior Embedded Firmware Engineer to develop and enhance low-level ...

Coherent

Senior Firmware Engineer

Fremont, CA

$141K - $187K/yr

Develop GUI for firmware testing using Python or other programming languages. * Utilize instruments ... contracts and we are offering opportunities to leverage your technical experience and interpersonal ...

II-VI Incorporated

Senior Firmware Engineer

Fremont, CA

$141K - $187K/yr

Develop GUI for firmware testing using Python or other programming languages. * Utilize instruments ... contracts and we are offering opportunities to leverage your technical experience and interpersonal ...

V2X

Senior Embedded Firmware Engineer (T03)

Indianapolis, IN · On-site

$98K - $134K/yr

V2X is seeking a talented Senior Embedded Firmware Engineer (T03) to join our Embedded Solutions ... S. citizens as required by federal contract guidelines. Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S.

Staffingine LLC

Senior Firmware Developer

Houston, TX · On-site

$114K - $150K/yr

Contract * Experience with developing firmware applications on ARM processors. * Expertise in ARM embedded architecture. * Expertise in C programming. * Experience working with UEFI Architecture and ...

TotalEnergies

Firmware Engineer lll

Woburn, MA · On-site

... Type of contract Regular position Experience Minimum 6 years Activities ABOUT US Midé is a ... BSE (EE, ECE, CS, or similar) required * 6+ years firmware or embedded software experience required ...

Daikin

Manager Engineering Firmware

Waller, TX · On-site

As a Firmware Manager, you will be responsible to lead the firmware team to ensure the successful ... Must manage the current team of 5 FTE embedded software developers and varying levels of contract ...

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All JobsContract Firmware Engineer Jobs

Contract Firmware Engineer information

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$75K

$167.4K

$205K

How much do contract firmware engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract firmware engineer in the United States is $167,438.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $143,000.00 and $205,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

A contract firmware engineer can earn $500,000 annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills in embedded systems, and working in high-demand industries or on complex projects. Such roles often require advanced certifications, a strong understanding of hardware-software integration, and sometimes involve consulting or contract work with high hourly rates.

What are some common challenges faced by Contract Firmware Engineers and how can they be addressed?

Contract Firmware Engineers often encounter challenges such as rapidly adapting to new hardware platforms, understanding legacy codebases, and meeting tight project deadlines. To address these, it helps to review documentation thoroughly, leverage debugging and simulation tools, and communicate proactively with project stakeholders. Additionally, collaborating closely with hardware engineers and other team members can help resolve integration issues quickly. Staying organized and maintaining flexibility are key to successfully delivering firmware projects as a contractor.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as software engineering, aerospace, petroleum, and certain electrical or hardware engineering roles can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and leadership responsibilities. High compensation often involves working in high-demand industries, holding managerial or executive positions, or possessing rare expertise and certifications.

Are firmware engineers in demand?

Firmware engineers are in high demand due to the growth of embedded systems in industries such as consumer electronics, automotive, and healthcare. Skills in C/C++, real-time operating systems, and debugging tools increase employability, and many companies seek professionals with experience in hardware integration and IoT development.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Contract Firmware Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract Firmware Engineer, you need strong experience in embedded systems design, proficiency with C/C++ programming, and a solid understanding of hardware-software integration. Familiarity with tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, debuggers, and version control systems like Git is typically required, along with knowledge of popular microcontroller platforms. Excellent problem-solving skills, flexibility, and effective communication are highly valued in this contract-based role. These skills are essential for delivering high-quality firmware solutions on tight deadlines while collaborating with cross-functional teams in dynamic project environments.

How much does a firmware engineer get paid?

A contract firmware engineer's salary typically ranges from $80,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and project complexity. Freelance or contract roles may pay hourly rates between $50 and $100, with higher rates for specialized skills or certifications in embedded systems and real-time operating systems.

What is a Contract Firmware Engineer job?

A Contract Firmware Engineer is a professional who develops and tests low-level software that interacts with hardware components, typically on a temporary or project-specific basis. They work with embedded systems, microcontrollers, and device drivers to ensure proper functionality. Contract roles often involve short-term assignments for specific projects or product development cycles. These engineers collaborate with hardware teams, troubleshoot firmware issues, and optimize code for performance and efficiency.

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Contract Firmware Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Firmware Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 68% Full Time, and 32% Contract. Highlights an 90% In-person, 5% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $167,438 per year, or $80.5 per hour.
Senior Firmware Engineer, ASIC

Senior Firmware Engineer, ASIC

K2 Space

Remote

$160K - $220K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by $450M from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Redpoint Ventures, T. Rowe Price, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, and others - with an additional $500M in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers - we're mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions from LEO to deep space.
The rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance, and we believe this new era demands a fundamentally different class of spacecraft. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today's and tomorrow's massive rockets, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.
With multiple launches planned through 2026 and 2027, we're Building Bigger to develop the solar system and become a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and you're excited about contributing to the success of a groundbreaking Series C space startup, we'd love for you to apply.
The Role
We are seeking a Senior Embedded Firmware Engineer to develop and enhance low-level embedded firmware for high-performance mixed-signal and digital SoCs. In this role, you will contribute to the bring-up, validation, and production readiness of custom silicon by working closely with digital ASIC, mixed-signal, RF, verification, and system engineering teams. You will help implement core firmware components, validate hardware functionality, and ensure reliable, scalable firmware foundations for next-generation products.
Responsibilities
  • Contribute to the design and implementation of embedded firmware architecture, including boot flows, HAL components, drivers, and system services.
  • Develop low-level firmware in C/C++ (and assembly when required) for CPUs, DSPs, and microcontrollers within custom SoCs.
  • Implement and maintain bootloaders, secure boot flows, and early hardware initialization sequences.
  • Develop device drivers for on-chip peripherals such as DMA engines, memory controllers, interconnects, SerDes, ADC/DAC interfaces, timers, and GPIO.
  • Participate in pre-silicon firmware development and validation activities.
  • Support post-silicon bring-up, including power-on sequencing, clock/reset initialization, memory bring-up, and peripheral testing.
  • Debug hardware/firmware interactions using JTAG, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, trace tools, and custom debug instrumentation.
  • Collaborate with SoC architects and designers to refine register maps, memory maps, interrupt structures, DMA flows, and debug infrastructure.
  • Provide firmware input during design reviews and silicon development milestones.
  • Bring up and integrate RTOS or bare-metal environments.
  • Support integration with higher-level system software or application processors.
  • Implement robust error handling, logging, and recovery mechanisms.
  • Contribute to manufacturing test firmware, production firmware, and field diagnostics.
  • Help ensure long-term maintainability and scalability of firmware across multiple SoC generations.

Qualifications
  • 5+ years of experience in embedded firmware development for SoCs or complex embedded systems.
  • Strong proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems and a solid understanding of low-level hardware interactions.
  • Hands-on experience with SoC bring-up or board-level bring-up.
  • Strong understanding of CPU architectures (ARM, RISC-V, or similar), memory systems (SRAM, DRAM, DDR, caches), interrupts, DMA, and low-power states.
  • Experience collaborating with ASIC/SoC design or hardware engineering teams.
  • Demonstrated ability to debug complex hardware/firmware issues.

Nice to Have
  • Experience with secure boot, hardware security modules, or cryptographic accelerators.
  • Familiarity with pre-silicon environments such as RTL simulation, emulation, or FPGA prototyping.
  • Experience with high-speed interfaces (PCIe, Ethernet, JESD, SerDes).
  • Background in satellite communication, networking, compute, automotive, or other high-reliability systems.
  • Experience developing firmware for radiation-tolerant or mission-critical systems.

Compensation and Benefits:
  • Base salary range for this role is $160,000 - $220,000 + equity in the company
  • Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
  • Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision/ coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

If you don't meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!
If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.
Export Compliance
As defined in the ITAR, "U.S. Persons" include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a "U.S. Person."
The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.
Equal Opportunity
K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
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About K2 Space

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2022

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