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Embedded Audio Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Tacit

Senior Firmware Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

Develop and optimize embedded audio pipelines including low-latency streaming, microphone ... Develop factory programming, calibration, provisioning, and manufacturing test systems. * Develop ...

SONANCE

Senior Embedded Software Engineer

San Clemente, CA · On-site

$132K - $173K/yr

Our mission is to create audio experiences that are heard, not seen. For over 40 years, we have ... Your Mission As a Senior Embedded Software Engineer, you will define and own the embedded firmware ...

Redolent, Inc.

Software Engineer Embedded

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$155K - $204K/yr

... engineering • 10+ years of experience in embedded software development • Strong programming ... and pipelines o Audio systems o Networking and protocol stacks o Middleware and services ...

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All JobsEmbedded Audio Engineer JobsEmbedded Audio Engineer Jobs in California

Embedded Audio Engineer information

See California salary details

$61.7K

$135.5K

$189.5K

How much do embedded audio engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for embedded audio engineer in California is $135,476.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,000.00 and $161,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as an Embedded Audio Engineer, you need expertise in digital signal processing (DSP), embedded systems design, C/C++ programming, and a strong foundation in audio engineering principles, often supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, embedded Linux/RTOS environments, and platforms like ARM or DSP processors, as well as audio measurement equipment, is typically required. Strong teamwork, problem-solving skills, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for success in this collaborative technical field. These abilities are essential to design, implement, and optimize audio solutions that meet project specifications, quality standards, and customer needs in a multidisciplinary engineering environment.

What are typical projects or responsibilities for an Embedded Audio Engineer on a daily basis?

As an Embedded Audio Engineer, your daily responsibilities often include designing and implementing audio processing algorithms, integrating and testing embedded audio software on hardware platforms, and conducting performance and quality assessments. You might collaborate closely with hardware engineers, product designers, and QA teams to ensure seamless integration and optimal sound quality. Troubleshooting audio anomalies, refining software builds, and documenting your work are also frequent tasks. These varied responsibilities allow you to develop both technical depth and teamwork skills while directly contributing to innovative audio products.

What does an Embedded Audio Engineer do?

An Embedded Audio Engineer designs, develops, and optimizes audio processing software and firmware for embedded systems, such as consumer electronics, automotive infotainment, and professional audio devices. They work with digital signal processing (DSP), real-time operating systems (RTOS), and hardware integration to ensure high-quality audio performance. Their role involves coding in languages like C/C++, debugging low-level system interactions, and collaborating with hardware and software teams to implement efficient audio solutions.

What are the most commonly searched types of Embedded Audio Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Embedded Audio Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Embedded Audio Engineer jobs in California? For Embedded Audio Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Embedded Audio Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Embedded Audio Engineer jobs in California are:
Embedded Audio Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Embedded Audio Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $135,476 per year, or $65.1 per hour.
Senior Firmware Engineer

Senior Firmware Engineer

Tacit

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 25 days ago

Job description

About Tacit
We are an early-stage, deep tech startup based in San Francisco, developing innovative hardware that rethinks human-computer interaction. We are backed by General Catalyst, Khosla Ventures, and Greylock Partners, with a founding team from Stanford, BrainGate, Oculus, and Tesla. While we can't reveal too much just yet, our team is tackling cutting-edge engineering challenges to bring revolutionary products to life.
About the role
We're looking for a Senior Firmware Engineer to help architect, develop, and ship next-generation neurotech and audio hardware products. As a key member of our growing firmware team, you will own major portions of the embedded software stack from early architecture through production and play a critical role in bringing complex consumer electronics to life.
You'll work closely with electrical, mechanical, software, ML, and product teams to transition systems from prototype to robust, production-ready products while helping establish strong firmware engineering practices across the company.
What you'll do
Embedded Firmware Architecture & Product Development
  • Contribute to firmware architecture and embedded software development for battery-powered wearable consumer devices from concept through production.
  • Own critical portions of the firmware stack including realtime data acquisition, connectivity, power management, bootloaders, and production infrastructure.
  • Develop robust embedded systems using C/C++ and RTOS-based architectures including FreeRTOS or similar environments.
  • Design and implement reliable firmware abstractions across sensors, audio systems, wireless subsystems, and power domains.
  • Collaborate closely with electrical, mechanical, ML, mobile, and cloud teams to optimize system performance, latency, power consumption, and reliability.
  • Operate effectively in a startup environment where engineers own large portions of the hardware and firmware stack.

Realtime Embedded Systems & Sensor Processing
  • Design and optimize low-latency realtime firmware pipelines for sensor acquisition, timestamping, synchronization, and data movement.
  • Develop DMA-driven acquisition systems for high-throughput sensor and audio streams.
  • Implement deterministic scheduling and time alignment across multiple sensors and wireless subsystems.
  • Optimize firmware for low-power operation, including sleep states, subsystem power gating, and dynamic power management.
  • Debug complex concurrency, timing, and memory-related issues in deeply embedded systems.

Wireless Connectivity & Audio Systems
  • Develop and integrate Bluetooth LE and Classic Bluetooth audio functionality on Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms or similar wireless SoCs.
  • Work on wireless coexistence challenges involving Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and proprietary RF systems.
  • Implement and optimize OTA firmware update systems, bootloaders, and device recovery mechanisms.
  • Develop and optimize embedded audio pipelines including low-latency streaming, microphone processing, and synchronization.
  • Collaborate with ML and algorithm teams on audio features including ANC, beamforming, filtering, and related realtime audio systems.

Bring-Up, Debug & Validation
  • Lead firmware bring-up and debugging across embedded compute, sensors, wireless, and audio systems.
  • Use advanced debugging tools including JTAG/SWD debuggers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, and lab instrumentation.
  • Develop automated validation, manufacturing, and regression test infrastructure.
  • Perform root-cause analysis and resolve complex issues discovered during development, validation, manufacturing, or field deployment.

Production Firmware & Reliability
  • Support EVT, DVT, and PVT builds and help ramp products to mass production.
  • Design firmware with strong reliability, manufacturability, and serviceability principles.
  • Develop factory programming, calibration, provisioning, and manufacturing test systems.
  • Develop and maintain automated test infrastructure including Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) systems, regression testing frameworks, and CI pipelines for embedded firmware validation.
  • Improve firmware robustness through telemetry, logging, automated validation systems, CI infrastructure, and field diagnostics.
  • Help define engineering standards, development workflows, and firmware best practices across the organization.
Requirements
  • 5+ years of experience in embedded firmware or software engineering.
  • Strong proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems.
  • Strong experience with RTOS-based systems including FreeRTOS or similar platforms.
  • Experience shipping at least one consumer electronics product, preferably wearable or audio-related devices.
  • Experience developing firmware for battery-powered embedded systems with strong emphasis on power optimization.
  • Experience with bootloaders, OTA update systems, and production firmware reliability.
  • Experience with realtime embedded systems involving DMA, interrupts, concurrency, and low-latency data pipelines.
  • Experience with Bluetooth LE and Classic Bluetooth audio systems.
  • Strong hands-on debugging and bring-up experience across embedded hardware and firmware systems.
  • Experience working closely with cross-functional hardware and software teams in fast-paced product development environments.
  • Familiarity with Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms or similar wireless/audio SoCs.

Strong candidates may have
  • Deep expertise in one or more of the following areas:
    • realtime sensor acquisition and synchronization
    • Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connectivity systems
    • embedded audio and ANC systems
  • Experience with Qualcomm Snapdragon S-series platforms.
  • Familiarity with STM32-based embedded systems.
  • Experience with embedded audio interfaces such as I2S, PDM, TDM, or related protocols.
  • Experience with wireless coexistence optimization across Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and proprietary RF systems.
  • Experience building ANC, beamforming, or low-latency audio systems.
  • Experience with embedded Linux systems.
  • Experience developing manufacturing firmware, calibration systems, or automated test infrastructure.
  • Experience with CI systems, automated testing, and firmware deployment pipelines.
  • Experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing systems.
  • Experience with Python for tooling, automation, or instrumentation control.
  • Familiarity with secure boot, firmware signing, and device security.
  • Strong understanding of low-power embedded architecture and system-level power optimization.
  • Experience using lab instrumentation including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, RF tools, and protocol analyzers.

Compensation Range
$150,000 - $200,000/year
Benefits
  • Competitive equity package
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Company size: 25-30 people
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Visa sponsorship
  • 3% 401k matching

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