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Embedded Microcontroller Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Electrical Engineer, Lead

King George, VA · On-site

$149.40K - $155.90K/yr

Performs analog/digital circuit design, embedded microcontroller design, and compact antenna design ... Coordinate with mechanical engineers regarding the integration of designs into customized ...

Electrical Engineer, Lead

King George, VA · On-site

$100K - $180K/yr

Performs analog/digital circuit design, embedded microcontroller design, and compact antenna design ... Coordinate with mechanical engineers regarding the integration of designs into customized ...

$76.70K - $129.50K/yr

Microcontroller programming and lowlevel embedded development * Linux experience * Scripting with Python or MATLAB * Autonomyrelated algorithms such as sensor fusion, Kalman filtering, state ...

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Embedded Microcontroller Engineer information

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$70K

$153.4K

$174K

How much do embedded microcontroller engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for embedded microcontroller engineer in the United States is $153,383.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $131,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Embedded Microcontroller Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Embedded Microcontroller Engineer, you need strong proficiency in C/C++ programming, embedded systems design, and a degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with development tools such as debuggers, oscilloscopes, version control systems (e.g., Git), and experience with microcontroller families like ARM, PIC, or AVR are typically required. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective problem-solving skills help you excel in troubleshooting and optimizing embedded systems. These skills and qualifications are vital to ensure the reliability, efficiency, and functionality of hardware-software integrations in complex electronic products.

What are some common challenges an Embedded Microcontroller Engineer faces when integrating hardware and software components?

Embedded Microcontroller Engineers often encounter challenges in synchronizing hardware with software, especially when dealing with timing constraints and resource limitations. Debugging issues can be complex, as problems may arise from either the code or the physical hardware. Additionally, ensuring compatibility between different components and maintaining system stability during updates require strong problem-solving skills and close collaboration with hardware designers and firmware developers.

What does an Embedded Microcontroller Engineer do?

An Embedded Microcontroller Engineer designs, develops, and tests systems that use microcontrollers to perform specific functions within larger electronic devices. They write firmware (software that runs directly on hardware), integrate hardware and software components, and troubleshoot issues to ensure reliable operation. These engineers work on products like automotive systems, consumer electronics, medical devices, and industrial machinery. Their role often involves optimizing code for performance and memory constraints, as well as collaborating closely with hardware and software teams.

What is the difference between Embedded Microcontroller Engineer vs Firmware Engineer?

AspectEmbedded Microcontroller EngineerFirmware Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical, Computer Engineering or related; certifications like ARM or embedded systems coursesBachelor's in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering; certifications in embedded systems or programming languages
Work EnvironmentDesigning and testing microcontroller-based systems, often in hardware labs or development environmentsDeveloping low-level code for devices, often in software development environments
Industry UsageConsumer electronics, automotive, industrial automationConsumer electronics, IoT devices, embedded systems

Both roles involve embedded systems, but Embedded Microcontroller Engineers focus more on hardware integration and microcontroller-specific development, while Firmware Engineers concentrate on writing low-level code to control hardware functions. The roles often overlap, but their primary focus and work environments differ slightly.

More about Embedded Microcontroller Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Embedded Microcontroller Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Embedded Microcontroller Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Embedded Microcontroller Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Embedded Microcontroller Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Embedded Microcontroller Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% Full Time, 79% Part Time, 13% Contract, and 4% Nights. Highlights an 89% Physical, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $153,383 per year, or $73.7 per hour.
ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONICS ENGINEER with Security Clearance

ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONICS ENGINEER with Security Clearance

Department of Defense

Dahlgren, VA

Other

Posted 16 days ago


Job description

Duties * You will serve as a journey-level electrical or electronics engineer for the Triton Fury Program in the Asymmetric Systems Division, Special Systems Branch (Code H12) of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division. * You will contribute to the development of rapid engineering solutions to emergent non-conventional threats, specializing in turning high level requirements into engineering designs that integrate microelectronics with novel fabrication techniques. * You will analyze and refine requirements and alternative solutions by research and investigation, identification of risk, and cost benefit analysis.

* You will make early technical decisions based on trade space and requirements regarding microprocessor selection, electrical design, embedded coding, and implementation of functionality. * You will conduct research, development, test, and integration of custom embedded systems and special communications capabilities. * You will design custom electrical circuits, RF receivers, and antenna designs, and integrate these designs into customized mechanical packages for long service life in harsh environments.

* You will perform analog/digital circuit design, embedded microcontroller design, and compact antenna design and integration. * You will perform modeling of circuits, schematic capture, PCB layout, and circuit assembly/fabrication techniques. * You will develop documentation of final solutions and adhere to program configuration management processes.

* You will participate in and lead developmental and verification testing, including extensive electromagnetic and environmental testing of electrical and RF design prototypes to enable rapid response to emergent Navy requirements. * You will present technical status and decisions during design reviews. * You will evaluate processes and procedures to identify efficiencies and enhance solutions by increasing quality, reducing cost, and/or increasing technical performance.

* You will provide peer review of colleague designs. * You will mentor and train junior electrical engineers by providing technical and programmatic insight and guidance. Requirements Conditions of employment * Must be a US Citizen.

* Must be determined suitable for federal employment. * Must participate in the direct deposit pay program. * New employees to the Department of the Navy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.

To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov * Within the Department of Defense (DoD), the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326. * Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. * You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final Secret security clearance prior to entrance on duty.

Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal. * This position is covered under the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA). Certification in the Acquisition Functional Area and category assigned to the position is required within established category timeframes.

* This position may require travel from normal duty station to CONUS and OCONUS and may include remote or isolated sites. You must be able to travel on military and commercial aircraft for extended periods of time. Qualifications Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the ND-3 pay band (GS-9 through GS-11 equivalency) in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: As a professional engineer designing electrical schematics, circuit board layout, electrically small antennas; completing low power RF analysis; and/or developing embedded code for microprocessors. Examples of qualifying experience may include (1) analog/digital circuit design, embedded microcontroller design, and compact antenna design and integration; (2) performing engineering analysis, design, development, and test for embedded hardware products; (3) experience using schematic capture and PCB layout software (Altium). Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. Education Applicants must meet the following basic education requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Standards Manual: Successful completion of a professional engineering degree. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree (or higher) in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. OR Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration For more information about EI and EIT registration requirements, please visit the National Society of Professional Engineers website at: OR Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico The FE examination is not administered by the U.

S. Office of Personnel Management. For more information, please visit: OR Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A (above).

The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A (above) OR Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least one year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily, there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. Additional information This position is part of the Warfare Centers Personnel Demonstration Project.

The ND-4 pay band encompasses positions equivalent to GS-12 and GS-13. This announcement uses the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory (STRL) Direct Hire Authority for Scientists and Engineers with Bachelor's or Advanced Degrees to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. This position is covered by the Department of Defense Priority Placement Program.

Several vacancies may be filled. A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments. Federal annuitant information: The selection of an annuitant is subject to the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy policy on the employment of annuitants.

Policy information may be found at: . Veteran's preference does not apply when selecting individuals under this specific hiring authority. However, if you claim veteran's preference, you will be required to submit supporting documentation with your application as described in the Required Documents section below.