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Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Ames, IA (NOW HIRING)

Senior Software Engineer - Product

Ames, IA · On-site

$119K - $158K/yr

Join Workiva as a Senior Software Engineer and explore a world of innovation where you'll leverage a diverse and cutting-edge tech stack in an AI enabled organization. From Java, Kotlin, and Go on ...

New

Senior Software Engineer - Product

Ames, IA · On-site +1

$119K - $158K/yr

Join Workiva as a Senior Software Engineer and explore a world of innovation where you'll leverage a diverse and cutting-edge tech stack in an AI enabled organization. From Java, Kotlin, and Go on ...

New

Senior Staff Software Engineer

Ames, IA · On-site

$119K - $158K/yr

We're hiring a Senior Staff Software Engineer who can lead across complex technical work, act as a force multiplier for other engineers, and help shape how teams build in an AI-enabled environment.

AI Engineer

Ames, IA · On-site

$100 - $130/hr

... Engineer (Software Developer II) to support the development, deployment, and maintenance of AI solutions in a higher education research institution. This role is centered on the practical ...

New

Title PLC Engineer Location: Johnston, IA - 100% on-site Project Scope and Brief Description: R&D ... Software Design & Development * Architect, develop, and maintain desktop and embedded .NET ...

New

Software enhancement, bug fixes, design and implement the groundwork for V6. All candidates will be ... embedded systems. 5+ Years of experience with NVIDIA Jetson Demonstrated Deep knowledge of ...

C++ Tutor

Ames, IA · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... programming to operating systems, embedded systems, and high-performance computing applications ... level software development. * Effective Teaching Methods: Ability to identify concepts students ...

Showing results 21-37

Embedded Software Engineer information

See Ames, IA salary details

$68.5K

$150K

$170.2K

How much do embedded software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for embedded software engineer in Ames, IA is $150,038.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $128,600.00 and $169,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an embedded software engineer?

Embedded Software Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and maintain software that runs on embedded systems—specialized computing devices that are part of larger systems, such as cars, medical devices, industrial machines, and consumer electronics. Their work involves programming in languages like C or C++ to interact closely with hardware components, ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and safety. Embedded Software Engineers work closely with hardware engineers to integrate and test software with physical devices, often working within real-time and resource-constrained environments. Their expertise is crucial in developing the 'brains' of many devices we use every day.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an embedded software engineer?

To thrive as an Embedded Software Engineer, you need a solid background in computer science or electrical engineering, strong programming skills in C/C++, and experience with embedded systems design. Familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS), microcontroller architectures, debugging tools, and version control systems like Git is typically required. Excellent problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills set top engineers apart. These competencies are crucial for building reliable, efficient, and safe embedded solutions that meet industry standards.

How does an embedded software engineer typically collaborate with hardware engineers during product development?

Embedded Software Engineers work closely with hardware engineers throughout the product development lifecycle. Collaboration often involves joint design reviews, debugging sessions, and integration testing to ensure software and hardware function seamlessly together. Effective communication is crucial, as changes in hardware can impact software functionality and vice versa. This cross-disciplinary teamwork helps resolve technical issues quickly and ensures the end product meets performance and reliability standards.

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

AspectEmbedded Software EngineerFirmware Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related fields; often requires knowledge of C/C++Similar credentials; strong C/C++ skills, understanding of hardware
Work EnvironmentDevelops software for embedded systems in various industries like automotive, IoT, consumer electronicsFocuses on low-level hardware interaction, often working closely with hardware teams
Industry UsageCommon in automotive, medical devices, consumer electronics, industrial automationPrimarily in consumer electronics, IoT devices, and hardware startups

Embedded Software Engineers design and develop software for embedded systems, focusing on system-level programming. Firmware Engineers write low-level code that directly interacts with hardware components. While both roles require similar skills and work environments, Embedded Software Engineers often work on a broader range of software, whereas Firmware Engineers focus on hardware-specific code. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

Are embedded software engineers in demand?

Embedded software engineers are in high demand due to the growth of IoT, automotive, medical devices, and consumer electronics industries. They often require skills in C, C++, and real-time operating systems, with job opportunities increasing globally as embedded systems become more integral to technology development.

What are the most commonly searched types of Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Ames, IA?

The most popular types of Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Ames, IA are:

What are popular job titles related to Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Ames, IA?

For Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Ames, IA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Ames, IA look for?

The top searched job categories for Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Ames, IA are:

What cities near Ames, IA are hiring for Embedded Software Engineer jobs?

Cities near Ames, IA with the most Embedded Software Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Embedded Software Engineer job openings in Ames, IA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $150,038 per year, or $72.1 per hour.

Software Engineer - Computer Vision & Machine Learning

RFA Engineering

Urbandale, IA • On-site

$70K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 25 days ago


Job description

RFA Engineering (www.rfamec.com) supports industry-leading clients through the full software development lifecycle to build cutting-edge precision agriculture, machine guidance, vehicle automation and autonomy applications. We are seeking passionate, talented engineers to work on exciting projects using the latest tools and technologies including robotics, computer-vision, machine learning, IoT, cloud computing, and much more. Collaborate with a team of industry experts onsite at our client's world-class engineering center and contribute to developing innovative solutions that drive sustainable agriculture practices.
This is a full-time position with a full benefit package listed below that includes opportunities for professional growth, direct hire by our customers, and additional opportunities within our own organization.
Software Engineer - Computer Vision & Machine Learning
RFA Engineering is seeking a Software Engineer in the field of Robotics, Perception, Vision Processing and Machine Learning to architect, develop and integrate new intelligent features into the next generation of agricultural and off-highway equipment.
Responsibilities
  • Develop machine learning and computer vision algorithms for automation and autonomy product development.
  • Design, implement, and optimize machine learning algorithms and computer vision solutions for production intent hardware. Work with Stereo, monocular cameras, Lidar, radar, edge compute devices.
  • Data collection and processing for CVML algorithms development. Utilize data-driven insights to inform your development process and improve models/algorithms.
  • Quickly learn new technologies, tools, and methodologies in the fields of computer vision and machine learning. Stay abreast of the latest research and trends, applying this knowledge to your work and sharing insights with the team.
  • Primary needs relating to theoretical geometric computer vision - involving concepts like singletons, SLAM (localization, mapping), triangulation, projective geometry, feature detection, depth estimation, camera models/calibration/rectification
  • Secondary needs relating to Machine Learning algorithm development. All aspects of model architecture development including: problem definition, data collection/prep, model selection, architecture design, training , evaluation, optimization, deployment, monitoring/maintenance.

Technical Qualifications:
  • Experience with data visualization, data management, data querying (eg SQL, Tableau, PowerBI, matplotlib)
  • Experience developing and understanding computer vision and machine learning algorithms (models development in pytorch, tensorflow, experience with linear algebra, optimization etc.)
  • Ability to quickly learn state of the art technologies, state of the art research in the domains of computer vision, AI, robotics and be able to implement.
  • Competent in generating, interpreting, and communicating statistical data well and measuring the right statistics to answer the right questions
  • Comfortability reading documentation to read and write good code
  • Proficiency in C++ and/or Python.
  • Experience with Databricks, AWS, cloud
  • Technical expertise matters less in comparison to intelligence, work ethic, and willingness to learn.

Personal Qualification
  • Exceptional work ethic and willingness to learn.
  • Trailblazing spirit: Eager to solve problems in the autonomous robotics and AI space that have never been solved before.
  • Passionate about artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, autonomy, and automation.
  • Eager to OWN work fully and to make decisions with autonomy to deliver.

Pay Range: $70,000-$140,000 - Commensurate with experience
Visa Sponsorship is NOT available for this position.
About RFA Engineering
RFA Engineering has provided product development and engineering services to industry leading customers since 1943. Our primary focus is the development of off highway equipment including agricultural, construction, mining, recreational, industrial, and special machines. Our work includes concept development, product design, documentation, problem-solving, simulation, optimization, and testing of components, systems and complete machines. Our engineering staff is located at our Engineering Center in Minneapolis, branch office in Dubuque, IA, and at numerous customer sites throughout the U.S.
Competitive Benefits
  • Health and Dental Insurance
  • TelaDoc Healthiest You
  • Supplemental Vision Insurance
  • Company Paid Life Insurance
  • Company Paid Long-Term Disability
  • Short-term Disability
  • Retirement Savings Account (Traditional 401k & Roth 401k)
  • Flexible Spending Plan Dependent Care
  • HSA for Medical Expenses
  • Bonus Plan (Exempt Employees Only)
  • Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Paid Holidays
  • Bereavement Leave
  • Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
  • Education Assistance

Equal Opportunity and Veteran Friendly
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.