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Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Columbia, MD (NOW HIRING)

In this role, the Senior Embedded Software Engineer will work with a cross-functional Engineering team to design and develop new functionalities, as well as maintaining and expanding on the existing ...

In this role, the Senior Embedded Software Engineer will work with a cross-functional Engineering team to design and develop new functionalities, as well as maintaining and expanding on the existing ...

Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$142K - $186K/yr

SDD is seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to support the design, development, and implementation of real-time processing solutions in software for advanced multi-function Radar systems. You ...

Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$142K - $186K/yr

SDD is seeking a Lead Embedded Software Engineer to support the design, development, and implementation of real-time processing solutions in software for advanced multi-function Radar systems. You ...

SDD is seeking a Lead Embedded Software Engineer to support the design, development, and implementation of real-time processing solutions in software for advanced multi-function Radar systems. You ...

SDD is seeking a Lead Embedded Software Engineer to support the design, development, and implementation of real-time processing solutions in software for advanced multi-function Radar systems. You ...

In this role, the Senior Embedded Software Engineer will work with a cross-functional Engineering team to design and develop new functionalities, as well as maintaining and expanding on the existing ...

Embedded Developer

Annapolis Junction, MD · On-site

$55.28 - $80/hr

Responsibilities As an embedded software engineer, you know how to create and maintain crucial pieces of software. You use your knowledge to write and optimize code that creates a bridge between ...

In this role, the Senior Embedded Software Engineer will work with a cross-functional Engineering team to design and develop new functionalities, as well as maintaining and expanding on the existing ...

Showing results 41-60

Embedded Software Engineer information

See Columbia, MD salary details

$68.9K

$151K

$171.3K

How much do embedded software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for embedded software engineer in Columbia, MD is $150,981.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $129,400.00 and $170,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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.

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.

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 are the most commonly searched types of Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Columbia, MD?

The most popular types of Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Columbia, MD are:

What are popular job titles related to Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Columbia, MD?

For Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Columbia, MD, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Columbia, MD look for?

The top searched job categories for Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Columbia, MD are:

What cities near Columbia, MD are hiring for Embedded Software Engineer jobs?

Cities near Columbia, MD with the most Embedded Software Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Embedded Software Engineer job openings in Columbia, MD as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 60% Full Time, and 40% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $150,981 per year, or $72.6 per hour.

Embedded Software Engineer III with Security Clearance

Iridium Satellite Communications

Mclean, VA • On-site

$134K - $177K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 2 days ago

New


Job description

Company Overview Iridium is an award-winning and innovative satellite communications company with bragging rights to the only network that offers voice and data connectivity anywhere in the world. For over 20 years, Iridium’s unique network and services have supported critical communications needs for individuals, businesses, and the evolving Internet of Things. At Iridium, we understand the importance of staying connected and the limitations of traditional communications networks. People across the globe, including first responders, humanitarians, global militaries, scientific researchers, and lone workers, as well as ships, aircraft and remote operations all rely on Iridium to stay connected. We take our responsibility for providing these essential communications very seriously and pride ourselves on offering a reliable lifeline when needed. Likewise, Iridium is committed to providing an exciting and innovative workplace, where employees are challenged to think outside the box and collaborate on new, bold ideas and solutions. Our talented teams are passionate about their work and the impact our company makes around the world. Iridium fosters an empowering and inclusive culture that allows employees to genuinely be their best selves. We are looking for others who want to join this truly unique company that celebrates our employees and provides the opportunity to truly make a difference in the world. What We’re Looking For: Iridium is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer III to join our Mobile Product Software Engineering Team!  As an Embedded Software Engineer, you will be responsible for enhancing and sustaining the source code used in our mobile products and associated engineering tools. In this role, you’ll gain valuable experience working on software for Iridium’s transceivers while contributing to the development of high-quality products for our customers. If you are passionate about creating reliable and robust products, committed to the long-term success of your work, and highly self reliant, you’ll thrive in this position.   What You’ll Do: * Design and develop embedded software for microcontrollers ensuring high-quality, performance, and reliability
* Implement and optimize real-time operating systems, device drivers, and communication protocols
* Debug and troubleshoot reported firmware issues, ensuring timely resolution
* Reproduce, isolate and debug complex low-level problems that may span between hardware and software interfaces
* Integrate, build, and manage embedded software configuration
* Write and maintain unit, regression and pairwise test suites for mobile product software
* Create and maintain documentation, including software requirements, ICDs, test plans and procedures
* Review work products created by other team members
* Collaborate with software, hardware, and system development engineers
* Work cross functionally to instill a strong culture of product quality within the organization What You’ll Need to Succeed: * Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related technical field with 5+ years of relative software experience, including:
* 3+ years’ experience developing embedded software, preferably for microcontrollers
* 4+ years’ experience developing software in C; solid understanding of ANSI C, common data structures and memory management techniques
* Familiarity with asynchronous event driven paradigms
* Proven experience in embedded systems design with preemptive, multitasking, real-time operating systems
* Excellent knowledge of OSI model, networking protocols, interfaces, and hardware subsystems
* Solid understanding of communication protocols such as UART, SPI, and I2C
* Adequate knowledge of reading schematics and data sheets for components
* Experience with benchmarking algorithm performance on embedded systems using software and hardware techniques
* Strong communication skills, with the ability to confidently present products, deliverables, analyses, and/or issues
* Possess an analytical mindset, with the ability to understand a situation or problem and think critically to make decisions or come up with solutions
* Be comfortable managing upward, including being a proactive communicator and asking for help when needed
* Have confidence and be able to establish valuable relationships with others
* Must be able to prioritize key tasks and have a strong sense of ownership over your work
* Be active in seeking out ways to continuously improve yourself and gain new knowledge
  Things That Would be Great if You Brought to the Table: * 1+ years of experience in developing ancillary tools in Python
* Experience developing software for ARM M series microcontrollers
* Experience using Linux command-line interfaces
* Familiarity with multi-threading/multi-tasking
* Familiarity with signal analysis tools such as Wireshark
* Demonstrated embedded systems troubleshooting experience
* 1+ years of experience working with agile methods & environment using the Atlassian suite.
* Demonstrated understanding of software production via continuous integration
* Demonstrated understanding of best practices for software version control (Git, SVN etc)
* Knowledge of RF communication systems and protocols
* Working knowledge of bash, make and similar programming languages
  We’ll also need you to: * Be able to travel to meetings with geographically remote teams, as needed (typically once per quarter).
* Be able to work a hybrid schedule that includes at least one week in office (located in McLean, VA) and as needed.
* US Citizenship required   Work environment: This position primarily works in an office setting and is largely sedentary with the majority of the position working with a computer. The role typically requires the use of basic office equipment such as a phone, video, computer, keyboard, mouse, and printer. Additional Information This job description outlines the general nature and level of work for this role and is not a comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Employees may be assigned additional responsibilities as needed. Base Pay Range: $100,000 - $130,000 USD Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors and this range represents an estimate of compensation at the time of posting. Base salary is only one part of our compensation package for this role. You may also be eligible for company stock and annual bonus. Employee benefits also include medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage; 401(k) retirement plan options; paid time off and paid holidays; paid parental leave; and other discounts and perks.   Iridium is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.