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Embedded Software Engineer Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

Software Technology Inc

SDET

Beaverton, OR · On-site

$52.75 - $68/hr

Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) Duration: 6+ month contract Location: Onsite in ... Test application (GUI) software in conjunction with networked audio/media systems running embedded ...

Sigma Design

Software Engineer III

Camas, WA · On-site

$119K - $155K/yr

Software Engineer III Sigma Design is a product development, engineering, and manufacturing firm ... Create sophisticated desktop/embedded/web applications for prototyping, test and automation * Work ...

Sigma Design

Software Engineer III

Camas, WA · On-site

$119K - $155K/yr

Software Engineer III Sigma Design is a product development, engineering, and manufacturing firm ... Create sophisticated desktop/embedded/web applications for prototyping, test and automation * Work ...

Sightline Intelligence

QA Software Engineer

Portland, OR · On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

Hands-on interaction with a wide variety of embedded systems and electronic components. Qualifications: * Bachelor's degree in software, engineering, computer science, or another related field. * 2 ...

Sightline Intelligence

QA Software Engineer

Portland, OR · On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

Hands-on interaction with a wide variety of embedded systems and electronic components. Qualifications: * Bachelor's degree in software, engineering, computer science, or another related field. * 2 ...

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All JobsEmbedded Software Engineer JobsEmbedded Software Engineer Jobs in Portland, OR

Embedded Software Engineer information

See Portland, OR salary details

$74.3K

$162.7K

$184.6K

How much do embedded software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for embedded software engineer in Portland, OR is $162,729.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $139,500.00 and $183,500.00 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 Is an Embedded Software Engineer?

Embedded software is installed on devices that operate like personal computers. Examples of embedded software can be found in geographic positioning systems, or GPS devices, smart watches, and calculators. Embedded software engineers perform a range of embedded software engineering functions, including running system software updates and designing software for embedded systems. Embedded software engineers also advise on product development, approve new product designs, and optimize the product lifecycle.

Will AI replace embedded system engineers?

Embedded software engineers design and develop software for embedded systems, and while AI tools can assist with coding and testing, they are unlikely to fully replace the need for human expertise in understanding hardware constraints, system integration, and troubleshooting. AI can enhance productivity but requires skilled engineers to oversee, interpret, and implement solutions effectively.

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

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 are Embedded Software Engineers?

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 do embedded software engineers do?

Embedded software engineers design, develop, and test software that runs on hardware devices such as microcontrollers and embedded systems. They work with programming languages like C and C++, and often use tools like debuggers and oscilloscopes to ensure software reliability in environments such as consumer electronics, automotive systems, and medical devices.

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 engineers make $500,000?

Highly experienced engineers in specialized fields such as software engineering, data science, or executive roles can earn $500,000 or more annually. These positions often require advanced skills, certifications, and leadership responsibilities, typically found in large tech companies or finance firms.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior embedded software engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills in real-time systems, and proficiency in programming languages like C and C++ can reach salaries of $300,000 or more, especially in high-demand industries such as aerospace, defense, or advanced technology. Achieving this level often requires advanced certifications, leadership roles, or working in regions with high living costs and competitive markets.
More about Embedded Software Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Portland, OR? The most popular types of Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Portland, OR are:
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What job categories do people searching Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Portland, OR look for? The top searched job categories for Embedded Software Engineer jobs in Portland, OR are:
What cities near Portland, OR are hiring for Embedded Software Engineer jobs? Cities near Portland, OR with the most Embedded Software Engineer job openings:
Embedded Software Engineer jobs near you
Embedded CPU Architect, Platform Architecture

Embedded CPU Architect, Platform Architecture

Apple

Beaverton, OR • On-site

$173K/yr

Full-time

Posted 17 days ago

Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 662 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated and innovative Embedded CPU Architect to join the Platform Architecture team. In this role, you will drive performance and efficiency optimization and architectural feature exploration for Apple's embedded CPUs that power critical functions across Apple's product line.
Description
As an Embedded CPU Architect, you will help define CPUs that are specifically designed for running embedded applications across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other Apple products. Your focus will be on understanding the unique constraints and opportunities of varied embedded use cases and translating those insights into improvements for both the software stack as well as the hardware including the CPU and its surrounding subsystem.
You will be responsible for deep-dive performance analysis of embedded workloads, identifying bottlenecks in existing microarchitectures, and proposing optimization strategies that balance performance, power efficiency, and area. Working closely with algorithm teams, software engineers, and CPU designers, you will explore ISA extensions, microarchitecture enhancements, and system-level optimizations tailored to embedded use cases.
This role requires some background in software profiling, performance modeling, and simulation environments. You will use and develop analysis tools and infrastructure to enable data-driven architectural decisions, create and analyze both real workloads and benchmarks representative of embedded workloads, and iterate with design teams to ensure ideas are implementable within power, timing, and area constraints.
Minimum Qualifications
BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or similar
CPU architecture or microarchitecture experience
Experience with performance simulation environments, and performance analysis or optimization of workloads
Experience with one or more of the following ISAs: ARM, RISC-V, x86
Experience in C, C++, or similar programming languages
Experience with scripting languages such as Python or Perl for analysis and automation
Preferred Qualifications
MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science
20+ years of industry experience in CPU architecture or performance analysis
Expertise in CPU microarchitecture in one or more of the following areas: branch prediction, prefetching, pipeline optimization, datapath, memory hierarchy
Experience in one or more of the following areas: embedded ML workloads and inference engines, SIMD/vector architectures for signal processing or ML, or compiler infrastructure and toolchain development for embedded workloads
Experience with real-time operating systems and embedded software constraints
Understanding of: power-performance trade-offs in CPU designs, system-level power management, and low-power design techniques
Strong communication and collaboration skills across hardware and software teams
Experience taking architectural ideas from concept through implementation

What Apple employees say

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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