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Embedded System Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Array Labs

Embedded Software Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$161K - $211K/yr

Array Labs builds advanced radar systems to help humanity understand and respond to changes across ... About the Job As an Embedded Software Engineer , you will develop the embedded software that ...

Array Labs

Embedded Software Engineer

Redwood City, CA

$161K - $211K/yr

Array Labs builds advanced radar systems to help humanity understand and respond to changes across ... About the Job As an Embedded Software Engineer , you will develop the embedded software that ...

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How much do embedded system engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for embedded system 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 is the difference between Embedded System Engineer vs Firmware Engineer?

AspectEmbedded System EngineerFirmware Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical, Computer Engineering, or related fields; certifications like Certified Embedded Systems EngineerBachelor's in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering; certifications like Certified Firmware Developer
Work EnvironmentDesigning and developing embedded hardware/software for devices like IoT, automotive, consumer electronicsWriting low-level code to optimize firmware for microcontrollers and embedded devices
Employer & Industry UsageElectronics manufacturers, automotive, consumer electronics, aerospaceConsumer electronics, IoT devices, medical devices, automotive

Embedded System Engineers focus on designing integrated hardware and software systems, while Firmware Engineers specialize in developing low-level code that runs directly on hardware. Both roles often overlap but differ mainly in scope and focus area within embedded development.

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

To thrive as an Embedded System Engineer, you need a solid background in electronics, computer engineering, and programming languages like C/C++, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with embedded development tools, real-time operating systems (RTOS), microcontroller architectures, and certifications such as ARM or IoT-related credentials are highly valuable. Excellent problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication skills help you excel in multidisciplinary environments. These skills and qualities are essential for designing reliable, efficient embedded solutions that meet stringent technical and industry requirements.

What are Embedded System Engineers?

Embedded System Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and maintain computer systems that are integrated into larger mechanical or electrical systems. These systems, known as embedded systems, are dedicated to specific tasks and are commonly found in devices like cars, medical equipment, home appliances, and industrial machines. Engineers in this field work with both hardware and software components, ensuring that the system operates efficiently, reliably, and safely within its intended environment. Their responsibilities often include programming microcontrollers, optimizing system performance, and troubleshooting hardware-software interactions.

What are some common challenges an Embedded System Engineer faces when working on multidisciplinary project teams?

Embedded System Engineers often collaborate with hardware designers, software developers, and project managers, which can present challenges such as aligning timelines, integrating software with evolving hardware prototypes, and ensuring consistent communication across disciplines. Navigating these complexities requires strong interpersonal skills, adaptability, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. Successful engineers frequently participate in cross-functional meetings and use collaborative tools to track progress and address integration issues early, helping to ensure a smooth development process.
What are popular job titles related to Embedded System Engineer jobs in California? For Embedded System Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Embedded System Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Embedded System Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Embedded System Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Embedded System Engineer job openings:
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Embedded Software Engineer

Embedded Software Engineer

Array Labs

Redwood City, CA • On-site

$161K - $211K/yr

Full-time

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

Array Labs builds advanced radar systems to help humanity understand and respond to changes across the physical world. 
 
We're launching a coordinated fleet of radar satellites to create a high-resolution 3D map of the Earth - updated in real time - enabling faster, smarter decision-making for government and commercial organizations supporting disaster response, infrastructure resilience, and mission-critical geopolitical intelligence.
 
We design and build our satellites end-to-end, producing the world's most advanced earth observation satellites. Our fleet will deliver unprecedented levels of accuracy, coverage, and responsiveness to power critical insights precisely where they're needed most.
 
About the Job
As an Embedded Software Engineer, you will develop the embedded software that enables Array's radar sensors, communication links, and flight systems to operate reliably in orbit. Your work will include board bring-up of Linux-based platforms, high-performance data movement between sensors and compute elements, integration with FPGA and RF subsystems, and the development of safety-critical control and FDIR algorithms.
 
You will collaborate closely with signal processing, hardware, and GNC engineers to prototype, evaluate, and deploy software architectures that meet demanding latency, throughput, and reliability requirements. The software you build will directly influence radar performance, system robustness, and mission resilience on orbit.
 
As part of our quickly growing engineering team, you will play a critical role in the design of the world's most advanced radar satellite constellation-one that will significantly improve humanity's ability to rapidly and comprehensively understand our changing planet.
Responsibilities:
  • Develop highly reliable and available software systems for our low-latency, high-capacity radar sensor, communication system, and flight control system
  • Board bring-up of a Linux-based platform that integrates radar sensors, flight computers, RF transceivers, and navigation sensors
  • Work collaboratively with signal processing, hardware, and GNC engineers to build performant and reliable embedded software for our payload
  • Rapid prototyping and evaluation of key architectural choices and design constraints
  • Implement high-efficiency data movement between our radar sensor, FPGA fabric, microprocessors, networking interfaces, and storage peripherals.
  • Develop safety-critical system-level software for hardware components and develop FDIR (fault detection, isolation, and recovery) algorithms for mission-critical systems
  • Debug complex, system-level, multi-component issues that typically span across multiple layers from kernel to driver to application
 
 
Basic Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or related field
  • 4+ years of embedded software experience
  • Good understanding of Embedded Systems and OS concepts (Linux/RTOS).
  • Experience in one or more of the following areas: BSP/Board Support Package, Operating Systems, RTOS, Bootloader, Power Management, Linux, MCU (Microcontroller).
  • Excellent teamwork and communication skills
  • Learns new concepts rapidly, completely, and in a self-directed manner
  • High levels of self-motivation and personal accountability
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment under significant time constraints
  • Experience programming in C or C++ in embedded environments and in Python to support development, automation, and testing.
 
 
Preferred Skills and Experience:
  • Master's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or related field
  • Experience with aerospace or space projects (flight control/GNC)
  • Experience in the automotive, medical robotics, or similar regulated embedded device industry with a focus on safety and high availability
  • Good understanding of multi-threaded embedded system concepts including tasks, priorities, and deadlocks 
  • Embedded software debugging experience including clock-level issues, bridges, delays, interrupts, clock gating, and polling using debuggers (Keil, J-Link)
  • Experience building software for complex embedded systems or custom SoCs 
  • Hands-on coding experience with peripherals with interfaces such as UART, SPI, CSI-2, i2c, GPIO, USB, and PCIE
  • Experience developing with modern Real-Time Operating Systems  (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, ThreadX, VxWorks) 
  • Experience with embedded software design and debugging of boards with multiple processors (ARM/RISC-V, DSPs, MCUs) and a large array of peripherals using a multitude of interfaces (SPI, UART, GPIO,  I2C, Ethernet)
  • Experience with a variety of microprocessors (ARM,Nordic, Microchip, STM, etc) and hardware modules
  • Working knowledge of networking stack (Ethernet, TCP/IP suite) desired
  • Ability to read and interpret schematic diagrams
 
 
ITAR Requirements:
  • To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
 
 
Equal Opportunity Employer:
  • Array Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made on the basis of merit, competence, and job qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by gender, color, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, gender identity, veteran status, disability status, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
 
 
$150,000 - $250,000 a year
Interview Process
We will conduct interviews via Google Meet; the typical process takes around 2-4 weeks to complete from start to finish.
 
Hiring and Compensation Strategy
Our hiring and compensation strategy is simple:
 
1) find uncommonly good people
2) pay them uncommonly well
 
You can anticipate competitive pay, with high flexibility between salary and equity-based compensation.
 
Why Join Array Labs?
Array Labs is launching a constellation of satellites to create the first high-resolution, real-time, three-dimensional model of Earth. Our next-generation satellite technology will offer image quality 60x greater than traditional techniques, profoundly expanding humanity's ability to understand and respond to events on a global scale.
 
In forging an affordable, accessible, accurate representation of Earth, our work has the potential to transform the face of dozens of fields, including autonomy, telecommunications, disaster relief, gaming, climate science, defense and construction.
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