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Embedded System Software Engineer Jobs in California

ThinKom Solutions

Software Engineer - Embedded

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$133K - $175K/yr

Software engineering will perform design\code\testing of software that controls these components as ... Embedded systems and kernel development. * Develop device drivers and embedded firmware

Astranis

Flight Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Flight Software Engineer As our Flight Software Engineer, you will support the the development ... Experience with building bare-metal embedded system software * Experience with reading schematics ...

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Embedded System Software Engineer information

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$69.1K

$151.4K

$171.7K

How much do embedded system software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for embedded system software engineer in California is $151,375.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $129,800.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an Embedded System Software Engineer do?

An Embedded System Software Engineer designs, develops, tests, and optimizes software for embedded systems, which are specialized computing devices integrated into hardware. They work with microcontrollers, real-time operating systems (RTOS), and low-level programming languages like C and C++. Their responsibilities include writing efficient code, debugging hardware-software interactions, and ensuring system stability and performance. They often collaborate with hardware engineers to ensure seamless integration of software and hardware components.

What does a typical day look like for an Embedded System Software Engineer?

A typical day for an Embedded System Software Engineer involves writing and testing code for embedded devices, debugging hardware-software interactions, and collaborating closely with hardware engineers and cross-functional teams. You may participate in design reviews, update technical documentation, and ensure that software meets performance and safety requirements. Your role often requires balancing multiple projects, troubleshooting complex system issues, and adapting to evolving product needs. Working in this field provides the opportunity to see your software in action on real-world devices, making it both challenging and rewarding.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Embedded System Software Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Embedded System Software Engineer, you need a solid background in C/C++ programming, microcontroller architectures, and real-time operating systems, typically supported by a degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field. Experience with debugging tools, protocol analyzers, version control systems (like Git), and certifications such as Certified Embedded Systems Engineer (CESE) are advantageous. Strong analytical thinking, effective problem-solving, and clear communication help distinguish top performers in this role. These skills and qualities are essential for designing, developing, and maintaining reliable embedded software that interacts seamlessly with hardware and meets rigorous industry standards.

What are the most commonly searched types of Embedded System Software Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Embedded System Software Engineer jobs in California are:
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Embedded System Software Engineer jobs near you
Senior System Software Engineer - AV Platform

Senior System Software Engineer - AV Platform

Nvidia Corporation

Santa Clara, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

The Autonomous Vehicles Platform team is looking for a hands-on System Software Engineer. As part of our team, you will work on our Autonomous Driving Platform software, implementing performant and scalable solutions for data collection and autonomous vehicle fleets. Our team is responsible for developing platform and middleware features for self-driving cars. This includes software that interacts with various sensors including Cameras, LIDAR, RADAR, GPS, IMU, Vehicle CAN etc. We are seeking candidates with interests in inventing, developing, and maintaining application framework and tools on multi-computer and heterogeneous architectures. The role encompasses working with various teams across the stack, from platform and embedded software to cloud infrastructure, underpinned by safety and performance. It extends an opportunity to contribute to the technology that will drive the cars of the future!
What you'll be doing:
  • Integrating sensors into our AV driving software stack.
  • Develop and improve startup user experience of our AV stack
  • Working on areas such as sensor abstraction layers, data processing and performance optimization, data serialization, and service frameworks.
  • Collaborate with hardware, platform software, product, safety, performance, algorithms and cloud teams.

What we need to see:
  • BS or MS degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
  • 6+ year of professional experience working on system software.
  • Excellent programming skills in C++, C and Python.
  • Familiarity with source control tools.
  • Solid understanding of Linux, QNX, ROS, and/or real-time operating systems.
  • Experience in developing user-space system software, with a willingness to delve into kernel-space and/or low-level hardware when needed.
  • Knowledge about embedded system programming, threading, mutex, synchronization, communication, and parallel computing to build highly-scalable and efficient applications.
  • Familiarity with hardware architecture for CPU/GPU and memory alongside performance.
  • Prior experience working in the following areas: Autonomous Vehicles, Robotics, Self-Driving-Cars, GPU technology, Embedded Systems, Computer Vision.
  • Outstanding communication skills and teamwork.

Ways to stand out from the crowd:
  • Deep understanding of system architecture, CPU/GPU/Memory/Storage, everything related to performance optimization.
  • Experience in Autonomous Vehicle or Robotic System Building.
  • Hand-on experience in embedded development, operating systems and real-time software.

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 184,000 USD - 287,500 USD for Level 4, and 224,000 USD - 356,500 USD for Level 5.
You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.
Applications for this job will be accepted at least until March 13, 2026.
This posting is for an existing vacancy.
NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.
NVIDIA is committed to fostering a diverse work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.
Nvidia logo

About Nvidia

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than 25 years. It's a unique legacy of innovation that's fueled by great technology--and amazing people. Today, we're tapping into the unlimited potential of AI to define the next era of computing. An era in which our GPU acts as the brains of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can understand the world. Doing what's never been done before takes vision, innovation, and the world's best talent.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Santa Clara, CA, US

Year founded

1993

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